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RDP North West
North West seminars
You can access videos from these three events on NAYTs YouTube site at www.youtube.com/naytvideos There are pictures available on NAYT's Flickr site.
About the North West
The North West has a high volume of youth theatre activity, but in the past there has been little contact between groups. The RDP started by bringing practitioners together in a series of meetings leading to a training event at Citadel in St Helens in June 2001. This event covered both practical skills and underpinning issues drawn up in response to the needs of practitioners in the region.
The RDP is allowing NAYT to get an up-to-date view of youth theatre activity in the region, to offer support for the development of groups and the professional training for those working in the field. Already a wider group of local practitioners has grown out from the Advisory.
Professional development opportunities for North West practitioners
Have you ever wanted the opportunity to look at what you do and how you do it? Have you got a burning question or idea about the work you do that you would like to explore with the support and collaboration of others? Do you want a chance to try a new approach to your work and to: Test out different ways of working in a safe environment that are particular to your individual needs and those of your youth theatre group; reflect upon and analyse your own practice and that of other practitioners; be part of a process that will generate research findings and evidence that can be used to give a positive status to your work and that of your youth theatre? If the answer is yes read on...
Following our recent successful Grants for the Arts application to Arts Council England NW, the North West Youth Theatre Network (NWYTN) in partnership with the National Association of Youth Theatres (NAYT) has been awarded funding to initiate a programme of action research, professional development and training that will allow youth theatre practitioners the chance to examine and explore practical approaches to pertinent issues arising from their practice and work. We are offering you the opportunity to run a project that directly relates to your needs; a chance to look again at what you do and how you do it; to open up a process that examines questions that have directly arisen from your practice and/or organisation about your work with young people and looks at where you want to go next. Research and consultation recently undertaken within the sector identified a number of recurring issues and themes that were of particular relevance to youth theatre practitioners.
As a result we want to focus project work around the following areas: Disability and youth theatre Access, participation and inclusion Communication; marketing and profiling of youth theatre A maximum of £13,500 overall (not per project) is available and we are aiming to support a minimum of 6 projects. Additional funding will provide external evaluation, monitoring, co-ordination and support for each project. We want these projects to be relevant and meaningful to those involved and understand that for many of you action research may be a new and unfamiliar concept. With this in mind we would like to offer you the opportunity to attend a training day on Thursday 28 October 2004 from 10.00am - 4.00pm at the University of Manchester, Department of Music and Drama, Oxford Road, Manchester.
The day will be led by the Centre for Applied Theatre Research. The purpose of the day is to guide you through the process of what is involved; de-mystify action research and give everyone the chance to explore potential ideas and suggestions for projects. Lunch and morning and afternoon refreshments will be provided. Following this day you will then be invited to submit a formal proposal that has been informed via this process. Applications will then be selected by an independent board from NAYT and decisions for successful proposals will be made before end December 2004. At this stage all we are asking from you is your time and a willingness to join us on this exciting journey.
The Latest News
FOLLOWING THE END of the very successful NAYT/ NWAB Regional Development Programme and the Next Stages conference, a consortium of youth theatres – North West Youth Theatres Network (NWYTN) was formed. The consortium has met regularly to explore ways of continuing the initiatives created during the programme and in partnership with NAYT recently submitted a Grants for the Arts application to seek funding for research and development. This would lead to the creation of further training and arts activities for youth theatre members in the North West. We have been successful in our bid and are now in a position to undertake research and consultation with the sector in order to determine future provision. To this end, we would like north west youth theatres to complete a questionnaire so that we can identify the sort of arts activity and level of participation that you are able to commit to. We want to build upon what was achieved during the RDP and go a stage further. The aim is for twinned youth theatres to work together with professional artists to develop new performance work that will then be toured within the region. We would wish to include opportunities for practitioner training within the programme and workshops for other members not directly involved within the project. We need your input to determine the exact nature of the programme which will run from Summer 2004 – Spring 2006. This information will then form the basis of a further Grant for the Arts bid to fund the work. We have very strong support and backing from the arts officers at ACE NW and now need your help in realising these plans. If you have not already received a questionnaire please contact NAYT who will be happy to send one to you. The date for completed forms is 28 November 2003.
Training Event – Pyramid, Warrington 13 November 2003
THIS EVENT, organised by the North West Youth Theatre Network was open to all youth theatre practitioners, senior members and community arts students in the region. The day will involved opportunities to network; practical skills workshops including; stage combat; creative writing; mask work and the chance to contribute to the Grants for the Arts-funded research and consultation for the development of future youth theatre training and sharing activity in the region.
Conference 26 March 2003 PICTURES from this event are now up. Click on a thumbnail below for a larger version.
