Citizens Theatre Weekly Classes
From September 2016-December 2017 I led three drama classes at the Citizens’ Theatre on a Saturday. These classes were for ages 9-11, 12-14 and 15-18. It was really great to be back working on this project having first taught 4-5s and 6-8s in the project’s inaugural year in 2007.
Citizens Theatre Easter Academy 8-10s. Photo by Jen Clokey
Harlequin – Eastwood Theatre for Youth
I had the privilege to direct Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs by Alan McHugh with Harlequin – Eastwood Theatre for Youth which kicked off the club’s 40th anniversary year. The production ran at Eastwood Park Theatre from 17th-21st January 2017.
Snow White and Seven Dwarves in Rehearsal, Harlequin Eastwood Theatre for Youth. Photo by Ruth Baillie.
WIN Project
From May 2015 until June 2018 I worked part time for the Carnwadric WIN Project, first as Creative Arts Worker and later as Drama and Volunteer Development Worker.
As part of this work I ran weekly drama classes for Primary 1-3s and Primary 4-7s, created a Young Volunteers Programme and also established an adult community drama group called Studio 46.
WIN Creative Clubs The Day the Queen Came project 2016. Photo by Amanda Barger.
Lyceum Theatre – Project Wonderland
In 2016, I was one of a team of Drama Artists on Project Wonderland with The Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh. I worked with pupils from Canal View Primary School in Wester Hailes and Woodlands School in Currie to stage their own creative responses to the story of Alice in Wonderland. I also ran family creative arts sessions for a group from Children First.
Artwork from Family Creative Arts Sessions, Project Wonderland, Lyceum Theatre. Photo by Jen Clokey.
Citizens Theatre Summer Academy
The Changeling, Citizens Theatre Summer Academy 2016. Photo by Angela Smith.
Summer Academy 2016 was my 3rd time leading the 9-12s for the fortnight long Summer Academy at Citizens Theatre. I co-led the course alongside Carly McCaig, Community Drama Worker at the Citz. Our two weeks of working on the given “Shakespeare” theme resulted in a 20 minute piece called “The Changeling” which explored the feud between Oberon and Titania over the Changeling Boy. “The Changeling” was performed in the Circle Studio on Saturday 23rd July.
A video of the performance has been shared by one of the participants here.
Citizens Theatre Easter Academy
Mount Olympus School of Gods, Citizens Theatre Easter Academy 2016. Photo by Alex Brady
From 4th-9th April 2016 I led the 8-10s age group at Easter Academy at the Citizens Theatre. Our theme for the week was Ancient Greece and the group devised a short play called “Mount Olympus School of Gods” which was performed in the Circle Studio on Saturday 9th April to an audience of friends and family. You can find out more about the piece in this blog post or view some production shots on flickr.
Divided City – Renfrewshire
Divided City, Citizens Theatre, Heriot and St Paul’s Primary Schools 2016. Photo by Angela Smith
Having worked on this large scale project with Citizens’ Learning from January 2014-March 2015 in North Lanarkshire, I was really pleased to return to the project in Renfrewshire. I directed another production of the primary schools’ version of Martin Travers and Claire McKenzie’s acclaimed stage adaptation of Theresa Breslin’s novel Divided City, this time with St Paul’s Primary, Foxbar and Heriot Primary. The P7 pupils from both schools performed at Heriot Primary on Tuesday 15th March.
The Rifles
The Rifles, South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture in association with Citizens’ Theatre, 2015. Photo by Alex Brady.
Alongside Guy Hollands, I co-directed this new piece of theatre which was written by Martin Travers with new music by Claire McKenzie. Based on diaries and letters from soldiers in The Cameronian regiment during World War One, the show featured a cast of young people from the six Hamilton District High Schools and ran at Hamilton Town House from 5th-7th November 2015.
As well as co-directing the production I also delivered outreach workshops to primary 7 pupils in the district who attended schools’ performances on the 5th and 6th November 2015.
Scarfed for Life
Alongside Glen Dickson, I co-directed an abridged version of Scarfed for Life with a group of young people from the CUPI youth group in Greenhills, East Kilbride. The play was performed at East Kilbride Arts Centre in July 2015. Scarfed for Life was my second project with the group, having co-directed Move the Goalposts which was performed, also at EK Arts Centre, in October 2014.
Scarfed for Life, East Kilbride Arts Centre 2015. Photo by Glen Dickson.
Loserville
It was a real privilege to return to Harlequin – Eastwood Theatre for Youth (where I started out as a shy 9-year-old) to direct their 2015 senior show. I had seen Loserville during its short London run and knew it would be a great choice for Harlequin. The production ran at Eastwood Park Theatre in March 2015.
Loserville in rehearsal, Harlequin – Eastwood Theatre for youth. Photo by Barry Kyle.
Macbeth
I worked with the Stonehouse Lifestyles Drama group weekly for around two years. At the start of 2015 the group performed their adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The performance was said to have been the best attended event that the centre had run. This was followed by an adaptation of A Christmas Carol in December 2015 and a production of Cinderella in June 2016.
The cast of macbeth, Stonehouse Lifestyles 2015. Photo courtesy of South Lanarkshire Council.
Cindy
Having previously worked with Strange Town Youth Theatre’s 11-14s to direct You Game by Natalie MacKinnon, I returned in Autumn 2014 to direct Cindy by Amy Drummond. Both plays were performed at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.
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