All Things Autism - Phil Barnett, Kidz R Us Cornwall .mp3 ========================================= Speaker 2 00:00 - 00:18 Hello, this is Anna Kennedy. We're talking all things autism and I'm still in my office. We're not back in Covent Garden yet, but hopefully we will be very soon. So before I go over to my guest, which is Philip Barnett, one of my good friends, I want to just share a few little bits with you, as I always do. Speaker 2 00:19 - 01:10 So we have a create art competition now I have been a judge for a create art competition probably about three or four years and then they've had a bit of a break but they've brought it back again and I have seen some amazing artwork either 2D, 3D art, digital media and also poetry and short prose so if you're interested and you would like to enter the age groups are from 6 to 10, 11 to 19 and 20 years plus The first prize is a Hobbycraft voucher up to the value of £100 and the second runner-up is £50 and that again is a Hobbycraft voucher. So if you would like to enter either a 2D, 3D art, digital media, poetry or a short prose, 500 words max. Speaker 2 01:11 - 01:25 please check out createart.org.uk. Just to remind you, createart.org.uk. I'm actually one of the judges again. I remember last time they had about a thousand pieces that came from all over the country. Speaker 2 01:25 - 01:37 So it was fantastic. Closing date is 31st of August. We're also going to be chatting to Casey Ainsworth. Now, Casey is one of our charity ambassadors. Speaker 2 01:37 - 02:22 And if you remember, she used to be a little more in EastEnders. and she's also in Grantchester so she's going to be talking about all things autism her son is autistic and her husband is on the spectrum and that's going to be on July 30th at 11 o'clock so check out the charity website all of this information that I'm sharing with you can be seen on the charity website and the last thing is the cake bake please please any children out there send in your creations so again it's under 11 and under 17 and 17 and over and send us in your representations of autism whether it's a cake whether it's a brownie or whether it's a cookie and again it's on www.annakennedyonline.com. Speaker 2 02:22 - 02:50 So my guest today is Bill Barnett and he first trod on the boards in pantomime aged 10 in South Yorkshire and after leaving school he trained as a hairstylist in large salons in Doncaster and Farnsley. Eight years ago he moved to the beautiful St Ives in Cornwall with his partner Ian and later opened the first, which I didn't know he had, five hairdressing salons. Now Bill, welcome. Welcome, hello Anna, hello. Speaker 2 02:50 - 02:53 I didn't know you had five hairdressers and salons, you never told me. Speaker 3 02:53 - 03:00 Well I don't tell you everything you know, I just like to let this information out gradually. Speaker 2 03:01 - 03:14 So for people that we're listening in who don't know who you are, can you just talk a little bit about yourself and then we can talk about the really good stuff about Autism and Autism's Got Talent and Kids R Us. Speaker 3 03:14 - 03:55 Yeah of course, I'm 60 later this year and unlike some people I'm not worried about that. And I've had a long life, thoroughly enjoyed myself, really started off as you said aged 10 in pantomime and South Yorkshire, loved acting all my life, trained as a hairdresser and then I accidentally got into youth theatre, started my own youth theatre up 26 years ago, we've now got our own theatre in St Ives and I still work hairdressing one day a week and the rest of the time is given voluntarily to my youth theatre group. which I love. Speaker 2 03:55 - 04:00 So what's happening now because of lockdown and Covid, so what's happening with the theatre? Speaker 3 04:00 - 04:32 Yeah well at the moment we can't, nobody can perform, we've just got the go-ahead to be able to do outdoor performances but we can't sing and as we do mainly musicals it's going to be a little bit hard to deliver if we can't sing. Now, for some reason, professionals can sing, but amateurs can't. So I'm hoping that in the next few days, someone will make the government realise that this is a little bit ridiculous and that we will be able to sing. Of course, the other thing is at the moment, only six people from up to two families can gather together indoors. Speaker 3 04:33 - 05:02 So we can't rehearse with our kids either, because we've got almost 100 kids and they're from ages six to 20. and we do three musicals a year, so we're all ready to go and normally we repeat them all throughout the summer season so we would now be gearing up for doing all three every week once the kids break up. So we're hoping that very soon we'll be able to perform outside on the island in St Ives that overlooks the beach and it will be an amazing outdoor performance. Speaker 2 05:02 - 05:07 I'm so jealous you live there because it's so beautiful. When did I come for the first time? Was it three years ago? Speaker 3 05:08 - 05:09 I think so, yeah, something like that. Speaker 2 05:09 - 05:18 Yeah, I just fell in love with it straight away. It's so beautiful. The sea and just everything about it, I just really love it. Speaker 3 05:18 - 05:26 It's just beautiful. I can't believe that there's palm trees, can you? The sea is so green and blue. It's beautiful, isn't it? Speaker 2 05:26 - 05:30 It is. So how's it been via lockdown? Has it been quiet? Speaker 3 05:30 - 06:03 Until about 10 days ago it was very quiet, it was beautiful and you'd go on the beach and there'd only be two or three of you and you feel like you've got your own private island. How lucky are we that normally this time of year we're undated. inundated with people and everything was closed down and we could walk on the beach and it's been beautiful weather so we've had a really good time. Now 10 days ago people were able to travel and so now it's gone very busy this week and it's been a bit of a culture shock for everyone who lives in St Ives because all the businesses have been open. Speaker 3 06:03 - 06:40 uh everybody's the the town uh plan has put in place a plan where you keep left but when you're on holiday you forget things don't you and you switch off and so people haven't been keeping to that which then gets a few people in sometimes frightened and when there's so many people around and so there's been a couple of people got a little bit bad temper but in the main it's been lovely and visitors are saying how lovely it is they've had lovely welcome and uh the beaches are lovely i was on the I sent you a video the other night didn't I? I was on the beach till 10 o'clock the other night and it was so warm and beautiful and everybody was safe distancing and it was absolutely beautiful. Speaker 2 06:41 - 06:54 Tell me a little bit more about Kids R Us before we talk about autism. So how long have you been with Kids R Us and what was the building before because obviously it's an old theatre. How long have you been there? Speaker 3 06:54 - 07:16 About 26 years ago, someone asked me, I was a member of our local operatic society and I used to take parts in shows, and they asked me if I'd do a fundraising concert for Save the Children Fund. So I thought, well, let's save the children. Why don't I use children? And I put an advert in the paper and 26 kids applied. Speaker 3 07:16 - 07:48 And we put on a compilation show of all songs from children's musicals like Oliver, Mary Poppins, Annie and all those things. So I did that and everyone, the kids all enjoyed it. The audience couldn't believe that kids could do such a good standard. and then everyone said can we carry on and do it again so three months later we started Kids R Us and then three years after that an old Wesley Chapel in town, the biggest one, we've got five Methodist chapels in St Ives and