Theatre Royal Plymouth Creative Learning September 2011 to August 2012 1 2 Creative Learning Creative Learning 2011-2012
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THEATRE ROYAL PLYMOUTH CREATIVE LEARNING SEPTEMBER 2011 TO AUGUST 2012 1 2 CREATIVE LEARNING CREATIVE LEARNING 2011-2012 WELCOME OUR Creative Learning programme is about creatively engaging FACTS AND with a broad spectrum of young people and communities in Plymouth and beyond. It’s about ensuring that the Theatre Royal is a place FIGURES for everyone. This review gives an overview of the programme and a snapshot of what it means to those who take part. THIS YEAR WE RAN YOUNG PEOPLE PROJECTS WITH... REFUGEES OLDER 655 YOUNG PEOPLE TOOK PART IN AND ASYLUM PEOPLE THE YOUNG COMPANY AND SUMMER SEEKERS ACTIVITY PROGRAMMES STUDENTS AND THEIR 43 YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TEACHERS IN SCHOOLS TOOK PART IN TAILORED PROJECTS ADULTS WHO HAVE ACROSS THE REGION MENTAL HEALTH, 24 YOUNG PEOPLE NOT IN EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT OR TRAINING TOOK PART HOMELESSNESS OR SUBSTANCE MISUSE ISSUES YOUNG COMMUNITY PROJECTS PEOPLE WITH YOUNG PEOPLE NOT IN EDUCATION, 116 ADULTS WITH HOMELESSNESS, ADDICTION DISABILITIES AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES TOOK PART EMPLOYMENT OR 247 ASYLUM SEEKERS AND REFUGEES TRAINING TOOK PART INCLUDING SPECIAL 133 ISOLATED WOMEN AND SCHOOLS THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN 213 PEOPLE TOOK PART IN THE PEOPLE’S COMPANY EDUCATION 1418 STUDENTS TOOK PART IN WORKSHOPS AND PROJECTS 55 YOUNG PEOPLE IN SPECIAL I LEARNT SO MUCH OVER THE SCHOOLS TOOK PART WEEK, NOT ONLY ABOUT THE PROGRAMME BUT THE FANTASTIC 25 PLYMOUTH SCHOOLS TOOK PART OPPORTUNITIES THE THEATRE HAS 23 SCHOOLS FROM ACROSS THE TO OFFER PEOPLE. REGION TOOK PART Nicky, age 21, Get Started in Theatre participant 116 PEOPLE GAINED WORK EXPERIENCE AND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING Photo - Cassandra Horsley 3 4 EDUCATION WORKING in partnership with Polka Theatre and York Theatre Royal, PLAYHOUSE Playhouse gives teachers from primary schools across the UK a chance to FOR direct a play by one of the country’s leading playwrights. Every year each PRIMARY organisation commissions a new play and then works with local schools towards a festival of performances in their home venue. The Plymouth SCHOOLS festival took place in July over three days in the Drum Theatre. Alongside in-school directing support and INSET sessions, the teachers also spent an intensive weekend away with the theatres and playwrights to explore a range of directing skills. Teachers’ professional development is integral to the success of Playhouse. The project has begun to create a ‘ripple effect’ as College Road primary, who have taken part in the project for five years, have started leading professional development sessions with other schools in their area, using knowledge and skills directly gained from Playhouse. This year new plays were by David Wood, Nell Leyshon and Jane Thornton. The schools were Boringdon, Eggbuckland Vale, College Road, Newton Ferrers and Wembury Primaries, alongside our very own Young Company. WHAT A WONDERFUL, UNFORGETTABLE LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ALL INVOLVED! CHILDREN AND STAFF GAIN A MASSIVE AMOUNT FROM THE PROJECT ON MANY supported by DIFFERENT LEVELS. Noelle Boucherat, Teacher, Wembury Primary School 5 6 EDUCATION IN order to broaden our schools offer, we piloted an intensive project with young SPECIAL SCHOOLS people with special educational needs. Working with Longcause Community Special School whose students have a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity PROJECT Disorder, Autistic Spectrum Disorder and other communication and interaction difficulties, the project raised the confidence and skills of teachers and students, and explored new ways of teaching and learning within a special school environment. To kick start the process, the whole school came to see the Elves and the Shoemaker in the Drum Theatre, which inspired the theme of the project: What would MANY OF THE TEACHERS WHO WERE NOT AT an elf do on its day off? This was explored over two ALL CONFIDENT IN USING DRAMA COULD SEE full weeks in school through visual art, drama and THAT USING CREATIVITY IN THE CLASSROOM dance, and culminated in an immersive performance NEED NOT BE A BIG HASSLE. Debbie Grayson, Teacher, Longcause Community Special School that allowed the young people to take part in a variety of tasks and roles, and share this with their teachers, fellow students and parents. This multi disciplined approach allowed young people with communication difficulties the chance to tell their story in a way that is TOBY HAS BEEN UTTERLY TRANSFORMED BY accessible to them. TAKING PART IN TWO WEEKS OF INTENSIVE DRAMA AND DANCE. IT’S AMAZING TO SEE. Parent, Longcause Community Special School A GROWTH IN CONFIDENCE AND SELF ESTEEM WAS VERY CLEAR TO SEE IN MANY PUPILS. Debbie Grayson, Teacher, Longcause