For information on Reasons to be Cheerful workshops, please see the production page.

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Find out more about outreach at Graeae

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Graeae is committed to creating an environment where everyone has equal access to the arts: by providing access support for all creative and learning situations; by empowering young disabled artists to pursue a career in the arts through inspiring role models; and by exploring the “aesthetics of access”.

By doing this, we hope to nurture creative platforms for a wide range of performers and develop future audiences.

Our training and consultancy programmes include:

*    Continuing Professional Development for disabled artists

*    Specialist workshops in inclusive teaching, rehearsal techniques, creative access and workshop facilitation for directors, casting directors, producers, youth theatre and workshop leaders

Find out more about Training at Graeae

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FROM OUR FRIENDS IN OTHER ORGANISATIONS

Forum 4Us

EXTANT is setting up a new Young Adults Forum Theatre Project. Could this be for you? Are you aged between 18–30 and visually impaired? Are you interested in drama, want to develop new skills? Have you heard about Forum theatre? Would you like to be part of an interactive project and share your work with an invited audience who will be encouraged to join in?

If so, we’d love to hear from you! For more information please contact Liz Porter email youthprojects@extant.org.uk Tel/text 07824 344828 or Emily at the Extant office on 0207 820 3737 emily@extant.org.uk

Forum 4 Us – a few more details
Who are EXTANT and what is Forum Theatre?
Extant www.extant.org.uk is Britain’s only professional performing arts company of visually impaired people

We are setting up a drama project based on Forum Theatre, which is about giving a voice to those not usually given a voice.   It aims to encourage interaction and discussion between audience and actors about issues relevant to the participants. Originating in Brazil, this form of theatre has been successfully used to empower people on the streets as well as in parliament.

What will you get?

The opportunity to receive training in Forum Theatre techniques  from a professional  director and workshop leader

The opportunity to work with a professional writer who will help you to put your ideas into short scene

The opportunity to share your work in a showcase presentation to an invited audience who will be encouraged to join in

The opportunity to meet with other young visually impaired adults, sharing the experience in a friendly atmosphere

You will need to be available

On Saturdays 21 & 28 April 2012
Saturdays 05 and 12 May 2012
Sunday 13 & Monday 14 May 2012
Plus one ‘Next Steps’ session date to be agreed

Workshops will take place at the Waterloo Action Centre www.waterlooactioncentre.co.uk

Final rehearsal and presentation will take place at The Half Moon Young People’s theatre www.halfmoon.org.uk

EXTANT will provide

Access support workers to help where necessary

Assistance with travel and refreshment costs

This project will be documented and broadcast on Aculco internet radio.  Also we aim to develop a Forum theatre team from this project that will enjoy further exciting opportunities once this project ends.

For more information, please contact Liz Porter project manager on
Email: youthprojects@extant.org.uk
M: 07824 344828

www.extant.org.uk

EXTANT is working with Aculco Radio and Royal London Society for the Blind to put this project together. www.aculcoradio.com

This project has been funded by the British Council’s Youth in Action programme.

Students urged to Write for Rights

Secondary-school students are invited to pick up their pens – or reach for their keyboards – and enter the third Right Words writing competition, launched by the Human Rights Watch London Network and English PEN.

The competition is run to highlight the importance of human rights, this year focusing on the issue of freedom of expression. Entrants are encouraged to submit a poem, a story, factual article, dialogue / monologue or a rap, on this topic. The competition is open to Years 10 and 11 in England and Wales, and Secondary 3 and 4 students in Scotland, and is intended to form part of the Citizenship, English and Religious Education curriculum.

Human Rights Watch UK Director David Mepham says: “Freedom of expression is fundamental to a healthy democracy and central to human rights. It is a freedom often taken for granted by too many in the western world, when in some countries, expression of political, social or cultural view is suppressed, often violently.”

“This competition aims to make students think about what this right means for them as individuals and for their fellow citizens of the world.”

English PEN Director, Jonathan Heawood, says:

“Promoting Freedom of Expression, particularly the freedom to write and read, is central to the aims of English PEN and for this reason we are hugely keen to encourage as many young people as possible to engage with the importance of Britain’s hardest won of human rights, by entering this year’s Right Words competition.”

