We are delighted to announce that our launch week as a company, with a series of professional skills workshops was a resounding success. We welcomed Rhubarb Theatre performer James Alexander Hall, Tell Tale Hearts' Natasha Holmes, One4All Occasions' Joel Browne and actor, musician and puppeteer Christopher Finn as our leaders and had the best week.
During the week, we looked at clowning, building a character and physicalising a performance. We considered how young audiences engage with performers, and how to accept or reject offers from children during a show. We looked at puppets and puppeteering in it's many forms and how to build a puppet of our own.
We considered the integration of musical performance into our performances, including improvising a musical about a struggling independent coffee shop that was saved by a benevolent millionaire (everybody's dream!). Finally, Christopher Finn was able to draw together all the threads of the week's work and to share his experience as a performer having worked in TYA touring with a production of In The Night Garden (based on the CBeebies' show) and he discussed how different developmental stages in childhood receive different messages from theatre, including how conflict can be presented appropriately.
We were joined by numerous performers interested in pursuing work in TYA, most of whom have received professional training, but have been unable to find paid work as performers locally and mostly have had to find other paid work as an alternative.
The week was made possible by funding received from Grimsby Creates and Kazbah Theatre would like to express its gratitude for making this whole week possible and free at the point of delivery for participants.
Our next step is pitching for work locally so that we can develop some bespoke TYA to promote heritage and history locally and to deliver a message about plastic pollution in our oceans.
One unexpected consequence of this week's work, is the decision to establish the Kazbah Theatre TYA Performance Lab, which will meet once a month to share tips and practice with each other and to help performers hone their skills and craft.
Please like and follow Kazbah Theatre on our social media to ensure that you are among the first hear about new projects and opportunities to work with us, or to bring us in as a company to work with children and family audiences.
SOME RESPONSES TO OUR R&D WORKSHOP WEEK BY THE PARTICIPANTS
"It was such an insightful introduction to the work of Children's theatre for me as a professional actor/performer."
"The work and industry experiences of the workshop leaders were invaluable to understanding the nature of this work."
"Kazbah created a space in which to be open and curious so that we could create work together. The variety and formation of the week allowed for continual learning as well as reflection so that we could create and put into practice what we had learnt. "
"It has been great for this work to be local and that it'll go onto build and develop the creative work happening in North East Lincolnshire."
“It was great to be learning Theatre again, for the first time since the pandemic. “
“I didn't know anyone when I started, and I now have new like-minded friends and colleagues which I didn't have before.”
“I had the most amazing week attending the workshops that were run by various practitioners.”
“A fantastic well-rounded week, chock full of useful insight”
“Children’s theatre is a facet of theatre I’ve never really considered but after this week, I’ve found myself drawn to it.”
“Engaging and insightful. Well worth attending!”
“I found it was supportive and great fun too!!!”
"I have had the most pleasurable week of experimental and enlightening 'playing' around!! I have learned so many new techniques of performance, particularly working with puppets and the art of puppetry in its many forms. Thank you Andy Evans and Kazbah Theatre for the opportunity to work in a friendly, safe and positive environment with highly skilled practitioners!! Many best wishes in moving forward with future projects".
"It was a brilliant way for local practitioners and performers to come together to experiment and discover. Not only was it a great networking opportunity, but it provided a chance for people who perhaps don't have the facilities or team to develop their craft in such a way, that valuable space in which to do so. "
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