the biggest one was sort Speaker 3 07:48 - 08:14 of getting less used and less used all the time And so the Methodist Church decided to put it up for sale. So I went along to a community meeting to see if it could be used for the community, and everybody was saying, oh no, it's too big, and we'd all argue and everything, and we wouldn't be able to get on, and who would decide who would have what. So I just stayed behind at the end and I said, would we be able to have it? And they said, yes, if you can raise the deposit, anybody can have it. Speaker 3 08:14 - 08:31 So we had to raise £30,000 in six weeks. And we actually raised £37,000. The community got behind us. And not ever wanting to have our own theatre, suddenly here we were with an old disused chapel that was a fantastic place. Speaker 3 08:31 - 08:38 And over the last 22, 23 years, we've been steadily converting it bit by bit into a theatre. Speaker 2 08:38 - 08:51 It's brilliant. For people who haven't been to St Ives or they haven't seen Kids R Us, the shows are amazing. They're like better than the professional shows that I've seen in London. The costumes, the stage, everything. Speaker 2 08:51 - 09:03 I just love it there. Very, very lucky to have such a beautiful theatre. So let's talk about when you first heard about autism. So when was the first time that you heard about autism? Speaker 3 09:03 - 09:31 I think in my subconscious, I might have heard the words a few times before, but really it was when I met you, when we were on The People Strictly, that it came into my head as something that should be taken a lot more notice, or that I should take a lot more notice of. And I sort of heard it, but I didn't really know what it was about. over the last sort of five years I think you've educated me on quite a steep learning curve. Speaker 3 09:32 - 09:58 Again I'd heard the word but didn't know what it was so it was fascinating to me about it and explained a lot that I obviously I've worked with kids for a long time but I hadn't heard this word and didn't know what it was and now in hindsight I can look back and you can see the clues were there that it was never talked about much but the kids were on some sort of spectrum. Speaker 2 09:59 - 10:18 So we met a young man when we first went to the theatre and I remember he was very upset when I first went because I think the nerves were kicking in and his name's Alfie. If you don't mind, can we talk a little bit about Alfie and his journey from the first time he performed with Autism's Got Talent and then when we came back again to do a second show? Speaker 3 10:18 - 10:57 Yes, can I just sort of tell you about how he started with us as well? because it was very brave of him to enter this atmosphere of up to 100 children. I think he was 12 or 13 when he first came to us and he loves theatre and his mum had sent me an email saying could he come but he had autism and of course because I'd met you I sort of knew what that was about so I was quite excited that he would want to come along and we had to sort of make sure that it wasn't too noisy for him and he sort of didn't want to enter the building to start with but he was excited to do some sort of theatre so he Speaker 3 10:57 - 11:32 did and he came along and just gradually, gradually, gradually he got more confidence. Alfie's got a lot of allergies as well so not only has he got challenges with autism but you know, we can't have any nuts in the building and there's lots more allergies that he's got, so he had to be very, very careful and we had to be aware of everything too. I took some time to meet them before and explain what challenges he had and what he needed and how we could help him and I explained to him that it was a two-way thing and that there were some things that he would have to cope with as well Speaker 3 11:33 - 11:53 that might not be ideal for him. Well, he loved it, but he also got very tense with a lot of the noise going on and a lot of, sorry to laugh, but I'm just thinking about him now when I would say, right, no, we're going to change that and we're going to do it this way. And, you know, a lot of people can't cope with that. Speaker 3 11:54 - 12:12 And he, I had to explain to him about it. And I said to him, look, Alfie, I promise you that I will do all I can to help you and explain things. and just bit by bit by bit he started to relax a bit more. He didn't like touching people so we had this deal where I would help him if he would give me the occasional hug. Speaker 3 12:12 - 12:27 And so at first he was very, very frightened and wary and not wanting to do it and uncomfortable. But gradually, just bit by bit, we did a bit more. And now he can hug everyone. He does? Speaker 3 12:27 - 12:32 Yeah, he does. And that's great. And so he eventually got to the stage. He loves playing the guitar. Speaker 3 12:32 - 12:40 He loves Queen. And he composes songs. He writes shows. He does all sorts of things. Speaker 3 12:40 - 13:01 but mainly from his little tiny bedroom that's full of stuff and to see him come into Kids R Us and then when we're hearing that we're doing Autism Has Got Talent, he obviously was over the moon. When I'd said that you were my friend, of course they all went, what? The Anna Kendi? And I'm like, yes, there's only one. Speaker 3 13:01 - 13:20 And so he was very excited to perform. And as you said, when you first met him, he was very nervous and uptight, which you can understand, can't you? It's a whole new system. But again, you and your team had got everything off so pat when you came to the first one down here with us, because you were coming to a new environment. Speaker 3 13:20 - 13:31 And of course all the performers are coming to a new environment. And Alfie was worried about meeting lots of other autistic people as well. Speaker 2 13:31 - 13:34 Has he met any other autistic individuals? Speaker 3 13:34 - 14:06 I think he has, yes, because I don't quite know which organisation, but he had been involved with another organisation to do with autism before, so he had come across some other people. And of course we've got a couple more in our theatre who are somewhere on the spectrum as well. Some might have been diagnosed, some might not have. But because everyone who was coming to perform here had autism, then it's a big thing and an exciting thing. Speaker 3 14:06 - 14:30 And of course, as you know, that excitement can turn into getting very worked up, can't it? And very nervous and just wondering what will happen next. So the first time you met him, he was a bit concerned and a bit fraught. But what you do in your team is you let everybody, you let them think, you know, they've got as much time as they possibly want and it's all, it's fine and everything's cool. Speaker 3 14:30 - 14:38 And that's one of the things I admire most about you and the team is that you, it's just such a lovely atmosphere for people to rehearse in before they perform. Speaker 2 14:38 - 14:50 The less pressure you give them, the easier it is. So what was he like, if you don't mind me asking, like interacting with your other students? You got friends and that sort of thing? Speaker 3 14:50 - 15:08 Well, when he first came, he didn't know anybody. He's a charming person as well. I'm very funny and I've really, really developed his sarcastic sense of humor. And he didn't get sarcasm when we first started. Speaker 3 15:08 - 15:24 And a couple of times I upset him mildly because of my sarcasm. But once I explained it and he got used to me, he started giving me as good as what I get. I gave him. And so it's really funny. Speaker 3 15:24 - 15:52 Theatre has this way of making people, increasing their skills. And because he really wants to do it, he put up with some of the things that he would have found very uncomfortable and would have refused to have