Meet Russell – the biggest lover of music, dancing, and anything lyrical. You’ll often find him at home playing his guitar, having a boogie, and belting out lyrics to all his favourite songs. Always dreaming of going to concerts to see his favourite artists perform, Russell’s anxiety has unfortunately been a barrier in being able to live out his dreams.
But with a Beatles tribute act coming up, Russell and the team at King Edwards Grove were determined to not let anxiety stop him from a Twist and Shout watching them perform. Often planning things in the past but feeling unable to achieve his goals on the day, everyone decided this time was going to be different, and got to planning on how they could make this a successful trip.
With a Little Help from His Friends, Russell’s sister and key worker helped Russell plan the day down to a tee. Arranging seating at the Theatre where Russell could leave if he felt overwhelmed, looking at the seating plan to see where the toilets and amenities were, finding out what refreshments were on offer, and of course, learning all the lyrics to the songs, everything was thought of and planned well in advance.
And when the day came, Russell picked out his sharpest outfit and off he went. Although anxious, nothing was going to stop him from enjoying his evening. Smiling, dancing, and singing the night away, we’re so proud of Russell for what he’s been able to achieve – and he’s already planning his next adventure musical adventure!
Planning, preparation, and taking things one step at a time, sometimes the first step is the biggest. We simply cannot wait to see Russell Here, There and Everywhere in the weeks, months, and years to come!
A big thank you to the Beck Theatre for bringing Russell’s dreams to life, and supporting him to create memories that’ll last a lifetime.
