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Back to index of Nerve 20 - Summer 2012
Youth
Theatre on Merseyside
By Colin
Serjent
Images: Everyman Playhouse
There is a dynamic and diverse range of organisations throughout Merseyside, who offer young people many different ways of taking part in theatre.
The Young Everyman Playhouse (YEP) incorporates the existing Young Actors and Young Writers strands, but also provides avenues for young people, aged 11 to 25 years-old, to enhance their skills as Directors, Technicians and Programmers.
"Taking part in any one or more of these areas of work experience may act as a stepping stone for the young people involved," said YEP Co-Director Matt Rutter. "In the current economic climate it may lead to some participants being offered paid employment in the future, which would be a very positive development."
YEP had been launched earlier this year with a series of hard-hitting plays - two of them relating to the futility of war and conflict - held over a period of several weeks. They took place at four different venues - three of them not normally used for theatrical productions - Camp and Furnace, Static Gallery, the Albert Dock and the Playhouse Studio.
Among the actors who took part was Jamie Vere: "Being actively involved in youth theatre has increased my self confidence and made me more aware of my creative skills."
Asked about the level of involvement by YEP participants, Rutter commented: "We want more input from our members in regard to decision taking at the Playhouse and Everyman. We do not want to be elitist."
In a similar way the Unity Theatre actively encourages the members of their youth theatre to conceive ideas and proposals themselves for future projects.
"Decisions
are made on a consensual basis," said Unity Participant Co-ordinator
Louise Flooks. "We are fully democratic in the way we operate."
One of the Unity participants, Alex Connolly, who has been a member for over 18 months, stated that taking part "has been a stimulating experience. There is a different focus at each session and that makes it even more enjoyable. I have no career aims in acting but do it purely for enjoyment."
With a different viewpoint fellow Unity youth participant, Chloe Nezianya, remarked that she wants to take up a career in costume design in theatre. "I really enjoy working as part of a team. It has made me more aware of the importance of teamwork, not only in the theatre but in other areas of life."
"Joining the Unity project is not about becoming famous," added Flooks, "but more about personal development, learning from the ground up and becoming more disciplined. But having fun is a key element - it makes learning much more accessible."
Lantern Theatre, based in Blundell Street, cater for a younger age range (14-18 years-of-age) in their youth group, Inside Out.
Each of the members is able to develop a wide range of theatre skills, such as acting, voice production, physical theatre, mask and mime, as well as learning lighting techniques and sound and stage management.
Other theatre-based organisations in Liverpool who work with young people include Collective Encounters (www.collective-encounters.org.uk); Perform L8 Youth Drama Group (www.dinglecommunitytheatre.blogspot.co.uk); the Liverpool Actors Studio (www.theliverpoolactorsstudio.com); 20 Stories High (www.20Storieshigh.org.uk); Valley Community Theatre (www.valleytheatre.co.uk); Knowsley Youth Theatre, incorporating Kirkby Youth Theatre and Huyton Youth Theatre (email: arts.unit@knowsley.gov.uk).
Over the water the Wirral Youth Theatre and Youth Arts, based in Pilgrim Street Arts Centre in Birkenhead, provide a wide range of opportunities for young people. They include training in a professional theatre setting and issue-based touring theatre for youth projects (www.teenwirral.com/provider/wirral-youth-theatre-and-youth-arts).
Such has been the rapid growth of youth theatre in the region that an inaugural Youth Theatre Festival will take place at various venues in Liverpool during the summer. See the Nerve website for more on these events.
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