Since Blue Apple Theatre started twenty years ago in 2005.  Tommy Jessop has Down syndrome and expressed his ambition to become an actor. With the absence of suitable inclusive theatre options, his mother, Jane Jessop, created a new organisation where every performer would be equally valued.

Over the past twenty years the company has expanded and thrived and now has many actors with different learning disabilities across Hampshire who attend regularly.

One thing that never fails to amaze me is watching the familiar actors thrive year after year and as their confidence grows their strength in character roles grows too. This company don’t shy away from challenges and harder scripts. Taking a well-known play from Hamlet by William Shakespeare to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and putting their own twist on the play and creating something special. Both of which were very good.

Director Richard Conlon joined the company in 2016 and has worked incredibly hard and with an abundance of patience and expertise to bring out the best in every single performer who tread the boards in Blue Apple productions.

For One Night Only 2026! offers a chance for other Theatre company’s who are created for actors with learning disabilities to showcase some of their work and perform in front of a live audience.

This year the theme was adventures. Now who doesn’t like an adventure of some sort whether it’s a long-distance trip, a visit to watch a new film or simply trying a new food or drink? Life is full of them.

For One Night Only! brought together performers from Blue Apple Theatre’s outreach programmes across Hampshire. Including Mayflower Young Company,  QE2, Hanger Farm Community,  Blue Apple Singers, Chestnut Theatre Company, Struts Farm Community and Blue Apple Dancers.

For many of the performers, this will have been their first chance to perform in front of a live audience and there were a few inevitable first-time nerves, only natural. However, there was a clear indication that these companies had worked incredibly hard and were enjoying their moment on stage and I dare say this will not be their last performances either.

In June 2026 Blue Apple will be taking their latest production Treasure Island to Winchester Theatre Royal. If you still haven’t seen one of their performances then this could be your opportunity to see for yourself their wealth of talented actors.

For more information about Blue Apple Theatre please use the link below.

Photo credit Mike Hall.

https://blueappletheatre.com/