80 years ago, Gosforth Central Hall was opened as a place for all the community to gather. It was built as a memorial to “remember the brave people of our town, who gave their lives whilst serving in Her Majesties Forces and the Merchant Navy in the 1939–1945 war”.

It has grown and moved since then, becoming Gosforth Civic Theatre, the only theatre in the country that was founded and continues to be guided by people with learning disabilities.

For Our Freedom: Then and Now, GCT’s flagship performance became its largest ever. Their annual platform showcasing new work created by artists with a learning disability and autism reflected on what freedom means 80 years after the end of the Second World War, and Freedom Moving: Then and Now was their first full length show involving more than 60 performers and 40 members of the Sing United Choir.

This performance piece used dance, physical theatre and song to celebrate this journey of freedom, to honour its past heritage and celebrate where we are now. Audiences described it as “uplifting and amazing”, praising the passion of the performers and the “wonderful welcoming atmosphere” created throughout the event. Many spoke about how “beautiful and moving” the piece was, with others calling it “powerful… and at times, fun”, and “one of my best nights in any theatre”.

The scale and ambition of the production left a lasting impression. People highlighted the strength of the music and dance, the talent on stage and behind the scenes, and the relevance of the story being told. Several audience members simply summed it up as “brilliant”- a testament to everyone who took part.