Hats off to the Green Company...

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There are times when, despite our best efforts, things don’t go to plan…that despite the time we spend planning creative, rewarding, developmental workshops, things conspire against us and instead of the smooth, seamless fulfilling session we had planned we find ourselves in a challenging situation.

Wednesday night was just such a night…Danny had planned the Green Company session carefully, he and I had chatted about the priorities for the group and what we needed and wanted to get done. We arrived at the session looking forward to the workshop to discover that for reasons beyond anybody’s control (a school’s roof collapsing and a home improvement event for the estate the community centre is situated in) we couldn’t have the hall and instead we were banished to an upstairs room that was too small and had rubbiiiissshhh acoustics.

It would have been very easy for both ourselves and the Green company to have got annoyed at this point, to have seen the bleak side of the situation and to have decided to be uncooperative as a result…but I am glad to say this was not the case…in fact they excelled themselves. Not only did they tackle “Concentration” admirably…they went on to complete, “This is a tick, This is a Tock” Yes you heard right…they completed it…first time…I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a first time victory before (and I was particularly proud of this because I was in it and not leading it as usual.) Their successes went on as they learnt the game of this month “Coconuts” which due to acoustics became “Shhhh.” All this and there were two brand new members attracted by the fabulous performance of “Getting Through” that had taken place at their school the Friday before!!!

Games however were the least of their successes by the end of the workshop as their creative task completed the portrait of Yew tree marvellousness…their trailers were a joy to behold…succinct, snappy, astute and witty…

So in a week of so many wonderful Yew Tree occurrences, and there have been a myriad…I’m going to say Go Onnnn Green Company…as one of the youngest groups in terms of how long you’ve been in existence, you are a credit to the whole Youth Theatre and this week I salute you…

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