done before. And the challenges for him to be in a full-blown musical, i.e. being on stage on time, being where he should be, having to change costumes, having to wear costumes... That was the other thing I was going to ask you, has he got sensitivity for costumes? Speaker 2 15:52 - 16:02 Obviously I'm ambassador to this t-shirt company where kids don't wear labels, they don't like seams on clothes, all those sort of things. So how was he changing various costumes? Speaker 3 16:02 - 16:17 Well, you know, it was a challenge to start with. He's always, one thing about Alfie, he's always really, really willing. Sorry, when I say one thing, that's not the kind. One of the many brilliant things about Alfie is that he's very willing and open. Speaker 3 16:18 - 16:38 And sometimes he's had a meltdown and he said, I can't go on. I can't do it. And this has been in the middle of a show where he's got a principal part. And luckily we've got certain people who we respond well to, one of them being myself, and other people who we can talk and we can pull him around and say, right Alfie, come on. Speaker 3 16:38 - 16:57 know, you really want to do this. And if you know what, I don't want to get to a situation. We didn't say this at the time, but I've explained to him before that, you know, can he cope with the stresses of being able to be in a principal, having a principal part and be needing to be on that stage and no one else to take your part? And he said, yes, I can. Speaker 3 16:57 - 17:45 And although I might have meltdowns or I might get on for I will do it and so you know it's been full of all these things but each time he faces a new situation he learns from it and he's open to it and then afterwards we'll have a little chat and say what was it about that he felt uncomfortable about can we change anything and if we can change it we will do and if we can't then we have to say well Alfie if you want this one thing like if you have to have a principal part in the show you've got to learn to be able to take that on board and cope and to his credit he did and the same with costumes you know all different textures some might have been used by other people before and just trying them on was a challenge for him to start with but again sometimes the more you do it the less sensitive to something you are if you do it in a safe and secure environment. Speaker 2 17:45 - 17:49 Yeah, I've met his mum and she's very proud of him, so she should be. Speaker 3 17:49 - 18:06 She should be because she's amazing too. You know, what's lovely about Kate, his mum, is that she always sees both sides of it. Yeah. Obviously, she wants to be protective of Alfie, but she also sees that he's got some things that he has to face and he has to give as well as take. Speaker 2 18:06 - 18:10 Yeah, because we can't wrap them up in cotton wool. They've got to get on in the world as best they can. Speaker 3 18:10 - 18:26 That's the thing. And I've come up against parents like that. And sometimes, I love everyone to be supportive of their kids, but it's not a good result in the end if you do protect them from everything. Just the same as with any children. Speaker 2 18:26 - 18:36 Yeah. There's something I just wanted to interject. I was given a book and I was sent a book as a present and it's very good. It's called 15 Things They Forgot to Tell You About Autism. Speaker 2 18:36 - 19:09 and it's by the co-founder of Ought Kids magazine, Debbie Elley, spelled E-double-L-E-Y, and basically the front cover says, The Stuff That Transformed My Life As An Autism Parent. So this book is full of real life humour, tongue-in-cheek truth-telling and front line in the trenches, parenting know-how, bright, witty and upbeat. This book is a heartfelt plea for people to understand the world as those with autism see it, as entertaining to read it, as it's thought-provoking. That was written by Peter Sutcliffe, who I know from SEN Magazine. Speaker 2 19:10 - 19:28 And the last review was an especially great read for those new to autism. I highly recommend this book. So just to remind you, it's called 15 Things They Forgot to Tell You About Autism. It's by Debbie, L-E-E double L-E-Y, The Stuff That Transformed My Life as an Autism Parent. Speaker 2 19:28 - 19:49 And you can get it from Jessica Kingsley Publishing, which is a big publishing company that basically writes producers, sorry, lots of books on disability, autism, Asperger's, dyslexia. Check it out. It's a really, really well written book. So let's talk about Autism's Got Talent, if you don't mind, Phil. Speaker 2 19:51 - 20:11 So obviously you've done a few shows with us now. So what have you learned from the first show to the most recent show? Obviously, we were supposed to be doing another one in June and they were supposed to be coming to you in St Ives, which is just so frustrating that we can't do that. But what have you learned from our shows and from working from the first show to what you've learned now? Speaker 3 20:12 - 20:42 I've always been the kind of person that was brought up to sort of put up and shut up and get on with it. And it's taken me a long while to come around to thinking that that isn't the best way for everyone. And so from the first one I've learned a lot about how you know, instead of having a generic plan for everyone, is to look at people. I guess I've always done that as well, but more so I've realised now that you have to, you know, try and adapt things for the individual. Speaker 3 20:43 - 21:17 And it's just watching your team in action when they've been nice to people, calming down. I'm a very tactile person. So the first thing I did when we did the first Autism Got Talent, the first person walked through the door, I went and held my hands out to give them a hug. uh without asking yeah you know and or went to shake someone's hand as well and that's again little things like that what you would automatically assume everyone is comfortable with um then you know you've got to have your your mind on things like that um it's just working Speaker 3 21:17 - 21:55 together to pace and with certain stipulations in place that will suit everyone and make them feel comfortable. That's what we want to do as a hairdresser of course, I have to do that for each of my clients. So when you're working with a big group of people up to 30, 40, sometimes 80 and 90 when we do our pantomimes, we have to get on and sometimes the individual can get lost in that when you're doing a big group number or something like that. So it's about just being more aware I think of individuals and having your eye ready if someone's a bit uncomfortable thinking oh what's the reason rather than oh they're just not doing it right. Speaker 2 21:56 - 22:01 Yeah so what do you think about the, did you have any expectations of the performers? Speaker 3 22:03 - 22:55 I had seen a few things online, so I'd seen some of the performers that you've had at Autism's Got Talent before I was involved, and I'd seen a wide spectrum of abilities, but I hadn't any idea, I don't think, of the joy that performing gave to some of the acts, and just that What I love is that the very first one that I compared, it wasn't in St. Ives, and the first one I did is I sort of stayed as a host and just introduced the acts. And as people got more comfortable with me in rehearsals and I sort of tried to make them feel at more ease with me, I found that they were relaxing a lot more and talking back to me and being more comfortable in my presence. Speaker 3 22:55 - 23:27 So then I felt, that I could ask them questions on stage a little bit, so that the audience could get to know a little bit of them. And I feel, I don't know what happened before, because I hadn't seen actual full versions, I'd only seen individual acts, but I feel that I'm quite proud that that's