Now quite a while ago, this creative whirlwind happened last summer – and since, has given me the confidence; that I am doing exactly what I ‘m ment to do – with my creative ambitions. More assured of my working mechanisms, and reliant habits in the creative process of making it happen. Putting a show on stage and getting a story told.
Reflecting on this, taking the lessons forward; This project saw me designing two theatre sets (one had to home the other, as a back to back double-bill) , from inception to writing the script to building and performing – over the course of two weeks, all co-designed by and with young people. And not without the first initial scribbles on paper, to pull things out of the imagination into existence.
Learning myself, by communicating what works well and efficiently, facilitating my young crew to built the set ( and act as stagehands for changes), in daily workshops. And as ever the most important tool in the process , was for me to communicate through sketches- well perceived and realised.
And my favourite moments will always be the props and in this instance we got a puppet made, as well as I worked closely with costume on this show to give the young people the storyworld they imagined ( time travelling to a carnival in this one) With many little moments of authentic and passionate storytelling.
But this was only the second show, preceded by the younger group of young people; dreaming up a story of travelling into someones mind, dealing with abstract emotions in the mind. My production and set design wheels begun churning, an abstract expression of human experience – initiated by people as young as 6 years old. My motivation and inspiration was rife, trusting my young team to get some daring set changes throughout the show happening – travelling from different ‘ locations’.
Giving a platform to the imagination, telling their story – abstract, yet aware and quite literal (emotions become personified in the end of week one and script writing). Immediately swinging my pencil, me and my young team threw some ideas around and even made a little model to aid the process.
And as basic my lines and paper may appear, I can’t stretch enough how useful they were to communicate across all departments ( light, direction, story writing, rehearsing…etc) to get the show on stage safely! With some added dressing and projections the storyworld was on stage, for the young people to step into and share their story.
And as hair pulling it was to get these two shows designed and on stage ( back to back with 15 minute change over ) … I certainly have learned to trust the process and my team ( no matter how young) and the feedback was overwhelming making it worth every second.
At the end of the day we do it for the audience to enjoy, to get the insight into some (young ) peoples mind and storytelling. At the heart of the arts, reminded that principle, effort and commitment don’t change, no matter how able your crew, time limitations and hurdles set; working it out together, trusting the process…
In the Art-department 