Next Stages Pyramid Centre, Warrington 27 March 2003
The last ten years have seen a significant growth in the recognition of the value in using creative techniques in work with young people and of the benefits to be gained in terms of their social and personal development. Through the work of the RDP, partnered by NAYT, the DfES, North West Arts Board (NWAB) and recent research commissioned from the Centre for Applied Theatre Research (CATR), significant progress into the analysis and impact of the diversity of youth theatre work has begun. With this in mind it is the intention that the one-day conference will: Consider the needs of the sector with regard to future strategic development; make recommendations on sustainability and work towards a forward strategy; provide opportunities to discuss the results and recommendations of the CATR research. The conference will provide the opportunity to highlight the successes so far and ensure that the communication, networking and ongoing professional training and development that have been initiated by the programme are sustained within the sector. The constituency of the conference should appeal to: Youth theatre professionals; youth workers; artists practising workshop-based arts work and other interested parties including local authority arts officers and Connexions advisors.
Activate Zion Centre, Manchester 19-20 October 2002
Activate was the second of two youth theatre workshop skills and sharing events funded with the support of the Regional Arts Lottery Fund. This two-day event attracted almost 300 young people and workers made up from 16 youth theatres including both established and new groups from across the region. Building upon the very successful exchange that took place last year, this year’s event took place over two days in order to open out the opportunity to younger youth theatre members. Day one was aimed at 11-13 year olds and day two for the 14+ age group.
The programme included: A diverse range of workshops delivered by professional artists; workshop leader training; networking and discussion forums; results of the CATR action research; youth theatre performances and opportunities to share work created within the workshops and professional performances.
The two days were received with enthusiastic responses from the young people, their workers and the artists alike. Positive feedback and evaluation focussed particularly on the opportunities to network, learn new skills and share practice and ideas and generated the idea of a sense of belonging to a regional and national network of youth theatres.
“I have met people/contacts from local youth theatres and made connections for the future and future events.”
“I have learnt so much. A lot of self discipline and to appreciate everyone else’s work too.”
“Good to see young people mingling, making friends and working/supporting each other.”
“Dub poetry with Michelle & Chris was amazing!”
“I really enjoyed the classes and showing what everyone did and the wide range of choices.”
“It was an inspiration to see such enthusiasm and ability.”
From discussions with youth theatre workers after the event, they have reported that their members had a very positive experience of working not only with professional artists, but also from working with other young people from different youth theatres across the region. This experience in turn has broadened and developed the young peoples ideas about drama and theatre and has made them more receptive to trying out new ideas and art forms with greater confidence and appreciation.
Thanks must go to everyone who assisted in making the event such a great success including; all the staff from Zion, Judith Clapham for her fantastic administration and support over the weekend, all the artists who produced such creative results with the groups, Irene Lumley for capturing it all on film, the caterers, Spoilt for Choice, for coping in very cramped quarters and all the youth theatre workers and groups for their enthusiasm and support.
Total Recharge 7 July 2002, Oakwood High School, Salford
Led by Glenn Noble from Spike Theatre Company the day’s workshops focused on extending participants skills in devising, storytelling and physical theatre techniques. A combination of experiential learning, demonstration and discussion enabled the group drawn from 14 youth theatres and additional freelance arts workers to explore and experiment with ways of generating and shaping material within a devising process. Handouts provided useful notation and explanation of the techniques covered in the days workshops including handy 10 Commandments of Devising! Many thanks to Glenn for leading the workshop and special thanks to Mike and Liz from Oakwood High School for providing the space and their generous support and assistance with the day.
Get your voice heard! 14 April 2002, Valley Youth Theatre
As part of the North West Regional Development Programme Get Your Voice Heard! will be held Sunday 14 April at Valley Youth Theatre in Liverpool for youth theatre representatives and staff. The purposes of this event are to give workers and youth theatre members a direct input into the planning of the follow up to the ACTASIC! event that took place last October, to create a focus for young people’s representation, to give workers the opportunity to come together, be stimulated, work creatively, and share skills, ideas and practice.
Training Event June 2001
Actastic! Zion Centre, 18 November 2001
Workshops with a range of experienced artists. Subjects included improvisation, dance, comedy, street theatre, music, Shakespeare, set design, theatre costume, stage fighting, stage make-up, audition techniques.
Performances by youth theatres. Youth theatres were invited to prepare a ten-minute piece on the theme of "Rites of Passage". This can be looked at from any angle; growing up, issues of identity and change, emotional journeys, physical journeys....The aim of the performances is not to compete with each other, but to share work and learn about the diversity of youth theatre taking place across the north west. Alternatively, you can present a ten-minute excerpt of your current work in progress or just participate in workshops and watch performances by other youth theatres.
"Chill Out Zone," including videos, CD-ROMs, and opportunities for young people to express their ideas and opinions
Youth theatre leaders workshop. An opportunity for workers from across the north west to meet together, share methodologies and promote good practice
Youth theatre representatives workshop. An opportunity for youth theatre members to get involved in evaluating this event and helping to plan future regional events. Each youth theatre will be asked to nominate 1 or 2 members for this workshop. |
Actastic! was the very first north west youth theatre exchange. The event will included: