Editorial: Summer Term 1 2018-19

What a lucky editor I am – I seem to have spent my month being repeatedly uplifted and inspired by people, all in the name of work. I attended Mousetrap Theatre Projects’ Youth Leadership in the Arts Conference (reviewed on page 47) at which the keynote speaker was director Emma Rice, and considering that she had chosen to give her speech about ‘failure’, it was extraordinarily motivational. While remaining entirely discreet and honourable about her experiences at the Globe, she was truly inspiring on the subject of overcoming adversity: ‘I fight for my joy,’ she said to the assembled company of 16-21 year-olds, ‘because my goodness people will take it away from you. Be joyful and value joy, and value people that make you joyful.’

Joy was not, however, the only emotion Rice advocated. Explaining the path of her education and training, and her early career in the 80s, she pointed out that her education had been free, her training also paid for by a grant, and that once she emerged into the world of work, the government supported her when she was between jobs as well: ‘Give yourselves a break,’ she said, ‘because I didn't have to find rent when I was your age, and you do: the government invested in me – and I've paid it back a hundred times over – but be angry, and make sure education is free in the future,’ adding, ruefully ‘ …I don't know how you do that.’

She is right, of course, that investment is what's lacking – every good businessperson knows that nothing comes for free, and that what you get out of anything is directly proportionate to what you put in – so those of us in the arts world must keep fighting for greater investment in our industry's future: for faith in the young people who will take it forward and investment – financial and ideological – in their education and training.

I went on from the conference to the production of Come from Away currently playing at the Phoenix theatre in the West End, and I was treated to inspiration all over again: by seeing what incredible work was being done by all the performers on stage, but also by being immersed in a story about how human beings pull together in difficult times, and how generosity and compassion abound when most needed. I've reviewed the production on page 46, but, [spoiler alert] I'll also recommend it very highly here.

And then, last week, the Music & Drama Education Expo took place at Kensington Olympia Central – and once again I was surrounded by inspirational people who are passionate about drama education. Sessions on subjects as diverse as ‘Devising from a key extract of a play using a practitioner’, ‘Managing energy rather than behaviour’, and ‘KS3 Assessment in drama’ were packed with delegates participating, taking reams of notes, asking questions and offering insight from their own practice.

The call for papers for Expo Manchester | 2019 will open in April. If you have expertise you'd like to share with your peers in the drama teaching world, keep an eye on the website: www.mdexpo.co.uk and on the MDEE twitter account @MusicEdExpo.