The Play’s the Thing for These Kids

Sixteen years ago, John and Carolyne Revell quit their jobs as special-education teachers in Shropshire County, England, to run Kaleidoscope Theatre, a drama company in which about half the 35 members have Down syndrome. The company affords those with the congenital condition the opportunity for a fulfilling career, and also gives fellow actors and audiences a window into their creative talents.

“These youngsters are changing attitudes toward people with Down syndrome all the time,” says Ms. Revell. People “realize that they are not different, they haven’t got two heads, but are actually amazing people in their own right.”

The company performs original plays based on Charles Dickens’s books or the King Arthur legend, among other works, several times a year in England. The group also has appeared at festivals in Scotland and Japan. The performances include dance, mime, and song as well as dialogue. Sets and costumes are created by the company and a core of volunteers, including parents of the members with Down syndrome.

The thrill of performing is only part of what Kaleidoscope offers some people with Down syndrome.

Six actors ages 18 to 26 live permanently with the Revells in a rambling farmhouse in the village of Kemberton, in Shropshire County, which is adjacent to Wales.

The house offers a family atmosphere in which everyone pitches in with cooking, cleaning, picking vegetables in the garden, and other chores. The experience, says Ms. Revell, allows the young adults to increase their independence and develop their language skills.

Kaleidoscope’s $14,000 budget comes from ticket sales, drama workshops for people with Down syndrome offered by the Revells, and individual and corporate contributions. The company receives no government grants. The young adults with Down syndrome who live with the Revells contribute their government disability stipends toward the costs of food and clothing. No one in the company draws a salary.