what I feel I've brought to Autism's Got Talent, that some of the performers feel that they can chat in front of the audience now, have a microphone, and I can ask them a question off the cuff, and they can feel confident enough to answer it, or not answer it, and say, Speaker 2 23:27 - 23:27 bothered. Speaker 3 23:28 - 24:22 And so I think the audience gets a sense of their personality a bit more as well when they can answer a question because I come from a position of total ignorance, so I can ask the question that everybody I feel in the audience who isn't connected with autism can ask and get to know a bit more, a bit more knowledge. there is the thing as I could ask the same question and every performer might give me a different answer so we're all learning about that person as well and I think what one of the things that's most inspired me is seeing the parents how joyful they are when they see their children blossom and perform and do something and get applause and they bask in that glory of applause and for some people who've been told that they might not amount to much or that they'll never be able to do something, the things that they can do Speaker 3 24:22 - 24:27 now is just amazing and it's just wonderful to see that happening. Speaker 2 24:28 - 24:38 Is there any particular performers that you have seen that sort of stuck in your mind because of the challenges that they had to overcome to be on stage? Speaker 3 24:38 - 25:21 I think when I first met OJ, OJ really sticks in my mind because what I saw was on face value this young boy who is a talented dancer and I got to know that not only did OJ have autism But they also identified as non-binary. So that means not male or not female. And again, that I learned so much. And this remarkable 12 or 13 year old could then feel comfortable to tell the audience all about what that meant and again I was in ignorance so I wanted to learn about it and everybody on stage and it was just said in such a lovely way and to Speaker 3 25:21 - 26:01 think that they struggle with confidence and that they get down when they're so confident they can speak to people that that really stuck out for me. Charlotte is another one who really stands out for me because her beautiful voice, as you know she's a beautiful singer and I sort of have given her a few tips on performance and to see her blossoming and her performing being stronger. Daniel was another one who again had a beautiful voice but not much performance skills or he might have had the skills but not confident enough to display them sometimes. Speaker 2 26:01 - 26:04 Well, the first time he sang, he read the lyrics, if you remember. Speaker 3 26:04 - 26:05 Yes, that's right. Speaker 2 26:05 - 26:11 And now he's able to sing without the lyrics. So I think that was just a comfort thing for him. It was nerves. Speaker 3 26:11 - 26:16 It was. And he liked a lectern to hold on to, didn't he, as well. Yeah. That's a good thing. Speaker 3 26:16 - 26:30 So it's about doing these things, trying to just push a little bit someone out of their comfort zone, if they're up for that, of course. And then that would just be amazing. And you see amazing results from it. And there's no reason why. Speaker 3 26:30 - 26:54 We have to find the different ways that suit that person to bring out their full potential. And I know that a lot of these performers have got far, far more potential than what they even realise, because I've seen it so much with young people. I can see just how much talent they have, and that if they're brought on with the right encouragement, that they can do wonders, and it is just so exciting. Speaker 2 26:55 - 27:04 Someone who supported our Autumn's Got Talent show was the lovely Molly, who was one of the winners from The Voice, and I believe that she was part of Kids R Us. Speaker 3 27:04 - 27:42 She was indeed, yes, she's been part of Kids R Us for the last 10 years since she was a little girl and she started off in the chorus and then took principal parts and then leads and she was Mary Poppins when we did Mary Poppins. She was the lead in another couple of shows that we did as well and so she's had lots of training in singing, acting and dancing because our youth theatre group works with professionals from the world of theatre and they all come, we have the best training for them, they come down here and do workshops And then Molly entered the voice, and we couldn't believe it. Each round she got through, and then she got through again, and then she got through to the final. Speaker 3 27:43 - 28:07 And then when we got to the night of the final, we were all in the theatre watching it on our big screen in the theatre here, and we couldn't believe that she won. It was just, you know, it seems unbelievable. And to have someone from our youth theatre group be able to do that, you know, we've got lots of our kids go on and be successful and work in the West End and on cruise ships. and perform all around the world. Speaker 3 28:07 - 28:12 And then to have Molly do this was just fantastic. And like you said, she was kind enough to come and sing as well. Speaker 2 28:12 - 28:30 Yeah, that was like a real cherry on the top for some of our performers, because obviously they knew who she was from watching The Voice. So when they saw that she was there, they were really quite overwhelmed. And she was really lovely. And then I remember her saying that she was blown away by so many of the performers. Speaker 2 28:30 - 28:32 She really enjoyed the show, as did her mom. Speaker 3 28:33 - 29:20 That's right and so you know it's just wonderful I think I think the thing is what we we can everyone every single person who performs we can see some bit of ourselves in them and what I love more than anything is being able I've got a really analytical mind and to look at these people and to uh that all the kids not people kids who come in front of me and for me to be able to say I know what they need and I can if we give them this and if we give them that and if we give them these skills they will just blossom and because that's there's no secret to it it's just skill it's developing confidence and giving them technical skills acting singing dancing it's all a matter of having the right knowledge in there and for me it's trust as well because some of the children have been let down badly in the past so they find it difficult to trust people especially Speaker 2 29:20 - 29:35 a lot of our autistic children and adults because they've been bullied in the playground or within the community or at school or online so I think that's a biggie if you can build up trust with a young person I think they'll fly. Speaker 3 29:35 - 29:59 Without a doubt, and that's what I said to you I'm most proud of, that I've built this relationship with some of the performers. And the more I see them around, the more they come to me. And it's just wonderful when somebody runs up to you and gives you a hug, who, when you first met them, you couldn't... even shake their hand or anything like that because they were worried about it and the joy of reaching their full potential. Speaker 3 29:59 - 30:11 You see, everyone's got a full potential and we just need to find the way that works for them best to increase this potential and just bring it out in them. And that's what Autism's Got Talent does so well, doesn't it? Speaker 2 30:12 - 30:29 So one thing I was going to ask, if you've got parents listening in and you've got children who are autistic that might be interested in performing arts or wherever they live, what's the best questions to ask when you want to join a performing arts school, what is it that they're looking for? Because obviously there's some great ones, there's some not so good ones. Speaker 3 30:30 - 31:15 Well it's like anything isn't it, they all