Political drama as Lilliput perform at Stormont

Lilliput devised a series of sketches based on how people learning disabilities are treated in hospital situations.

The ‘Hospital Care Guidance’ sketches have been used as a training aid to education and train nurses within the Western Trust.

Lilliput, which is based in The Playhouse in Derry, is comprised of members who themselves have learning disabilities.

They have performed the sketches at numerous conferences and also for first year student nurses at Ulster University’s Magee Campus and once a month for nurses at Altnagelvin Area Hospital.

A training DVD for the Western Trust was also devised.

Lilliput have now gained the attention of government and last week saw the company invited to perform six short sketches for an invited audience with ministers in the Long Gallery at Stormont.

“It’s been a wonderful experience for Lilliput”, director Gordon Smyth of Lilliput Theatre Company said.

“Professor Owen Barr, Ulster University, asked us to devise series of sketches as a learning resource, and the feedback we’ve got from professional nursing staff has been great. They said that each of these sketches delivers a very important message about how people with learning disabilities should be treated in hospital, including messages such as how a person with learning disabilities can be empowered to be involved in making decisions about their own health care.”

Pauline Ross, Founder and Director of The Playhouse, where Lilliput are based meanwhile said: “Lilliput have been at the forefront of theatre development from those with Special Needs, and we were delighted that this innovative group of actors were given the opportunity to showcase their work in Stormont.”