Access Unlimited

Access Unlimited is a community arts project designed for the people of Blackburn. If you have ever wanted to get involved in the arts, try your hand at anything from painting to poetry, mixing music to making theatre, or just wanted to do something different, then Access Unlimited is for you.
Each project covers areas such as group work, equal opportunities, confidence building, arts skill training and career development as well as creating exciting and interesting new work. We hope that the project will help build a better and more creative community, so if you are interested, contact us now.

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The Lab Project

(Current Project)

The LAB Project is an innovative training programme aimed at people who may have given up on other forms of training. In the last 4 years the project has trained over 200 people who have found it uniquely successful in building self esteem, confidence and communication skills and as a way of stimulating participants into positive action.

This two week course takes participants through a programme of creative skills and then, in small groups puts those skills into practice by delivering a workshop in a junior school.

Participants can gain transferable credits towards NVQ Levels 1 & 2 (Accredited through the Open College Network). We offer a £60 Training Bonus which does not affect benefits, plus help towards childcare and travel costs.

This is an opportunity to restart or review a career and to experience a new approach to work in a safe, creative atmosphere.

We have recently run the LAB at The Zion Arts Centre in Hulme, Manchester and have further funding from the Lankelly Chase Foundation to run a further LAB in September 2005.

If you would like to be part of a future LAB Project, contact us now for further details.

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One-Off Projects

In July 2005, Talia Theatre along with Action Factory Community Arts and Avanti Display presented a community performance of DRACULA! 

For 7 weeks Talia Theatre and Action Factory Community Arts worked with community groups from around Blackburn with Darwen to develop a performance of Dracula.  The project involved over 250 people in making props, devising dances, creating music and performing. 

A group of street urchins find the ship's log of the Demeter which tells of its journey from Transylvania to Whitby and thus unfolds a dreadful tale of blood and terror.

Involving a cast of hundreds, a huge ship, fireworks and oceans of blood, Dracula proved to be a night that will be remembered for a long, long time.

The project was funded by ACT - Theatre in Communities and the Clore Duffield Foundation.

This letter was sent to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph:

"I am disabled and so are several of my friends.  We do not get out very often but a few days ago we had the opportunity to go to Witton Park to see a show about Dracula.  We did not know what to expect, but what a fantastic surprise night, it was a real thrill.  The show was fantastic - all about Dracula and his arrival in Yorkshire, Whitby to be quite exact.  The kids were all great and had a fabulous set, a full ship and very cleverly done.  There was also a great firework display plus all the cast were involved in singing and dancing.  And the costumes were out of this world.  For once the weather stayed fine and the rest of the audience were very impressed with the whole proceeding and wanted more.  But alas the play was over and no more to be had.  Congratulations to everyone involved, I'm very impressed"

Clare O'Malley

Fielding Street, Rishton

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