vary and they all have a particular purpose. Some youth theatre groups just work on improvised work, some work on full musicals on plays like we do, others work just on skill-based workshops, so everyone is different. So I think it's about going and asking questions, getting in touch with the organisation, sending them an introductory email maybe explaining the details of your child and what help they would need and then asking how what the fit is how they will you think they will fit around what that company does and Most people I've found who are involved in youth theatre do it because they love children and want to help them develop anyway. Speaker 3 31:15 - 31:42 And obviously, like anything, there's going to be a few exceptions to that rule, but usually it's great. groups that are set up specifically for autistic children as well and that works well for some autistic kids. Some autistic kids prefer to be pushed a bit more and out of their comfort zone and want to join one that's for all abilities. I don't know whether I'm saying the right thing there. Speaker 3 31:42 - 31:51 Am I saying the right thing when I say all abilities? Yeah, yeah, because obviously there's a spectrum condition so they're all... Yes, but I don't think that's necessarily an ability, is it? Do you know what I mean? Speaker 3 31:51 - 32:19 It's just a challenge in the way that their brain works and the ability is still there, it's just how they get to that level, isn't it? And that's one of the things that I found the most difficult. I am a blunt Yorkshireman, but obviously with being a hairdresser, I've looked after people all my life and service is a big part of the industry. But I am really, really keen to learn more and more about autism all the time. Speaker 3 32:20 - 33:18 And what I found is that different people prefer different terminology and that's a bit of a minefield for everyone who has not had much experience of autism so if I could encourage parents not to get frustrated because it is very frustrating for them I understand that but we will only get more educated if you help us out and if if you get too frustrated with us then some of us might not keep trying to understand we might just if we're sort of told off and can see that somebody's getting a bit fraught with us because we've used the wrong terminology and then we really need explaining and educating and that's what a lot of parents are good at as well of autistic kids and they will come and explain something to you and the other thing is you can say one terminology to one parent and it will be right and then somebody else it won't you know I saw a tweet the other day saying And I'm paraphrasing because I don't know exactly what it was, but don't tell me that I treat autistic people just the same as everybody else because I'm different, Speaker 3 33:18 - 33:46 you know. And then I've heard some people who want to say, don't treat me any different because I don't want to be treated different. So it all depends on that individual and that's the biggest lesson that I've learned. uh about autism is that you can't just say everyone who's autism with autism is exactly the same their behavior is different they've all got different skills they haven't they're not all mass prodigies or anything like that or they don't all necessarily have a special talent um to make Speaker 3 33:46 - 34:09 up for perceived uh other lacks in lacking in other areas They're just different and so the sentiment is that I want to treat people with autism, adults and children, exactly the same as I treat everybody else, but I'd like to learn what help they need and how we can provide that help in order to make them feel most comfortable and reach their potential. Speaker 2 34:09 - 34:16 Yeah, that's interesting. Do you know if people have to wait in St Ives for a long time for a diagnosis of autism, children and adults? Speaker 3 34:16 - 35:06 I hear that they have to wait a long, long time, yes, and that it's not somehow, it's not, the St Ives school, the junior school, are brilliant with autistic kids, absolutely brilliant, and they taught me a lot. Again, when I went, we had one girl who was autistic in the very early time after I met you, and she, you know, that she was very difficult to deal with because of her needs and I was anxious. I went up to school and they taught me some of the basics of maybe getting down on the same level as somebody, you know, kneeling down so that you're at the same level, talking to them with their name, if they've got a comfort toy, things like that, and that's what the school taught. Speaker 3 35:06 - 35:30 So our school is very switched on with that. That's been my experience and really want to help. but it's not their responsibility to get diagnosis and I know my sister thinks that my niece might be on the autistic spectrum somewhere and well she's convinced she is and there's lots of signs there but she's been waiting two years now. Speaker 2 35:31 - 35:48 That's just very frustrating and it's not fair on the child as well and it's not fair on the school because they don't know what they're dealing with so they don't know what support to put into place so it can be very frustrating so hopefully she won't have to wait much longer. Speaker 3 35:48 - 35:57 You know, it's not just her, there's lots of kids around who might have very, and apparently, am I right in saying that girls hide it a lot better than boys? Speaker 2 35:57 - 35:59 Mask it better. Mask it. Speaker 3 35:59 - 36:02 Sorry, you see that? I'm learning all the time. I love it. Thank you. Speaker 3 36:02 - 36:27 They mask it a lot better than boys. But for me, nobody should hide anything. See, growing up, being gay, I've had prejudice all my life. and so what I just want to do is accept everybody for what they are and just try and find the best way for them to live their life and get on and reach their potential because I see lots of these kids who perform at Autism Scotland and you Speaker 3 36:27 - 36:44 can see from the first time they come to being performing three or four times a whole difference in their personality and their confidence. You know, look at Aston. Aston's just amazing and the things that he challenges, he's a poster boy, isn't he, for achievement? Speaker 2 36:44 - 37:23 And there's so many there that you've got in your... Aston, for people listening in, is one of our ambassadors and he's been my ambassador for a few years now and he's trying to raise awareness and acceptance of autism and he's autistic and proud, wears t-shirts, in Essex, so we do a show once a month called All Things Autism in Essex, but he does lots of other stuff with his very supportive mum and dad, wonderful couple, and they're also my charity champions. So Phil, I was reading that you were honoured to receive the Queen's Award for Voluntary Services and the British Empire Medal for services to youth, so what was that like? Speaker 3 37:24 - 37:37 Well, it was a great honour, really. First of all, I had the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, which was out of the blue. I was really, really surprised. I just got a letter saying that you've got this award. Speaker 3 37:37 - 38:26 And it was just amazing to think that somebody had noticed all the work that I'd done over 20 odd years and that I'd been rewarded in this way. So I was very proud. a year later Kids R Us and those organisation got the Queen's Award for Voluntary Services as well so that was for all the volunteers at Kids R Us and anybody who and all the kids themselves who who'd ever been involved so that was a real accolade and then I got this other letter saying would I accept the Queen in the Jubilee was it the 60th Jubilee I think a diamond jubilee, the government wanted to bring back an honour that hadn't been given for a while, so