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Insider Solutions
Case Studies 2005 - West Lothian Youth Theatre Workshop Programme
WLYT delivers over 30 drama workshops each week, throughout West Lothian, based in 12 different population centres including workshops specifically targeted at young people with learning disabilities. Workshops have wide geographical spread to ensure ease of access. Groups are organised by age into juniors (P5-P7), intermediates (S1-S2) and seniors. Workshops use the youth theatre process (warm-ups, games and drama exercises) to develop creative, education and social skills in an informal learning environment. When? Weekly workshops in term time
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West Lothian Council What paid staff took part and what were their roles? Workshops delivered by Artistic Director and three Drama Workshop Leaders. Administration carried out by Business Manager and Administrator. How many volunteers took part and what were their roles? 6 volunteers acting as assistant leaders and 10 volunteers on Board of Directors. What was the aim of the project? The aims of WLYT are:
How did the young people get involved?
What 'needs' were you trying to address?
Did you use any specific planning tools or processes?
Workshops last for 1.5 hours (juniors) or 2 hours (intermediates and seniors). Senior groups are based in Livingston, Bathgate and Linlithgow. Intermediate groups are spread more widely, and junior groups more widely still, with additional groups in Armadale, Blackridge, Blackburn, Fauldhouse, Broxburn, East Calder, West Calder, Torphichen and Whitburn. Workshop groups all begin with a physical warm-up and games: all groups do the same physical warm-up and use a shared repertoire of games. Voice work follows, at an age appropriate level: songs and tongue twisters for juniors, more focused breathing and vocal exercises for older participants. The remainder of the session is given over to drama skills, using further games, exercises, and the devising of dramatic material. A scheme of work is followed to ensure that all participants across the youth theatre are achieving similar skills, appropriate to their level of experience. Throughout the year, devised material is also developed towards a sharing of work or a performance. The warm-up, games and skills work are used in the same way in workshops targeted at young people with learning disabilities. The workshops present an informal learning environment: participants enjoy games and drama exercises in a fun and informal setting, but leaders are using the youth theatre process to ensure the social, education and creative development of participants. Partnerships between youth work and the arts? Youth theatre is a way of working which sits somewhere between the arts and the traditional youth work and youth arts styles of working. As a result youth theatre leaders are required to combine a range of skills which encompass the arts, youth work and education. How was the project evaluated? Workshop participants evaluate the workshop process every six months, via written questionnaires and verbal feedback to WLYT staff. Wherever possible verbal feedback is to a different member of staff to the workshop leader. A recently established youth forum will be involved in evaluating all the work of WLYT, and this will include gathering verbal feedback from workshop participants. What were the main outcomes measured? Through the taking of registers and reporting of attendance figures, we know that active membership of WLYT has increased by 33% in the 2004/05 academic year. Similar reporting suggests that the take up of WLYT-wide projects by workshop participants has also increased during the same period. Anecdotal evidence indicates that participants recognise the effect of taking part in the workshops on their own personal, social and creative skills. These achievements are difficult to quantify. Why was this a good piece of work with young people? Youth theatre is now increasingly recognised as a vital force in the social and personal development of children and young people. "Playing a Part", a study for the National Association of Youth Theatres has shown that youth theatre activities:
How were young people's achievements recognised? Through the sharing of devised work to parents and friends at the end of each academic year. The establishment of new activities in rural areas is a slow process. Children and young people in areas where provision has been lacking will try to mould the activity offered to suit their own desires rather than make a decision as to whether the activity offered is one in which they wish to participate.
Details provided by: Michael Richardson, Artistic Director and Chief Executive.
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