True co-production in action: How Blue Apple Theatre champions inclusion and creativity

At Blue Apple Theatre, co-production means working together at every level—not just on stage, but in shaping our whole organisation. In the arts, “co-production” often means two companies teaming up to make a show. For us, it’s about people with lived experience and staff sharing decisions and power. 

As we celebrate this year’s Innovation theme with Minstead Trust and @SCIE_socialcare, we’re proud of how our commitment to co-production inspired real technical innovation during Covid. To keep our performers safe and connected, we created an entirely digital production—using green screen filming, livestreaming, and remote collaboration. This approach was recognised with several major awards: 

• Best Use Of Technology – South Coast Business Awards 2022 (November 2022) 

• Digital Transformation – South Coast Tech Awards 2022 (June 2022) 

• Digital Innovation Award – Winchester Business Excellence Awards 2022 (June 2022) 

Co-production at Blue Apple is more than a principle—it’s how we work every day: 

• A participant representative attends our trustee board meetings, ensuring every voice is heard at the highest level. 

• We hold regular Apple Talk forums where participants discuss ideas and issues, feeding directly into management decisions. 

• Our Code of Conduct is developed and reviewed collaboratively with participants helping to create a clear Easy Read version. 

• Every new production is developed consultatively, with participants shaping the creative process from the very start. 

• Our Core actors are invited to take part and speak at international festivals. 

• One of our participants is now a co-director trainee, working alongside our artistic and associate directors to be actively involved in the creative development process. 

While we recognise the value of co-production in social care, Blue Apple Theatre is not a social care provider—we are dedicated to providing high-quality performing arts opportunities for learning disabled performers. 

Let’s celebrate the impact of true co-production and innovation—in social care, the arts, and our communities. #CoProductionWeek2025 #Innovation #Inclusion #BlueAppleTheatre 

Below are some images showing the involvement of Blue Apple performers in co-production

Top left: codirecting

Top right: co-designing our code of conduct

Middle right: speaking at international symposia

Middle left: representing Blue Apple Theatre in the awards process and at ceremonies

Bottom central: Blue Apple Theatre representation at national and internal forums

Bottom right: innovation in green screen technology during Covid to create a digital play

Riddles, Revelations, and Rave Reviews: Blue Apple’s Sherlock Holmes Shines

Sherlock Holmes and The Thief of Antiquity: A Blue Apple Theatre Triumph 

Blue Apple Theatre’s innovative production, Sherlock Holmes and the Thief of Antiquity, captivated audiences at Theatre Royal Winchester in June 2025 with its accessible, interactive, and joyfully inclusive approach to the classic detective story. Devised collaboratively by Artistic Director Richard Conlon and Blue Apple’s learning-disabled cast, the show blended Victorian intrigue with a lively Greek chorus and invited the audience to help Holmes and Watson solve riddles and outwit the villainous Moriarty. 

Reviewer feedback was glowing. Elaine Chapman from Theatre and Art Reviews gave the show four stars saying: “I have watched many of the performers over the years take on a variety of roles. My biggest observation is how as a group they have grown in confidence. ...I have watched some of the actors start from walking onto the stage in previous years and just being part of the group to now speaking a few lines without too much prompting. ...Each and every one played their role and brought the Sherlock Holmes story to life. These actors deserve to be very proud of themselves.”  

Audience members echoed these sentiments, calling the performance “funny,” “entertaining,” “inspiring,” “enjoyable, “brilliant,” “thought-provoking,” “joyful,” “professional,” “high quality” and “uplifting.”  Many highlighted the “confidence and skill” of the cast, and one attendee remarked, “The performers were so professional and slick – they also looked like they were really enjoying themselves. The individual growth in confidence from show to show in some of your performers is really striking.” 

The accessible features, including live captioning, a visual story, and a touch tour, were also highly valued and ensured everyone could enjoy the experience. The livestream provided a valuable option to those unable to attend the theatre in person, either due to distance or ill-health with one audience member taking to social media to comment: “Really enjoyed the show tonight via livestream. Massive congratulations to everyone involved.” 

In feedback audience members rated the show very highly on enjoyment and quality, awarding over 4.8 out of 5. And 100% of the audience respondents said they would come and watch another Blue Apple Theatre performance. One audience member posted on social media: “Really enjoyed the show on Thursday afternoon. What a fantastic cast! Looking forward to the next one.” 