Community Special School Photo - Fran King 7 8 EDUCATION EDUCATION WORKSHOPS SCHOOL TIES FOR PRIMARY AND FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS SECONDARY SCHOOLS CURRICULUM WORKSHOPS SHOW WORKSHOPS School Ties aims to facilitate new ways for secondary schools These workshops focus on curriculum topics such as Berkoff, Specifically tailored to enhance the curriculum and embed and their local primaries to work together, affecting positive Artaud, Brecht and Stanislavski. The work is delivered by students learning, these workshops aim to deconstruct the transition for the students and leaving a lasting legacy of our team of highly specialised practitioners, giving students process of theatre production for students and teachers alike. theatre and drama in school. and teachers a unique and profound learning experience. Our This year world class companies such as Matthew Bourne’s New ongoing consultation with teachers ensures that we fulfil Adventures, Complicite, The National Theatre, Rambert and individual schools requirements and develop appropriate Frantic Assembly have worked with schools from Bideford to packages for the future. Bodmin. supported by THE WORKSHOP WAS SUPER FOR MY Eggbuckland Community College and Austin Farm Primary STUDENTS. IT STRETCHED THEM (SKILLS AND have been working with professional playwrights to create STAMINA!) AND SHOULD HELP THEM DEVELOP new plays for each other to perform. In the autumn they THEIR SKILLS AND UNDERSTANDING IN A will embark on realising the plays for a festival in the Drum VERY REAL AND DIRECT WAY. Theatre in January 2013. They will be responsible for every Nick Lineham, Drama teacher, Tiverton High School aspect of the productions including performance, marketing, technical theatre, stage management, front of house and sales. Photo - Andrew Pawson 9 10 EDUCATION APPRENTICESHIPS ASSISTANTWORKING DIRECTORSHIPin partnership with Dundee Rep, Polka Theatre In partnership with City College Plymouth and Exeter College, Thisand Yorkposition Theatre aims Royal,to support Playhouse the development gives teachers of futurefrom primary CREATIVE we hosted two apprentices, one in metal work and the other in Artisticschools Directors across throughthe UK aworking chance toclosely direct with a play both by theone of the technical theatre. Creativecountry’s Learning leading and playwrights. Artistic teams. Every The year work each includes organisation CAREERS commissionsobservation a andnew assistingplay and in then the works rehearsal with room, local scriptschools reading towards GET STARTED IN THEATRE anda festivalworkshop of performances facilitation. in their home venue. The Plymouth In partnership with the Princes Trust this project aims to festival took place in July over three days in the Drum Theatre. motivate young people towards employment or training WORK EXPERIENCE through offering hands on experience of a variety of careers. Our hugely popular work experience programmes continued We delivered two, week-long programmes where the group met this year. Company 15 is for young people aged 14-17. They and worked with staff from our marketing, design, wardrobe, spend a week following the course of a production working front of house and technical departments, whilst working with with different departments including production, technical, a professional director to create their own production. marketing and sales. 18 Plus offers more bespoke, long term I HAVE IMPROVED MY placements for those interested in a career in theatre. CONFIDENCE. WHEN I FIRST CAME MY CONFIDENCE ARTS AWARDS WAS BAD, NOW I FEEL We supported participants of Get Started in Theatre to achieve OFFSTAGE CHOICES LIKE A NEW PERSON. their Bronze Arts Awards, a level 1 national qualification run In partnership with The National Skills Academy and City Danielle, age 20, Get Started in Theatre participant by Trinity College London in association with Arts Council College Plymouth, Offstage Choices enabled young people to England. We are aiming to deliver both Bronze and Silver Arts learn about non performance based careers in theatre. We held Awards next year with various Creative Learning groups. a number of workshops over the course of the day in technical theatre, stage management, community theatre and design. PRACTITIONER TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT As well as offering a rich programme of INSET and professional development for teachers, we also run a theatre practitioner training scheme. Participants gain on the job training across a number of Creative Learning projects and also attend training events with world class theatre companies and group skill sharing sessions. THE VARIETY OF WORK THAT I HAVE DONE AT TR2 HAS HELPED ME ADVANCE IN MANY SKILLS. YOU DON’T JUST CONCENTRATE ON ONE SPECIFIC AREA OF SKILL, SO I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH DURING MY APPRENTICESHIP. Kyle Murray-Towers, Apprentice Maker 11 12 YOUNG PEOPLE THE Young Company is about getting