The Ups and Downs Theatre Group

In 1995, three school teachers by the names of George Barclay, Elaine Kirkwood and Theresa McKinnon, all came together to set up a small theatre group known as Ups and Downs.

18 years later, they could never have imagined how successful the club has become today. Ups and Downs is not like any other theatre group. It was set up for young people with Downs Syndrome, who have a talent and a love of music, to do what they do best.

Two of its founding members, George Barclay & Elaine Kirkwood were both teachers at Firpark School in Motherwell, a school for children with special needs. Having had much experience with kids with Downs Syndrome, the two approached Downs Syndrome Scotland about starting the club and were overwhelmed with the response they got from interested families. The club was set up as a part of Downs Syndrome Scotland and around 40 young folk with downs and their brothers and sisters joined up. Together they all worked hard to put on a show that all their proud friends and families came to watch as the curtains rose for the first time.

Today in 2013, the club are working on their new upcoming show Take 19 in the Hamilton Town House. The small group has now grown to 75 cast members, who are all eager for the curtain to go up in March and to have their chance to shine. The club only goes from strength to strength as a marvellous production team keep cast members on their toes resulting in each show being better than the last. In the beginning the show would only run for four nights but, as each year went by, the show sold more and more tickets. Now the show runs for six nights and the club had to move to a bigger venue as the show became more and more popular.

The club has just recently separated from Downs Syndrome Scotland to become its own independent charity. The club has achieved plenty over the years – on stage and off. It was Ups and Downs that brought the National Operatic and Dramatic Association’s “Presidents Cup” back to Scotland, for the first time in 2009. To win this award meant that the Ups and Downs show was voted the most outstanding experience of the presidential year throughout the UK.

In 2011, the club was awarded with the Utopia Costumes Youth Award – an award which is presented annually to the youth group/society which has made an impact in the life of its local community. Over the years, Ups and Downs has attracted the attention of many famous faces. The club has been visited by Michelle McManus and the cast of River City and even shared the stage with Singing Kettle star Gary Coupland.

In 2011, the club was excited to welcome its first famous patron, Britain’s Got Talent star Edward Reid. The Coatbridge nursery-rhyme singing sensation was inspired to work with the group after a relative of his gave birth to a child with Down’s. Two years on and when Edward comes to visit, he always receives a warm welcome from the whole cast.

Ups and Downs has opened up many opportunities for groups of individual members of the club. Malcom Hemmings, an ex-member of the club, was given a role in the ITV soap opera “Take the High Road” while the whole cast was filmed singing out for Pudsey as part of Children in Need 2011. A selection of the cast was also chosen to record a series of sketches for the BBC Alba Documentary “Truasadh”. The Gaelic documentary was filmed to look at Down syndrome and some of the misconceptions surrounding the disorder.

Over the years the club has brought many opportunities to its members and without fail puts on an amazing show every year. The Ups & Downs provide learning disabled children with a whole range of positive experiences: following instructions, working together towards a common goal, overcoming fears and negative feelings, exploring new talents and perfecting new skills.

It brings confidence to the members and gives everyone equal opportunities to shine and the club helps put forward the positive face of disability.

By Lyndsey Stark