they decided that the British Empire Medal would be awarded Speaker 3 38:26 - 38:29 and I was awarded that from Her Majesty. Speaker 2 38:29 - 38:31 Wow, where did you go to get it? Speaker 3 38:31 - 39:00 Well, unfortunately, I wasn't as lucky as you because that was the only downside to it. It wasn't presented to me by a member of the royal family. It was presented by the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall at Truro here, which was lovely. got there to start with I thought all right I'll be you know going to Buckingham Palace and get although I did get to go to a garden party at Buckingham Palace twice which was fantastic and amazing and while I was at that garden party I went to get Speaker 3 39:00 - 39:21 some tea they have these big tents don't they yeah yeah get the tea and everything go in a queue and who should serve me but one of our ex-kids So it was amazing. And so they've got this British Empire medal. And that was just wonderful to think. And I'll tell you a little funny story, because they say, if you want to know more about it, have a look online. Speaker 3 39:21 - 39:40 And so I looked online. And it said, British Empire Medal, the same rank as an OBE and what's the other one? OBE and MBE. It's the same rank traditionally awarded to the lower classes. Speaker 3 39:40 - 39:56 As a lad from a mining pit town in Yorkshire I knew exactly where I was then and that was fine so I thought that was really funny. So yeah isn't it, I mean awards are lovely and it really is lovely to get things like this. Well as you know because you've got one haven't you? Speaker 2 39:57 - 40:29 Yeah I've got an OBE but it's just for me it's they're fantastic to get and you know it's amazing to you know go and receive it and all the rest of it but it's like for me it's like a key to open some more doors to raise more awareness or whatever it is that I'm trying to do so something else that we experienced together which was like the cherry on the top for the pair of us was the People Strictly. So tell, you know, I've heard it like a million times from you, but obviously people listening to the radio have not. So let's talk about People Strictly. Speaker 3 40:30 - 40:44 Well, I'm all, as you're speaking about it now, I'm all excited and my face is flushing. And didn't we have the most wonderful experience? We did. First of all, we had to go up to the BBC and they told us a right load of lies. Speaker 3 40:44 - 41:02 We had to go, I had to go with my sister. My sister, I didn't know this, but my sister and one of our kids nominated me, as well as a few other people I think, and I had to go there with my sister because they told me that we were going to, I can't remember the word now, we were going to make... And I did. Speaker 3 41:02 - 41:20 Aniden, that's it. Which for anybody that doesn't know, they're the little things that happen before programmes. You see people on the bike going round and round about, or you see little things happening, people doing yoga or tai chi, all these little things, that's Aniden. And we're told we've been chosen to take part in Aniden with the public. Speaker 3 41:20 - 41:37 and this particular idea might have some dancing in it so they wanted to see what your skills were like so we had to go have an interview we had to look at did you have this as well you had to look at the screen and follow some dancing things yeah i did a few steps of the jive and then they said oh can you do Speaker 2 41:37 - 41:43 Could you do that? So I did it and then they made me do it again but they said they didn't need to because they couldn't believe I'd picked it up. Speaker 3 41:43 - 42:00 I know well you were so quick at it that's the thing that frustrated me particularly but a lot of us is that you could pick things up really so quickly whereas it took me hours and hours just to get one set whereas you learnt the whole routine really quickly. Anyway, we went to the BBC and they did this test. Mine wasn't jive, though. Speaker 3 42:00 - 42:07 I had to hold my arms out to the side. I'm doing it now. Can you see me? Hold my arms out to the side and move to the side. Speaker 3 42:07 - 42:14 I suppose it might have been to do with our particular dance or whatever. And that was it then. And they said, right, we'll be in touch. No problem. Speaker 3 42:14 - 42:29 And then a couple of months later, I was told that I needed to go to the theatre by my partner Ian, and I said, what's it about? And he said, I can't tell you. And I said, come on, you've got to tell me. And he said, don't ask. Speaker 3 42:29 - 42:48 You'll love it. Shut up. And I knew something was off because I had to use the back entrance to the theatre, which isn't the one that I normally went, and I had to go to a specific time, and then just as we were walking up towards the entrance that's the audience use for the theatre, he just whispered to me, and also you're on TV. Speaker 3 42:49 - 43:10 So immediately I stood up a bit more like that, and then I walked in the back door of our theatre and went into the audience, and it was full. And one of our little girls, a six-year-old, grabbed my hand and led me along. And everybody started clapping and cheering in the theater. It was full of friends and relations and parents and our kids. Speaker 3 43:10 - 43:36 And our kids did a whole dance routine, singing, thank you for the music. And one of our girls led me on the stage and up the steps. And suddenly, when I'm on the stage, we've got two stages in our theater. And then suddenly Lisa Riley and Kevin Clifton from Grimsby came on the stage and there was a big confetti cannon and they came on dancing on the stage as the song ended. Speaker 3 43:37 - 43:57 And then they went, you're going to be on Strictly. And I couldn't Believe it because I've watched strictly from the beginning every single episode and I loved it. It's very theatrical, you know And just everything and I've always said to people. Oh, I wish I could be on strictly, you know every Saturday night I've watched that television about because I'm a performer and a bit of a show-off. Speaker 3 43:58 - 43:59 Yeah. Did you know that about me? Speaker 1 43:59 - 44:00 Yeah. Yeah. Yeah Speaker 3 44:00 - 44:39 So, and they said it was going to be, I was going to be on The People Strictly and I was going to be on Strictly as a contestant and I just couldn't believe it because you don't think that happens to ordinary people and to think that, you know, it's never happened again and we're the only six people in the world, ordinary people, no celebrities, that have had exactly the same experience with the Strictly professionals and been lucky enough to, you know, my partner Jeanette Manrara, how lucky is that? And you've got Robin, who was amazing, and all the dancers were brilliant with us. And then we nagged them, didn't we? Speaker 3 44:39 - 45:01 Because we were just doing the one dance. I hoped it was going to be a whole series where we got to do all the dancers. But then we nagged them and we got a group dance, didn't we? But all the way through, I can't stress to everybody how we were just treated so wonderfully and we got the experience that these celebs get. Speaker 3 45:01 - 45:26 When we first went in that studio and we met each other, I was the first one in. I was so lucky. the first one went into the studio and it was just empty and then the lights came on and then there's a judge's desk and you know we got to sit behind it and then we met each other and you know I got another amazing friend out of that as well as you got Heather who's amazing Heather Parsons She was amazing. Speaker 3 45:26 - 45:40 We got on like a house on fire straight away. And then the other three, you know, Trishna, Mike and Cass, we all went through this thing together. And we loved it. And it was just the