The theatre world is not famed for its inclusiveness, but one company has proved an exception. REBECCA LOWE delves into the magical world of Chickenshed, where everyone is treated like a star.

Poultry fanatics aside, a chicken shed is not renowned for making dreams come true. But the one purchased by musician Jo Collins and teacher Mary Ward in 1974 proved an exception.

Not letting a lack of funds or sanity stand in the way of their ambition, the two visionaries converted poultry den to theatre school – and never looked back.

Now, 34 years on, Chickenshed has produced more than 1,000 critically acclaimed dance, music and drama performances, and has moved into the impressive Rayne Theatre, in Chase Side, Southgate. Every week it runs theatre workshops for 600 people and education courses for over 100 students.

The reason for its success? It doesn’t attract "talent". It attracts everybody.

"We work using an inclusive creative process which means everyone is welcome, and everyone is valued," says Mrs Ward.

"Not many places are for everyone and anyone."

Disabled, able-bodied, talented, tone-deaf: as long as you are over five years old and have a passion to perform, you are welcome.

The attractiveness of such a vision is evident in the company’s illustrious list of patrons and trustees: Princess Diana, Judi Dench, Trevor Nunn, Bob Hoskins, Jeremy Irons, George Martin, Elaine Page, and Richard O’Brien; the names of Chickenshed supporters reads like an Oscar-night guest list.

Lord Richard Attenborough is one of Chickenshed’s most avid supporters. Having lost his daughter and granddaughter, Jane and Lucy, in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the actor and director decided to set up The Jane and Lucy Fund for the theatre company in their honour.

Attending a special performance of Chickenshed’s current production, Seachange, on July 16 formally to announce his bursary, he said: "I believe passionately in education, but not just in academia. I mean groups of people coming together and meeting other groups of people, and understanding the happiness and shortcomings, and pain and joy of one another.

"I believe hugely in society, in the benefits that we all receive, in the opportunity to meet people with whom we have ostensibly no connection at all. Though we look different, speak differently, have different views, there is something in society that we can all take strength from. And that thing is Chickenshed."

Also attending the show was Bob Hoskins, who said he became interested in the theatre group because it promoted values missing from the acting industry as a whole.

He said: "In this business it’s usually a case of everyone out for themselves. But here, all those ideals you’ve been told can’t work, such as equal opportunities, looking after your mates, and teamwork, not only do work, but are very powerful creative forces.

"It’s an impossibility that has been made so possible, it’s overwhelming."

Seachange, which comes to an end on Saturday, July 19, encapsulates many of Chickenshed’s main goals: namely, inclusion, tolerance and outreach. Based on interviews with children throughout the world, the show aims to "provide a means by which the voice of young people around the world is heard and felt to be heard", according to Mrs Ward.

"Young people have the ability not to be restricted by limitations in their vision and therefore can achieve things adults sometimes find impossible," she added.

"In essence, our work is about changing attitudes; and in so doing, changing the way people treat each other. And so long term, done right, our ethos could obliterate many of the fundamental problems with our world today."

From poultry hut to powerful world vision, Chickenshed has come a long way in 34 years.