With the impact of both climate change and Covid weighing on the minds of the nation's young people, what better time for theatre to address these issues head on. Thanks to acclaimed youth-theatre group Company Three, young people have been sharing their experiences and hopes for the future in the collaborative and innovative project When This Is Over.
Theatre companies and groups from across the UK have been performing their own unique version of the brand-new play since September. It sees young people tell stories from the stage, to highlight and amplify the voices of a pivotal generation at a pivotal time. From Manchester's Royal Exchange to Caerphilly Youth Theatre and Company Three themselves, versions of When This Is Over have been springing up nationwide.
Amplifying the youth voice
‘It's a play that we hope will create space for young people to be heard in their local communities. And it's a campaign that will gather all their stories together so anyone can read, listen to and watch them,’ says Ned Glasier, artistic director of Company Three.
‘The last 16 months have demonstrated that global challenges demand that we are more responsive and more collaborative, so we're laying open our process and practice. We hope this is the future of youth theatre: working together to amplify young people's voices in a way that really makes adults think and act.’
To help them create their own version of the play, participating companies were given plenty of resources and support, including a ‘blueprint’ of ideas and activities and access to a ‘community of practice’ in which all those involved could share discoveries and ideas to sustain the project beyond its performance window up to February 2022.
Listening
What particularly enticed these companies to get involved, and how do they think theatre can address and give audience to such weighty and timely world pressures?
‘We had a group of young neurodivergent people who were hungry to get working on a play again and whose voices had been unheard during the pandemic,’ says Karen Wallace-Jones, artistic director of Make/Sense Theatre in Reading. ‘This is such a unique opportunity for our young people to tell the world who they are, and what they hope for. The way it has evolved for our group, it also feels like a call to arms for kindness, understanding and change. We saw this opportunity and grabbed it!’
‘I hope they will listen to us', says Tyrese White, a performer with the group, ‘and maybe think about our stories and what they could do too.’ And does he think leaders, such as those who attended 2021's COP26 conference in Glasgow, will take notice? ‘I think theatre, depending on the story, can make anyone think about anything. You just have to make a good show and they'll listen!’
Starting a conversation
This is also something other companies involved in the project have striven for. ‘We hope that When This Is Over will prompt the start of a conversation about the risk we all face of missing out on the dream futures we long for,’ says Scott Wilson, participation co-ordinator from Mortal Fools in Northumberland.
‘By addressing the audience directly in the ‘Right Now’ section of the play, young people challenge the audience to act up and help tackle the climate crisis; to ask themselves what they can do to help our young people make their dream future a reality.’
Given the collaborative nature of the project it's likely many students will have had the opportunity to see a performance in their local area, so what can teachers and youth theatre leaders take from such a project and apply in their own teaching?
‘We would encourage teachers to consider how they can shape their delivery around the needs of the young people they work with and support the wealth of ideas and interests they have,’ Scott says. ‘We hope students can see this work as an example of the power that young people have in their hands to transform the future of the world.’ ‘Teachers and students would find the devising ideas so useful when looking at autobiographical work or when writing monologues for their GCSE Drama,’ Wallace-Jones adds.
Looking forward
Practically, what might come from the project on an individual company basis to allow young people to make a real change where they live? ‘We have lots of interest from local SEN Schools who want us to bring it in to their school to inspire and motivate their young people,’ Wallace-Jones enthuses. ‘We're also excited to use this as platform for our young people's voice in the local community.’
‘When This Is Over gives young people a platform to share the moments in their life that have shaped who they are now,’ Scott adds, ‘and the moments that will reshape them again in the future.’
More information on the play and project can be found at www.nickhernbooks.co.uk/plays-to-perform/when-this-is-over-get-involved