most, from start to finish, most amazing experience. Speaker 3 45:40 - 46:10 And I can remember that, as you know, my first rehearsal with Jeanette, I hurt my knee and I had to have a cartilage operation and I heard afterwards that they'd said to the physio, oh we're not going to let him carry on, he's going to have to drop out. And I didn't know this, but my physio said, no, I work with lots of professional sports people and I'm telling you, I'll get him back dancing. And so to be able to just have that experience was wonderful. Speaker 3 46:10 - 46:29 I think because I was aware I could have easily been pulled from that show. I enjoyed every single second, even up to the dress rehearsal on the day, you know, when we recorded it. And I remember in the green room, I was eating pudding for Christmas and all the, all the stars were going, you can't eat before a show and all that and all the celeb dancers. Speaker 2 46:29 - 46:30 And I'm like, oh no, I'm enjoying this. Speaker 3 46:30 - 46:40 I'd lost three stone, you know, and I didn't want to face the nation dressed in lycra with all my rolls hanging over everything as it happened. Speaker 2 46:40 - 46:42 I loved the costumes, that was the best bit. Speaker 3 46:42 - 46:56 Wasn't it amazing? Can you remember that day when we had the makeover and we went to this country house, didn't we? And it was just amazing, just fantastic. And I can remember they wanted you to wear a bob, can you remember? Speaker 3 46:55 - 47:01 1920s and everything. You tried it and it looked really really good but you weren't comfortable with that were you? Speaker 2 47:01 - 47:12 It was just like, and then they said, you don't want to work, do you? No, I don't. But it was fantastic. And also we were lucky that, you know, we've stayed friends since then. Speaker 2 47:13 - 47:39 And then obviously Robin has come to support Autumn's Got Talent quite a few times. And then I got to, when he thought he was leaving the country and going to live in St Lucia, I got to do the Farewell Tour. So I danced in, I think it was about 10 different theatres. and then he came back six months later but we just had the best time, loved it and I'm so pleased that I was able to buy a costume. Speaker 2 47:39 - 47:43 I know it was expensive but it was just a memory of it and I've done it that many times. Speaker 3 47:44 - 47:52 I bought mine, I think mine was about 700 pounds but it's just something that's irreplaceable isn't it? Speaker 2 47:52 - 47:52 It is. Speaker 3 47:53 - 47:56 And of course my hat inside it says Aliash Speaker 2 47:56 - 47:58 Oh yes. I've got Ali Asher's hat as well. Speaker 3 48:00 - 48:04 So because they recycle a lot of the costumes don't they? Was yours new for you or what had it been? Speaker 2 48:04 - 48:06 No it was Caroline Flax. Speaker 3 48:06 - 48:08 Yeah oh of course I remember that. Speaker 2 48:08 - 48:22 Yeah it was just the leotard part and then what they did was they put the fringing on because I didn't want to show my legs. And then I said, oh, do you think you could do something with the bus stereo? So they put fringing on that, but it actually looked really good with the fringing. They said, oh, I'm glad you asked. Speaker 2 48:22 - 48:30 And then the lady, Vicky, who actually made the costume, she was lovely. She was from the North East, my neck of the woods. Speaker 3 48:30 - 48:47 Yeah, she was. And her husband was from Yorkshire, my neck of the woods. So we got on well. they were really good to me but you know they kept saying is that everything all right is there anything else we can do you know and I just said I want just more sequins that's fine just more sequins so I had sequins on everything you know just a Speaker 3 48:47 - 49:01 bit of bling on everything and the fantastic thing was that the autism community followed me where I went I was taking pictures here there videos half the time I wasn't supposed to but I didn't care about what they're going to do pull me from the show Speaker 2 49:01 - 49:24 So, they absolutely loved it and I remember getting something like 3 million or 4 million impressions from my Twitter account because they were following me. So, if people want to watch it, some of it is still up there. So, if you want to check out BBC Strictly, People Strictly, it's on there. And also, Phil, if people want to check out Kids R Us, where would they find you? Speaker 3 49:24 - 49:48 Again, look on our website www.kidsarrows.net and that shows you some of the shows we're involved in. It tells you a lot about what we do and how we behave and everything that we put forward here in St Ives so they can get all that information on that. And if they're coming down on holiday, come in and try and see if we've got a show on when you're down here because that would be amazing too. Speaker 2 49:48 - 49:58 It's K-I-D-Z-R-O-S-U-S. And also if people want to follow you on social media, where would they find you? Speaker 3 49:58 - 50:10 Yeah, I'm philkids on Twitter. That was one of the most hilarious things, by the way, as well. The BBC said, you have to get your Twitter account up and working. So I've got one, but I never used it. Speaker 3 50:10 - 50:20 I said, oh, no, you must for this. It'll be important. And I think I said, oh, do you know what? a fortnight I'm up to 500 followers and what did you say? Speaker 2 50:20 - 50:23 I've got 50,000. Speaker 3 50:26 - 50:42 So that put me in my place. I was really excited at having 500 followers and you've got 50,000. So yeah, Phil Kids, but also at Kids R Us is another one for kids. We don't use it as much as we should, but again, you can follow us on there. Speaker 3 50:42 - 50:59 That would be great because it would help our, you know, people awareness of our organisation because we are a charity. You know, I've worked for 26 years, never had a penny from it. And we, it costs us £4,000 every single week to run our theatre. That's over the whole year. Speaker 3 50:59 - 51:24 You know, that's when we have orchestras, when we have scenery, costumes and everything. and of course now during lockdown, you know, we haven't been able to meet, so we've had a few Zoom things with our kids and meetings on that, but they, you know, they don't want to get that involved on that, but they can't wait to come back. And now we thought that we were going to be able to come back soon, but of course no singing, so we'll have to wait a bit longer and hopefully we'll be able to start getting together. Speaker 2 51:25 - 51:55 Are there anyone Zooming now? Before lockdown I didn't even know what Zoom was, but I'm just Zooming every few days and you know I've done quite a few talks, I'm doing one in Dubai soon, I've done three in America, it's just like I'm zooming all the time and I didn't even know what a zoom was, so it's useful for people to get information out there. So we're a show about mental health and well-being, so could you share with people that might, because I always like to ask people what do you do to relax, how do you relax, how do you recharge your batteries, what do you do? Speaker 3 51:56 - 52:02 Well, various ways. I've always loved playing badminton. Speaker 2 52:02 - 52:03 Ah, I didn't know that. Speaker 3 52:03 - 52:28 Did you not know I used to play for Cornwall a long time ago and I still play now with some of my friends during the week and that's really good. I find it's my way of getting rid of stress, you know, to be able to hit that shuttlecock and have a really good beat about knocking that shuttlecock around and competing. I find that very therapeutic. That's really good. Speaker 3 52:28 - 52:38 Just recently, a good friend of yours, Juliana Weta, I've been following her and she gives massage tips. She does? Speaker 1 52:38 - 52:39 I love her. Speaker 3 52:39 - 53:02 She's such a character. She won't mind saying, because