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Coping Strategies

... is a 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.

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?

The film answers these questions and 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.

The film stars Yarrow service users, staff, and supporters, and features a guest appearance by BAFTA Award winner Bill Nighy. Playing a zealously 'right-on' Bill Nighy said:

"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

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."

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.

A DVD of Coping Strategies can be ordered from Yarrow learning disability charity.

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