http://www.firstport.org.uk/what-we-do/about-social-enterprise/social-entrepreneurs/sadie-dixon-spain/

Sadie Dixon-Spain set up the Walking Theatre Company in April 2006

Your Name: Sadie Dixon-Spain

Your organisation name: The Walking Theatre Company

When did you start?: April 2006

Where are you based: Glendaruel, Argyll

What was your “big idea”?
As a professional actress with 2 small children living in a rural community, I realised that I had not been to a cultural event for a couple of years largely due to lack of childcare and this really made me feel isolated, many other people in our community shared these feelings. I believe that the arts are an integral part of our being, to aid expression, stimulate thought and discussion and promote intelligent emotion. My outlet for this creative side was to stride out into the stunning natural landscape I live in, with the children – in short going for a jolly good walk. Walking in this bold inspiring environment makes me feel connected, peaceful, joyful and free.

So my ‘big idea’ was to combine theatre and arts played through the medium of a guided walk. Audiences are met and registered by a character from the play and led through new landscapes, being encouraged through the story to interact with the outdoors in a totally new way. Our plays are also interactive and the audience become cast as well as audience. This unique style of Walking Theatre engages all audiences as we play both rural & urban landscapes and our work reaches all audiences of all all ages. We take theatre to the people.

How did you get started?
Having conceived my master plan I talked to local groups and business advisers (AIE). I created a business plan, worked out my unit price and then set up meetings with people I felt could help me move forward. This route, at this point entirely failed me as my local enterprise advisor, who claimed to have a background in the Arts, but in actual fact worked in debt recovery with no history of running a business, informed me that and Arts and Theatre based business could never present a viable business model and my idea had no legs (no pun intended).

A huge set back in my confidence more that anything else. However the wheels of an idea still turned and I was asked to perform at a local Festival, Cowal Fest. So I looked for funding to create a community project. Awards for All stepped in and my funding bid was sucsessful. However I needed to make this idea more than a one off and at this point I found Scotland Unltd who gave me the bones to knit together the whole. Slowly, step by step I am working my way through information, contacts and advice. I met with every lead, I talked to every name I was given, I researched other groups and all this information is chucked into a large melting pot, some information to be stored for later, some giving a new stone towards my ultimate goal to create a full time social enterpise company running all year round and serving all communities throughout Scotland.

Who or what was the biggest help to the project?
Scotland Unlimited were the biggest help in getting my idea off the ground as a long term enterprise, with a financial start up grant for the nitty gritty stuff and networking tools. Awards for All were equally helpful in paying for the pilot project. However the biggest help were the people in my own networking group – the actors and professionals that are involved with projects, the friendly accountant, the ‘in-house’ brander and marketing guru (my husband) – all these people let me burble at them, listened to ideas, then mildly batted back that fatal flaw I had missed, until slowly the whole became a working model. This could not have been done with out feedback and discussion.

Best Day?
I was going to say performing at Holyrood for over 200 MSPs and VIPs, which was amazing, however more recently waiting as the the Red Queen, for my audience to arrive. They were being led by the White Rabbit and I had no idea how many we had on the walk. the wait went on for ever, still it was not raining, then suddenly over the brow of the hill appeared this immense crocodile of children, buggys, adults and dogs, snaking towards me all grinning. Our largest children’s audience to date, over 100 on a walk. Our tug’o war finale was spectacular.

Worst Day?

1. Meeting with the AIE. Waving the advisor away and then thinking, oh well, I really should stick to being mum and housewife, obviously best for me, clearly my life as a real person is over!
2. Hearing an audience member saying, this is a great idea, I could sell this to the ‘****’ theatre that I am working for. (well they do say copying is the best form of flattery)

Top tips for new social entrepreneurs?
Identify the relevance of the person you are seeking advice from. Listen to all advice and select that which you understand or feel you can work with. Be open to ideas and use and accept all feedback as it makes you stronger and more focussed. Keep your council and build a strong team around you, ideas develop and take form as they are expressed and worked. Take the bad days in your stride and find your own way to overcome them, they are part of your idea’s development and will become part of your own strength. Whenever you make contact with the ‘outside world’ be positive and clear, try not to talk too much, people do need time to think and process the information you give them. Remember that YOU are the best promoter of your idea.

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