I love, I'm one of them, so I love this kind of deal, but she's mad as a box of frogs. in the best possible way, and I say that with love and affection, and she's so kind. I met her when we did Autism's Got Talent and so did I, and I wish I would have had more time to spend with her because she's fascinating, and her knowledge is amazing. Speaker 3 53:03 - 53:23 Yes well for anyone who wants tips on how to cope and with autism and ADHD she's got lots of tips there as well as for aches and pains and all sorts of a range of things she's brilliant and so cheerful and she makes you feel so good and she's so kind. Speaker 2 53:23 - 53:47 Yeah and you can check it out on the charity website because now she writes for us once a week so we share lots of different things that Juliana's doing. I think it was last week she was writing about people that suffer from fibromyalgia. She's got lots of tips but she just does it in such a way that's endearing and she's very good at engaging you and keeping you on. Speaker 3 53:47 - 54:01 And I found that her little tips are really, really good. She's got one where you massage your temples into your forehead and back along the back of your head. And that's really good for me. She loves these happy hormones, doesn't she? Speaker 3 54:01 - 54:11 And it's just hilarious. She makes you feel so good and makes you see the good things in life. So I can't recommend her enough. I love singing. Speaker 3 54:12 - 54:26 Singing's another way which I do. I like having a massage, you know, going and having a massage. recently, but that's a really good way for me to relax. Singing is fantastic for anybody, even if you don't think you're very good at it, just singing along is really good for your spirit. Speaker 3 54:27 - 54:41 One of the good things is helping other people, seeing other people less fortunate than yourself or just being in the right place and you're just bringing joy to people. That is very therapeutic for me. I find that really, really good. And as you know, that's what you do too. Speaker 3 54:41 - 54:46 So the satisfaction you get from seeing someone's face light up is amazing. Speaker 2 54:46 - 54:52 So lockdown, did it have any effect, do you reckon, on your mental health and well-being and your partners? How did you find, sort of, were you stuck together? Speaker 3 54:53 - 55:18 Yes, it's been very good for us. We've had more time spent together. I haven't spent so much time at the theatre because, you know, I would spend 40 to 60 hours a week every week there. so I've only probably spent about 20 hours a week there recently and the rest of the time I've been able to relax a lot more and unfortunately my mum's got a terminal illness so I've been spending as much time as I possibly can with her because she hasn't Speaker 3 55:18 - 55:42 got that long to go so any time that I can I've spent with my mum although she's defined all the odds she said two years ago that she would only last six months and She keeps having blood results. She's got leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia. They said that she wouldn't, you know, there were really bad results, but she's defying all that and she's still here. And although she's getting weaker physically, she's not in any pain, which is amazing. Speaker 3 55:42 - 55:56 So that's been a big stress on me. And I think other than that, I would have, I've had the most amazing rest and it's done me very, very good. And it's lovely, actually, that I've had the time to spend with my mom and make her my priority as well. She's even got me gardening. Speaker 3 55:56 - 56:10 I hate gardening and together we filled about 100 pots and hanging baskets. Oh well that's all my relaxing thing. Of course I'd like to go on Facebook a bit but you know got to be careful you don't spend too much time on there. Speaker 2 56:10 - 56:15 Yeah. So that's good. So we've got obviously a good team of volunteers as well. So we've built up a WhatsApp group. Speaker 3 56:15 - 56:28 Can I just say, can I just interrupt you? You have got a good team of volunteers. You've got the most amazing, wonderful, fantastic group of volunteers who are all so, so lovely. And I'm not just paying lip service to that, everybody. Speaker 3 56:29 - 56:35 They are amazing and so lovely too. And it's just great to be a part of that team. Speaker 2 56:36 - 56:38 Yeah, we've got a lockdown WhatsApp group, haven't we? Speaker 3 56:39 - 56:48 We have. we have and it's very funny isn't it? And of course I send all my lovely videos from beautiful St Ives. Yes, rubbing it in. Speaker 3 56:49 - 56:53 And then you get all, you get lovely sound of the seagulls Anna. Speaker 2 56:53 - 56:59 Yeah, there's one thing I hate about St Ives is the seagulls, they're so big they could eat me. Speaker 3 56:59 - 57:31 And it's just wonderful and lovely and it's lovely, all the girls are lovely, Jo and Lucy, you know I'm really attached to them, they've come and Joe, Joe's daughter Lucy has got really friends again through Autism's Got Talent with my niece Mia and they've formed a special friendship and Mia stayed with them in London which was amazing and then they came down here so we've met friends but all you know all the group and I'm not going to mention anybody else because once you do I'll forget somebody I don't want to do that. Speaker 2 57:31 - 57:33 We call them the AKO family don't we? Speaker 3 57:33 - 58:01 We do and it's amazing. you know your mother-in-law and you know when everybody is lovely come together we've got a wonderful team here at Kids Rosa volunteers and it's lovely to see your team who back you at 100% and they've got their own challenges looking after their kids and what needs they have but they're so generous and willing of their time and so kind for other people that it humbles me and it upsets me in the best possible way it's just amazing. Speaker 2 58:02 - 58:12 So we're coming towards the end. We've only got a couple of minutes. So just to remind people in case they might like to see a little bit about what you do or any shows that you may have online, where would they find you? Speaker 3 58:13 - 58:24 www.kidsrus.net is our website. And that's the best thing to see. And like you said, it's www.kidsrus.net. Speaker 2 58:25 - 58:26 And you've also got a fundraiser going on? Speaker 3 58:27 - 58:43 We have at the moment. Yeah, you look for that please. We're trying to raise £5,000 because obviously we haven't got the income from bums on seats from all the shows. Our theatre is an old building, it was built in the 1800s, and it still needs their ongoing costs with it. Speaker 3 58:44 - 58:53 So if anybody could donate, even if it's only a couple of pounds, we'd be really, really grateful. Look on Just Giving for Kids R Us and you'll be able to do that as well. Speaker 2 58:53 - 58:56 So it's been lovely talking to you, Phil. Speaker 3 58:56 - 59:03 I always enjoy talking to you. So do I. Thank you so much. Thank you, Anna, for all that you do, because you're ahead of something that's amazing. Speaker 3 59:03 - 59:14 And you can be taken for granted. And I never take you for granted, but I've got enormous respect for you. I think you're amazing. Sometimes what you have to do on just a few hours sleep every night is just fantastic. Speaker 3 59:14 - 59:22 You're a human dynamo, but also a lovely, lovely friend to have. So thank you from all of us for everything that you do for other people. Speaker 2 59:22 - 59:42 Oh thank you and thank you for obviously chatting to my son as well Patrick but we're coming to the end and I just want to say please everyone take care of yourselves, stay safe, stay strong, take one day at a time, we're getting there and we will be all together soon so bye bye, take care and thank you again Phil, bye. Speaker 1 59:42 - 59:43 Bye everyone, bye.