For release: 10 October 2007
Media inquiries to Helen Ashley or Shirley-Ann Hickman on 020 8974 7241. Out of Hours 07976 804314.

What do BAFTA winning actor Bill Nighy, learning disability charity Yarrow and Bollywood have in common? ... ...Coping Strategies; a 26-minute film, which premiere's at the Riverside Studios, West London on 16th October has the answers.

Produced with the help of an Awards for All National Lottery Grant, the film tells the story of Shahid, a young man with learning disabilities, who breaks free from his doting mother for a new life of romance, independence and indulgence.

However, the effects of the Ramadan fast on him and his obsessive and antisocial flatmates; Jerry and Wilson, conspire with the mysterious Paris Stilton, to drive him to distraction and a showdown worthy of his Bollywood Heroes.

Why is Jerry doing everything possible to stay asleep? What is the green throbbing glow emanating from under Wilson's door? And just who is Paris Stilton?

All is revealed in this surreal black comedy, produced by Yarrow's Moment by Moment Theatre Company, which combines a wry look at the world of community care with homage to several movie genres.

Yarrow is a charitable organisation working with people with learning disabilities and complex needs.

The film stars Yarrow service users Faisal Yusuf, Darren Pergrino-Brimah and Jason Norris and features a guest appearance by Bill Nighy as a social worker. It has been produced, written and directed by Adam Koronka, who manages The Gate, Yarrow's Learning and Development Resource Centre for people with learning disabilities and the Moment by Moment Theatre Company.

Bill Nighy, who plays a social worker in the Coping Strategies movie, says, "Because everyone is on an equal footing in the Moment by Moment Theatre Company, they stop seeing themselves as a person with or without a disability. They simply become just actors working together."

"Set up in 2000, Moment by Moment is a unique social enterprise theatre company which is designed to integrate actors with and without learning disabilities, in a fun and exciting environment and offer them and their audiences ambitious and entertaining live experiences", says Yarrow's Chief Executive Tim Hughes.
For the duration of the five month rehearsal schedule for Coping Strategies actors with and without learning disabilities were all equal cast members - relying on each other to pull off a tight, funny and entertaining show. Moment by Moment's success is due to bringing together people with talents and the enjoyment they gain through drama and the theatre.

Adam Koronka, Coping Strategies Director, says, "Since our debut on stage in 2001, all our productions have begun as improvisations, as these both help build the company's confidence, and create shows that reflect their diversity and experiences. We concentrate on what the cast can do - and challenge them to do that well - in order to overcome some of the things they may find more difficult. Our aim is for audiences to enjoy the experience because it is funny, exciting, poignant and tight, rather than just worthy".

"We decided that our next challenge should be something completely new - to capture the essence of the theatre company - but on film. A clear theme emerged - people with learning disabilities seem to have passed through the stage of establishing their rights and are now emerging on main-stream cultural and social scenes. With this new freedom comes all sorts of wonderful possibilities and opportunities - but at a price - one of increased vulnerability and responsibility.

"With that in mind, 'Coping Strategies' was created. The cast is drawn from talent we developed through our last four productions - with the welcome addition of the well known actor Bill Nighy who plays a zealously 'right-on' social worker. Filming has been a very different experience to rehearsing and performing a live show. The advantage of a film is though that the end-product will hopefully be enjoyed and understood by a much wider audience than a stage show could reach - and in so doing be a catalyst for many more dreams to fly and many more barriers to fall" he continued.

Gillian Merron, Cabinet Office Minister with responsibility for social exclusion issues, who will be attending the premier, said, "I am delighted to be attending the premiere of Coping Strategies, a groundbreaking film with an important role to play in challenging perceptions about people with learning disabilities and raising awareness of their contribution to society amongst a wider audience."

"We have recently announced plans to increase the proportion of people with learning disabilities with a settled home and the chance to work, improving their integration into wider society and helping them back onto the path towards success".

ENDS

Media invite...media invite...media invite...media invite...media invite

You are invited to attend the Coping Strategies Premiere on 16th October at either 6.45 p.m. or 8 p.m. at Riverside Studios, Crisp Rd, Hammersmith. There will be a buffet and refreshments in-between performances.

If you would like to attend, please contact us to reserve your ticket/s.

Interview opportunities (on request)

Bill Nighy, (Social Worker)
Faisal Yusuf (playing Shahid)
Adam Koronka (Writer, Director and Producer, Moment by Moment)
Tim Hughes (Chief Executive, Yarrow)

Download the ticket order form.

Photography

We have a selection of photography available from the film on request.