RDP Yorkshire

May 2005 Update

This year has been a busy one for the Yorkshire region, with 3 major training and networking events happening within its borders!

“As usual with nayt events these workshops have reignited my enthusiasm for the work we do and given me plenty of new ideas a refreshed brain!” Evaluation comment from a participant on the 18 February event.

In January 20 youth theatre practitioners from across the region gathered at The Gate in Goole to take part in workshops run by NAYT Director Ben Ayrton and networking discussions led by The Gate’s Art Development Co-ordinator Nicola Raettig and York Theatre Royal’s Youth Theatre Director Sarah Brigham. At this event youth theatre practitioners identified the need for more training events and set dates for the next event.

On 18 February 50 practitioners from across the region and beyond gathered at York Theatre Royal to explore devising and directing text skills and to take part in networking and discussions on best practice. The Theatre in Education Company performed their new TIE show Dumb and followed it up with a workshop led by Paul Swift, Michael Jameson & Clare Kerrigan on using performance as a stimulus for devising. They shared their unique expertise through a two hour workshop exploring how they approach issue based devising with young people. Sarah Brigham & Jill Adamson (York Theatre Royal) and NAYT’s very own Ben Ayrton led workshops on directing text for young people. Exploring techniques on accessing texts and developing character with young people s well as preparing as a director to take on a rehearsal process. In the evening participants were offered the opportunity to watch York Youth Theatre’s productions of The Love of the Nightingale by Timberlake Wertenbaker and Dictation by Mike Kenny.

Finally in March York Theatre Royal hosted NAYT’s Workshop Weekend. Over 100 pPractitioners from all over the country converged on York to take part in workshops with some of the country’s leading practitioners in a three-day event. Shared Experience, Ivan Stott, Sally Abbot, Jeremy Stockwell, Tony MacBride, Ian Arbon, Rick Izod and Michael Haydon all provided workshops on a massive range of workshops from Ju-Jitsu to using music to support workshops & performance to exploring Stanislavski’ss techniques with young people. The event also provided opportunities for networking, socialising and debating NAYT’s statements of beliefs.

NAYT is keen to develop the networks in the region. If you would like to engage with other youth theatres in the region or run a training or networking event please contact the NAYT office.

From November 2000 the Yorkshire RDP provided...

A Training Event in conjunction with the Lawrence Batley Theatre.Two workshops were available: Instant Theatre facilitated by local practitioner Carolyn Mendelsohn and Working with Young People at Risk facilitated by NAYT director Stuart Hawkes

A Regional Sharing Event in conjunction with the Stephen Joseph Theatre. 70 young people and 18 youth theatre practitioners spent the day working together to create four pieces of new youth theatre that were performed on the main stage at the Stephen Joseph Theatre.

5 Advisory Meetings in conjunction with Yorkshire Arts, LBT and Harrogate Theatre. Practitioners from across the region meet to discuss the next steps for the RDP.

26 Visits. RDW Sarah Brigham has visited youth theatres across the region to meet workers and young people to consult on and discuss NAYT’s services. Sarah also runs a 1½ hour workshop with the participants.