New play in Greenock determined to help kids with learning disabilities 'feel included'

IncludED is a new play launching in October that sheds light on issues of exclusion in mainstream schools for children with learning disabilities.

It follows the story of two mothers fighting for their children to have the same opportunities at school as other young people regardless of their learning impairments.

The two women are very different but their lives become intertwined as they campaign tirelessly for their kids.

Libby McArthur, director of IncludED (Image: Libby McArthur, director of IncludED)

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The play affects positive change by bringing together professionals from creative industries and is produced by the charity Creative Change Scotland with support from charity Enable Scotland.

After the play launches at the Beacon Arts Centre in Greenock on October 12 and 13, it will hit venues across Scotland including Glasgow on October 22.

IncludED will star Rachel Ogilvy and Caroline Guthrie. It was written by Mark MacNicol, project director for Creative Change Collective, and it will be directed by Libby MacArthur.

Mark said: “We are incredibly excited to see our new play, IncludED, come to life on stage at the Beacon Arts Centre and across Argyll and Bute and Glasgow later this year.

“This play addresses serious and important issues around the exclusion of children with learning disabilities in Scottish mainstream schools.

“Creative Change Collective brings together creative professionals with a desire to use the arts to affect positive change.

“Our creative team set out to devise a piece of theatre that will stimulate all audiences regardless of their lived experience in this area.

“We hope it will add to the campaign led by Enable Scotland, which makes a series of recommendations for improvement.”

Libby McArthur, director of IncludED (Image: Libby McArthur, director of IncludED)

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The play was named after the IncludED in the Main campaign launched by Enable Scotland, which lists 22 recommendations for schools, the Scottish Government, councils, and Education Scotland to encourage inclusion for youngsters with learning disabilities.

Jan Savage, director of Enable Scotland, said: “We’re delighted our campaign for young people with learning disabilities to have equal rights in education has provided inspiration for these themes to be explored in this play.

“It is vital to raise awareness of the human impact for pupils and their parents who struggle to have the same opportunities every other young person has.

“We hope this play, informed by people with learning disabilities themselves, encourages wider recognition of the need for action on these issues.

“It is vital families have the support they need to challenge barriers to inclusion which are still too often faced by young people with learning disabilities.”

For more information about IncludED, or to book tickets, please visit ccc.scot.