Still time to join theatre project challenging PIP system

Could you be part of an ambitious theatre project aiming to tackle the problems with the Personal Independent Payments (PIPs).

Legislative Theatre will be exploring ways to challenge the system at a major theatre participatory event at the Engine Shed in Lincoln on June 4.

A taster session for interested performers and participants is tomorrow, April 30, from 12.30-3.30pm at Bridge Church so anyone who would like to take part should fill out the form at https://tinyurl.com/2v7zrmzy

The criteria for PIPs are undergoing a major government overhaul to reduce the UK’s benefit bill by tightening eligibility, which could mean hundreds of thousands of people lose their entitlements.

The ‘Reimagining Disability Assessment’ has been developed by Lincoln Against Poverty and the Lincoln Poverty Truth Commission supported by LocalMotion Lincoln using real life experience of hardship and disability assessments.

The project will be led by Rachel Griffiths, who specialises in using participatory theatre to bring about social change – in this case the project will be inviting audiences to become ‘spect-actors’ to interrupt and reshape scenes based on PIP assessments.

“This project is not simply about raising awareness. Its purpose is to create a public, participatory process that helps shape policy conversations,” explained Rachel.

“Using Legislative Theatre, we will bring together people with lived experience, artists, and decision-makers to examine the failures of the current PIP system and test new ways forward.” 

The central questions will be: how can we influence the re-design of policy and change the narratives around the PIP system?