RDP South East

7 minutes, 7 actors, 7 ages of man

7 is the final RDP event in the south east at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford on Sunday 14 November 2004. Youth theatres across the region are invited to perform a piece of theatre based upon one of Shakespeare’s seven ages of man. The performance must last no longer than seven minutes and involve no more than seven young people. Performances will be staged in the Mill Studio at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre. The event will also include workshops and a games exchange. For more details and to reserve your place call 01325 363330.

State of Play

The Point Arts Centre, Eastleigh 24 April 2004

State of Play (previously advertised as The Forum) is the next event as part of the Regional Development Programme in the South East of England. The event is the follow up to Pass the Stage held at Guildford last November and will take place at The Point Arts Centre in Eastleigh (near Winchester) on Saturday 24 April 2004, 11.00am - 5.00pm. State of Play will combine three elements:

An opportunity to have your say about the current state of youth theatre in your area and the region as a whole. A chance to think creatively about youth theatre practice; sharing ideas with other practitioners. Secondly. a chance to participate in an excellent and enjoyable workshop on ways of demystifying Shakespeare. The workshop will be led by Mike Rogers, an actor, director and leading practitioner in the field who has worked with a range of companies including the English Shakespeare Company and British Touring Shakespeare. Mike has also worked as an advisor to the National Theatre on devising Shakespeare workshops. Finally, a delicious roast beef dinner and a glass of mead, meeting the usual high standards of Regional Development Programme lunches (vegetarian option available). Sit and get to know Youth Theatre directors from Brighton to Milton Keynes.

The event is open to senior youth theatre members, but numbers are limited to approximately one per youth theatre. As usual the event is free, but we will ask for a returnable deposit of £30 per youth theatre to secure your place. In addition we may be able to assist with travel expenses.

To book please write including your contact details and stating how many people will attend from your youth theatre. In addition please enclose a cheque made out to National Association of Youth Theatres and send to: National Association of Youth Theatres, Arts Centre, Vane terrace, Darlington, DL3 7AX. Please book soon as there are limited places. A full itinerary, maps etc will be sent on receipt of deposit. In addition, we need to know in advance if you have any special dietary or access requirements.

State of Play is open to any youth theatres that operate in the region covered by Arts Council of England, South East.

Pass the Stage

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford 9 November 2003

THANKS to those who attended the Pass the Stage event in Guildford in November for their energy and enthusiasm and helping to make the day so successful. For those who couldn't make it hopefully you'll be able to attend the next event as part of NAYT's Regional Development Programme. For those of you who have never attended one of the RDP events then this is your chance! The next event - entitled The Forum - will combine some inspiring work with professional practitioners with an extended opportunity to share thoughts opinions and ideas with other youth theatre and associated arts practitioners. Although we managed some discussion at Guildford opinion seemed to be that it too short and unstructured. In response The Forum will dedicate more time to issues important to the development of youth theatre across the region. In addition it should be an excellent networking opportunity and a fantastic "free lunch" opportunity (catering should be at the normal high standard). The Forum will take place at The Point Arts Centre in Eastleigh (near Winchester) on Saturday 24 April 2004 11.00am-5.00pm. As with Pass the Stage interested senior youth theatre members are welcome. The event is free, but a returnable deposit of £30 is required to secure your place. In addition we may be able to assist with travel expenses. There are limited places, so if you're interested please contact NAYT for a booking form.

Sharing Event

Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells 30 March 2003

THE NEXT RDP EVENT in the southern and south east region will take place at The Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells on Sunday 30 March between 10.30am and 5.30pm. The event is free and lunch is provided. Places are limited so book ASAP through the NAYT office. Not only is there the exciting opportunity to work with two outstanding theatre practitioners, but also to find out more about a new pilot scheme offering unprecedented opportunities for the artistic and professional development of youth theatre directors. Tim Crouch is an actor and Education Associate with the National Theatre. His one-man show premiered at the Hayward Gallery this February and transfers to Edinburgh and London later on in the year. The workshop will look at devising and performance through the eyes of the audience and will provide a fresh and inspirational approach to working with young people. Andrew Siddal an associate of LIFT (London International Festival of Theatre) is renowned for his innovative approaches to making non building based theatre. The workshop will be a practical session exploring the principal of 'Give & Gain' in devising theatre projects from both physical and design based starting points. ‘Shelf Life Theatre’ will be introducing a scheme which will offer paid contracts for youth theatre practitioners to work with high quality theatre companies and youth theatre/education departments from around the country. Finally, this event is a chance for the RDP Co-ordinator to consult with youth theatre directors on the future of the Programme within the region over the next two years.

Breaking Barriers

24 March 2002, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford

Breaking Barriers is a sharing event for youth theatres in the south east to be held Sunday 24 March 2002, 10.00am-6.00pm at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford, Surrey. The event is designed to bring together different youth theatres and provide an opportunity for young people to meet and to work with practitioners from across the region. Breaking Barriers will challenge youth theatre leaders and young people to create theatre of different forms in different spaces with different people from different places. Breaking Barriers is an event within which to experiment and take risks. The results will not be polished, but hopefully at the end of the day we shall all be exhausted, but inspired.

The delegation from each youth theatre can comprise 1 or 2 youth theatre directors and up to 10 young people aged 14 plus. Each director will be provided in advance with an extract from a narrative or story which they will then translate into a performance, conceived and rehearsed on the day. On the day directors will work with a mix of young people not from their own youth theatre. By applying their own methods or approaches the directors will create a short piece of theatre. In the afternoon there will be a showing of all the work followed by a discussion.

In line with a commitment to keep these events as accessible as possible participation at the sharing will involve a nominal fee of £30.00 per youth theatre. Youth theatres will be responsible for getting to and from the venue (if this presents real difficulties please contact the office). NAYT will subsidise the existing cafe at the theatre so that drinks and snacks will be available at a reduced price. Production requirements should be kept to a minimum. The pieces are intended to be presented ‘without decor’. Anything you do need will have to be supplied by you (remember you may be allocated an auditorium or foyer space).

The regional development programme in the South East region has reached a very exciting stage. So far 13 groups have joined the programme and plans for training and sharing events are well underway. The groups represent the diverse range of youth theatre activity provided for young people across the region. Many of the participating youth theatres have never met their counterparts in other areas of the region. All the youth theatre directors involved so far met in June to determine the final shape of the first regional training event.