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SHOWSTOPPERS

Blue Diamond - Blood group Image Name: Blue Diamond - Blood group
Blue Diamond - David camera Image Name: Blue Diamond - David camera
Blue Diamond -Aimee camera 1 Image Name: Blue Diamond -Aimee camera 1
Blue Diamond - Ha'Penny - Sile, Sinead, Aimee Image Name: Blue Diamond - Ha'Penny - Sile, Sinead, Aimee

Showstoppers is a story of ability, friendship and endeavour among a group of drama students with Down’s  Syndrome. This documentary follows their journey as they prepare for their first professional performance – One Love – before stepping further into the world of theatre through the formation of a touring stage company.

Set against a backdrop of Blue Diamond drama academy as it nears the end of its two year course, this documentary captures a year in the students’ lives, showing all the grit, determination, arguments, laughs, love, camaraderie and support that goes into getting this show on stage. While working towards their first professional theatre production, the students also open their lives to the viewers; their jobs, their friendships and their loves.

Co-directed by one of the students, Aimée Richardson, this documentary gives true insight into the students and their lives, and what it is to make your way in a world that waits for nobody, while having an intellectual disability.

Over the course of this life affirming programme we get to know the students and the bonds they have formed. Not only are they preparing for their big performance, they are getting ready to say goodbye to their college days and some of the friends they made over the two years. For many of them, these are the first real friends they have ever had and over the past two years they have learnt what it is like to be taken seriously, to be viewed as people ‘of ability’ – to have their voices heard.