A late edition from Tafline...posting from afar...temporary member of the Black Company...now back down south but hopefully she'll visit again soon...
So you know when you were younger, and you were asked to explain something as if you were explaining it to an alien? I suppose I am currently Yew Tree’s adoptive alien, and I thought you might all enjoy the reverse. That is, my two pennies on all things Yew Tree as seen from outer space. Well, the south.
I think I sort of got to have my cake and eat it too. Not only did I get to be involved in the tour of Say The Words (a play and workshop dealing with teenage pregnancy) in Wakefield schools, I muscled my way into the youth theatre as well. By gum, how utterly magical.
The tour was intense in so many good ways. I don’t think I’ve ever felt more invested in something so practically. It’s all well and good to get on one’s soapbox and berate passers-by with one's cures for the world’s ills, especially for something as controversial as teenage pregnancy, but if we’re honest it’s all a little self-indulgent, and that’s exactly what I didn’t want the tour to be. But it wasn’t – it felt like manual labour, a job, and something that wasn’t for us. Hearing people make revelations or review their own opinions due to something you’ve said is going to make you feel good but that was definitely not the point. We did over 40 performances in 14 different schools to approximately 1,100 children, with ages ranging from 12 to 16, the majority being in Year 9. And the best part was that it didn’t get boring. With up to six performances in a single day, this is testament to the close-knit nature of everyone involved, the quality of the play and the responses it elicited from the students. There was no such thing as a “normal working day”. It sounds trite, but it's given me that whole "I want to change the world" feeling, at least in terms of PHSE. Yew Tree really has a work ethic to be proud of, and sets an example for other companies venturing into Theatre in Education, or just theatre in general to be honest. And not that I want this spreading around (seeing as I do have to eat, occasionally) but I’d do it for free.
As for the collective from the Black, Gold and Sapphire companies… I’ve never belonged to a youth theatre. In fact, I don’t think I even really went to drama club. It’s like I get to be 12 again. And it’s brilliant. Every company I saw had that wonderful relaxed but focused atmosphere you want in a youth theatre but oh-so-rarely find. I certainly never did anyway. As Rachel has said, The Musicians was a pleasure - watching the Black company’s hilarious and subtle rendition of it has inspired me to read Patrick Marber’s entire back catalogue (and listen to The Who again), and subsequently being allowed on stage in a ridiculous hat (thank you Callum) to go on to play an imaginary violin was ruddy marvellous. It was a dream to be in a cast that were all so equally committed to the cause. Without a doubt, Yew Tree is how all youth theatres should be. Not that I want to massage your egos any more than I already have, but it really was something I’d missed out on, and you all made a little Tafline-shaped space for me to fit into. It reminded me why I love this so much. So thank you. Anyway, I hope the Tafline-shaped void doesn’t get refilled too quickly, as I shall be back to resume my post as Resident Southerner faster than you can say “Best and worst…?”
So you know when you were younger, and you were asked to explain something as if you were explaining it to an alien? I suppose I am currently Yew Tree’s adoptive alien, and I thought you might all enjoy the reverse. That is, my two pennies on all things Yew Tree as seen from outer space. Well, the south.
I think I sort of got to have my cake and eat it too. Not only did I get to be involved in the tour of Say The Words (a play and workshop dealing with teenage pregnancy) in Wakefield schools, I muscled my way into the youth theatre as well. By gum, how utterly magical.
The tour was intense in so many good ways. I don’t think I’ve ever felt more invested in something so practically. It’s all well and good to get on one’s soapbox and berate passers-by with one's cures for the world’s ills, especially for something as controversial as teenage pregnancy, but if we’re honest it’s all a little self-indulgent, and that’s exactly what I didn’t want the tour to be. But it wasn’t – it felt like manual labour, a job, and something that wasn’t for us. Hearing people make revelations or review their own opinions due to something you’ve said is going to make you feel good but that was definitely not the point. We did over 40 performances in 14 different schools to approximately 1,100 children, with ages ranging from 12 to 16, the majority being in Year 9. And the best part was that it didn’t get boring. With up to six performances in a single day, this is testament to the close-knit nature of everyone involved, the quality of the play and the responses it elicited from the students. There was no such thing as a “normal working day”. It sounds trite, but it's given me that whole "I want to change the world" feeling, at least in terms of PHSE. Yew Tree really has a work ethic to be proud of, and sets an example for other companies venturing into Theatre in Education, or just theatre in general to be honest. And not that I want this spreading around (seeing as I do have to eat, occasionally) but I’d do it for free.
As for the collective from the Black, Gold and Sapphire companies… I’ve never belonged to a youth theatre. In fact, I don’t think I even really went to drama club. It’s like I get to be 12 again. And it’s brilliant. Every company I saw had that wonderful relaxed but focused atmosphere you want in a youth theatre but oh-so-rarely find. I certainly never did anyway. As Rachel has said, The Musicians was a pleasure - watching the Black company’s hilarious and subtle rendition of it has inspired me to read Patrick Marber’s entire back catalogue (and listen to The Who again), and subsequently being allowed on stage in a ridiculous hat (thank you Callum) to go on to play an imaginary violin was ruddy marvellous. It was a dream to be in a cast that were all so equally committed to the cause. Without a doubt, Yew Tree is how all youth theatres should be. Not that I want to massage your egos any more than I already have, but it really was something I’d missed out on, and you all made a little Tafline-shaped space for me to fit into. It reminded me why I love this so much. So thank you. Anyway, I hope the Tafline-shaped void doesn’t get refilled too quickly, as I shall be back to resume my post as Resident Southerner faster than you can say “Best and worst…?”
I thoroughly enjoyed this blog :) x
ReplyDeleteI thought it was lovely too...
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