Oak Bay Tea Party: Performers of all abilities REACH for the stage in Oak Bay

Thanks to an amazing response last year, the REACH Performing Company are live on stage at the Oak Bay Tea Party again June 2. Half of the members of this dynamic group have a significant disability. The other performers are members of the community with huge hearts, including a number of graduates of the Canadian College of Performing Arts and the UVic School of Music.

Their half-hour show includes nergizing and inspiring musical numbers.

“We’ve had people in our audiences say we make them smile, cry, jump up and dance all at the same time,” says Anne-Marie Brimacombe, musical director.

REACH, (a signature program of the non-profit organization West Coast Reach Association), started just 18 months ago and already makes waves in the community – celebrating inclusion and diversity of ages, cultures and abilities through their rehearsals and performances.

“We each bring something unique to the group,” says Brimacombe. “We all have something to learn from each other. Many of our members, ‘abled’ and ‘differently-abled’ say REACH is a highlight of their lives.”

They perform during the Oak Bay Tea Party on June 2 at 5 p.m. on the Willows Beach stage.

For information about the group visit www.westcoastreach.org.