A scene from Sherlock Holmes and The Thief of Antiquity; Photo by Mike Hall

Click here to see a gallery of more show images

Blue Apple’s Sherlock Holmes: Changing Perceptions, One Performance at a Time

Sherlock Holmes and the Thief of Antiquity stands as a testament to Blue Apple Theatre’s mission to empower learning-disabled performers and create high-quality, inclusive theatre that resonates with audiences and critics alike. 

Staging productions in professional theatres with outstanding production values—including expert lighting, set design, costumes, audio-visuals, and artistic direction—not only showcases our performers at their very best, but also represents a vital investment in their talent and visibility. By presenting work of the highest quality, we challenge perceptions, celebrate the abilities of learning-disabled people, and encourage greater inclusion and respect within our communities. 

Blue Apple’s Sherlock and The Thief of Antiquity was made possible through financial support from individual donations that were then match funded through Big Give Arts for Impact and NPAC (New Philanthropy for Arts & Culture), Hampshire County Councillor Grants and Charlotte Bonham-Carter Charitable Trust. 

More detailed feedback and a gallery of photographs taken by Mike Hall is available at: https://blueappletheatre.com/sherlock-holmes-and-the-thief-of-antiquity  

'Awe-inspiring' performances at For One Night Only 2025

Thornden Hall was packed with an appreciative audience on Sunday evening, 19 January. This included distinguished guests, Councillor Russell Gordon-Smith, the 825th Mayor of Winchester accompanied by Mrs Gordon-Smith and we also welcomed Councillor James Baillie, Sheriff of Southampton.

They were treated to performances from seven of Blue Apple’s outreach groups from Southampton and across the New Forest and also from Blue Apple’s Winchester-based Singing and Dance groups.

The acts were compèred with wit and style by a number of performers from Blue Apple’s Winchester Stage Companies.

Audience members described the show as “Awe-inspiring”, “Professional”, “Excellent”, “Joyous”, “Confident”, “Fabulous”, “Inspiring”, “Uplifting”, “Enriching”, “Brilliant”, “Enthusiastic”, “Joyous”, “Inspirational”, “Amazing”, “Excellent”, “Diverse”, “Imaginative”, “Excellent”, “Fun”, “Joyful”, “Joyful”, “Inclusive”, “Inspiring”, “Fun”.

Particular praise was given for the variety, diversity, performer commitment and confidence.

This showcase of performances by Blue Apple’s outreach groups was supported by funding from the Barchester Charitable Foundation and the Hampshire an Isle of Wight Community Foundation for which we are very grateful.

Our thanks to Mike Hall Photography for the images below.

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Groups that took part in the performance are listed below

Value of online shopping to small charities

Over a year, just one person could raise £358 for a voluntary organisation, charity, or CIC for free without doing anything other than shopping online.

The online platform easyfundraising turns mundane bills and online purchases into free unrestricted funding that organisations can use to help pay for whatever they need.

If that’s what just one person can do, what can a group of people do? 

Growth of online shopping

In the United Kingdom (UK), over 80 percent of the population makes e-commerce purchases, or to put it in other words, over four in five UK consumers are digital buyers.*

There are over 8,100 retailers who are ready to give free donations for causes across a wide range of sectors including groceries, travel, home and tech, fashion and beauty, finance, insurance, utilities, electricals, home and garden and even entertainment!

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Missing out on free donations

Historically Blue Apple has raised close to £1,500 from easyfundraising but in recent times the donations have declined, probably due to technology changes. For example, more people now are using their phones or tablets to make online purchases and may not have updated the browser extension software to include the nudge that easyfundraising provides to people to remind them to ensure that each sale generates a donation for Blue Apple. They may not know that easyfundraising now has a mobile app to make things even simpler.

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Anyone can join in this easy way to donate and at a time when small charities are facing hard economic times, every penny counts.

Shop at over 8,100 shops and sites

Raising free donations when you shop online couldn’t be easier! You’ll find big name retailers like John Lewis, Amazon, Tesco, Currys, Asda, Iceland, eBay and Apple, all ready to help you raise more for Blue Apple when you shop with them.

Find out more here: https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/blueappletheatre/

*https://www.statista.com/forecasts/891311/digital-buyer-penetration-in-united-kingdom