Monica Ali from English PEN says:

“I really hope as many 14-16 year olds as possible have a go at writing something for Right Words, particularly given Freedom of Expression is so important now, possibly more than ever. I’m interested in the rights we have under Free Speech, but also the responsibilities that come with that. Competitions like this can help get new voices and ideas out there, which is important because we can never rely simply on what we’ve got. Write a story, change the world – it’s as simple as that!”

Author Anthony Horowitz says: “Good writing has the power to change the world. Here’s an opportunity to flex your muscles and show what you can do. If ever there was a writing competition worth entering this is it and, as a member of PEN, I wish you the best of luck.”

Judges include Tim Minchin (comedian and musician), Mike Bartlett (playwright), Nii Parkes (poet) and Meg Rosoff (novelist).

The competition’s closing date is 26^th March 2012. Winners will be announced in the spring of 2012. Winners will be invited to the Right Words Prize Giving in London. They will also have their work published in an anthology.

The competition website www.rightwords.org.uk  Teachers and students can visit the site for full competition details and submission information, or follow us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Right-Words-2011/209266465787913).

For further information please write to rightwords@englishpen.org

 

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About our training…

“When I became a professional actor, some years ago, I was told that getting into radio drama was impossible without having influential friends at the BBC. This is not now the case, and this workshop was an ideal opportunity to see how radio drama is recorded at Broadcasting House, to be advised how to use a radio microphone, and to actually be heard by two Radio Producers/Directors…”
CPD workshop 2010

“It made me think and evaluate my own working practices…and also working out how access can make my work more theatrical.”
Staff Training 2010

“I hope it will have a huge impact on my work and my approach to casting. I do think, however, that it goes wider than just the director. Our job is to get casting directors, theatres and producers on board.”
Staff Training 2010

About our outreach…

“Our young people enjoyed the experience of meeting Deaf role models. They were extremely willing to participate and felt confident doing so because the adults leading the workshop were all using sign language.”
The Iron Man Outreach 2011

“In this workshop, you have achieved in a few hours what we have been trying to do for years.”
The Iron Man Outreach 2011

“As a school, our experience has only resulted in positive outcomes. Young people thoroughly enjoyed the active roles, thus stimulating their creativity and thinking.”
Urban Access Outreach 2011

“All activities encouraged and enabled full equal participation of pupils of all abilities, valuing their strengths and contributions. The theme of our project ‘equality’ was without doubt fully understood and enjoyed!”
Urban Access Outreach 2011

“An enthusiastic, entertaining and educational workshop – this definitely something we would consider again.”
Reasons to be Cheerful Outreach 2010

“By seeing the show afterwards made us pay attention to things we may have missed if we hadn’t been to the workshop …. as a group, it was the first workshop we went to together, so everyone else will now have to live up to our Graeae experience.”
Reasons to be Cheerful Outreach 2010

“We had both a Signed Song and Creative Access workshop. Many of the students have commented on how the workshop fundamentally shifted their knowledge and understanding of access and the politics of this. Invaluable.”
Signs of a Star Shaped Diva Tour 2010

“I learnt how important access is in modern theatre and how dedicated the company is. The most useful was Sign Language and keeping things simple and clear. I would now feel confident in attempting to produce work for disabled audiences. I just thought it was a fantastic experience and opportunity.”
Signs of a Star Shaped Diva Tour 2010

“The students and staff thoroughly enjoyed the performance, it was wonderful to see them so engaged throughout and then during the Q&A session.  They have been very complimentary. They have shown that the students took various things from the play… not letting boys come between friends, how to deal with parents, not discriminating against appearances, learning how disability affects people, how arguing doesn’t solve anything … I think this is something we can learn from and possibly implement more in our projects and classroom practice as a whole.”
Just Me Bell Tour 2009

“I thought the play addressed extremely important issues in a sensitive, relevant and enlightened manner. The pupils loved the performance and were totally engaged…”
Just Me Bell Tour 2009

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