PRISM Arts makes a difference. That’s probably why so many people donated to a Crowdfunding campaign to enable Prism’s theatre company to take their latest production on tour.

The appeal burst through its target and raised £7,380 to take Shadow Tales out on the road.

After a sold-out opening night at Rosehill Theatre, in Whitehaven, last week, the show now goes on to Carlisle, Keswick and Kendal.

It’s the 30th anniversary of charity Prism Arts, where adults with learning disabilities and professional actors, animators, musicians, directors and artists work in partnership.

Prism believes that the arts are for everyone and creates projects which are accessible to all.

The theatre company puts on a new production each year. Prism Arts communications manager Kat Prior says: “Each production takes us a year to create. As soon as our last production, Tales of a Long Conflict, was finished touring last December, we started work on Shadow Tales.

“Studio Theatre creates the productions in their entirety, from the very first ideas, to research, to the storyboards, the script, creating the set, puppets and costumes.

“Everything right up to the final performance has been created by us. It is a collaborative effort which is led by our learning disabled participants and facilitated by our team of artists and theatre practitioners.”

And it got off to a great start. “The performance at Rosehill Theatre was fantastic, we had a sold out audience. There were comments afterwards that the show is thought-provoking and interesting but done with great humour.

“Rosehill is beautiful theatre, we were very pleased to perform there. It has such a traditional feel to it, but with all the modern facilities. It has a great atmosphere which really added to the feeling of anticipation and excitement for the show.

“Each theatre is different, different sizes, shapes, position of audience and their facilities.

"We make sure that our production will fit in each venue and adapt the show if needed.

“Sometimes this means that a character may enter from a different side or a section of the set is in a different place, for example, but we are well equipped to do that as it is just part of touring to different venues.”

This year’s production feels extra special knowing that members of the public have made sure it can go ahead.

“For our 30th anniversary we decided to try a new way of fundraising and launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for our theatre tour of Shadow Tales,” explains Kat.

“It was a journey into the unknown, as even though we did our research, we couldn’t really know whether it would work, as every cause is so unique, and so is the audience.

“We were delighted with the response to the campaign, it is so encouraging to know you have the support of the public and it has made this tour an extra special one.

“We received support from friends and family as well as strangers from afar, along with local businesses and organisations. People even ran their own fundraisers to help the effort like tea parties, raffles and sponsored challenges.

“Since the crowdfunder we have had more people helping us with our fundraising effort, such as Ewen Kellar who ran an ultra-marathon – a 34 mile run around Edinburgh.

“He amazingly raised more than £1,000, which he split between us and CALM (The Campaign Against Living Miserably).

“We are continuing to explore more fundraising methods like these to raise the necessary money to keep the charity running.”

Prism’s continued existence is vital to a great number of people. “Over the past 30 years Prism Arts has created a voice for so many individuals with learning disabilities and autism through arts, and helped change public perceptions of their artwork,” adds Kat.

“In the last 10 years, Prism Arts has changed enormously. We went from a small office in Brampton, to a space in the centre of Carlisle, where we have our own workshop and studio spaces.

“We now run creative programmes five days a week - four in Carlisle and one on the west coast of Cumbria.

“We have had major visual art exhibitions in Tullie House and performed our theatre production to the major theatres in Cumbria. We have worked closely with many arts and culture organisations in Cumbria.

“And we have high aims for Prism Arts’ future as we develop our emerging artists, visual art exhibitions, our theatre programmes and our work with other organisations.”

Kat points to some examples of how Prism has made a real difference to people’s lives.

“One of our emerging artists, John, has developed so much over his time with us, he is now selling his artwork and is co-delivering creative workshops with our professional artists in schools and community settings.

“Another of our participants was particularly nervous when she came to us a few years ago. Over her time with us her confidence has built up so much that not only is she now comfortable in our workshops, but for the first time, this year she feels confident to perform live on the stage; yet another reason why the Shadow Tales tour is such a special one."

So how exactly do the arts play their part in bringing benefits to people with learning difficulties?

Helen Walsh, Studio Arts lead artist, offers: “Engaging in the arts enables people with learning disabilities and autism to find their voice - and for that voice to be heard by both those close to them and a wider audience.”

Ali McCaw, Prism Arts lead artist, adds: “Our work is seen and performed in a public forum, which allows the public to celebrate and understand the skills and talents of the people we work with, which can help to change public perceptions.”

Shadow Tales tells the story of a boy called Charles, who is investigating his identity.

The play follows him from Britain, where he has spent all his life, back to India to discover his family’s past.

The production combines tales of the Ramayana from India, folk tales from Britain, a shadow theatre with magnificent puppets, and live performance.”

Shadow Tales moves to The Old Fire station, Carlisle, on November 22 (2pm) and November 23 (2pm and 6.30pm); then to Theatre by the Lake, in Keswick, on November 28 (6pm) and The Brewery Arts Centre, in Kendal, on December 7 (2pm).