This term, we continue our involvement in Company Three’s nationwide project with two new plays: When This Is Over and 1:100. These plays are being made and performed by renowned youth theatres all over the country, and we are one of them!
We are also delighted to tell you that Arts Council England have decided to invest funding into our project, meaning we can aim for really special, high-quality performances with our groups.
Click the buttons below or scroll to find out more...
We are also delighted to tell you that Arts Council England have decided to invest funding into our project, meaning we can aim for really special, high-quality performances with our groups.
Click the buttons below or scroll to find out more...
These plays will give young people a chance to create exciting pieces of theatre exploring moments in their past, present and future that are or will be special to them. We will use our Mortal Fools style of blending performance styles like scene work, monologues, movement, music, drama, comedy and playfulness to make plays that we are all really proud of.
The plays will be performed at the end of the project as full-scale productions, with things like lighting, sound and props (thanks Arts Council!). If we can perform to live audiences, then we will. If we can’t perform to a live audience, we will make filmed versions of the plays. Either way, we plan to record some of the content that’s made, to create a legacy that can be shared more widely.
Stage 3 group (aged 11 – 15)...
...will be creating their own, original version of the brand new play When This Is Over – using Company Three’s live blueprint as their starting point.
Stage 2 group (aged 7 – 11)...
...will be creating their own original version of 1:100 – an accompanying play designed specifically for a younger age range, with a focus on bringing out the best of our members playfulness, imagination, and enthusiasm.
Online group (aged 9 – 15)...
...will be working together to create an amalgamation of the two plays – an opportunity entirely unique to this group!
The plays will be performed at the end of the project as full-scale productions, with things like lighting, sound and props (thanks Arts Council!). If we can perform to live audiences, then we will. If we can’t perform to a live audience, we will make filmed versions of the plays. Either way, we plan to record some of the content that’s made, to create a legacy that can be shared more widely.
Stage 3 group (aged 11 – 15)...
...will be creating their own, original version of the brand new play When This Is Over – using Company Three’s live blueprint as their starting point.
Stage 2 group (aged 7 – 11)...
...will be creating their own original version of 1:100 – an accompanying play designed specifically for a younger age range, with a focus on bringing out the best of our members playfulness, imagination, and enthusiasm.
Online group (aged 9 – 15)...
...will be working together to create an amalgamation of the two plays – an opportunity entirely unique to this group!
When This is Over
When This Is Over is a live performance piece in which the young people onstage tell their life stories. They start with their birth, their childhood and the recent past, then the present, and then the story of an imagined future as if it has already happened, all the way through to their death.
It’s very simple, but also really moving. They will explore the ‘7/10’ version of their future – not wildly optimistic and not tragic - just a hopeful life that is still to be lived. We want the audience to feel responsible for it in some way and not rely on the next generation to save the world.
It’s very simple, but also really moving. They will explore the ‘7/10’ version of their future – not wildly optimistic and not tragic - just a hopeful life that is still to be lived. We want the audience to feel responsible for it in some way and not rely on the next generation to save the world.
1 - 100
1 - 100 is a companion piece suitable for younger groups/performers.
This piece consists of the group being given a sample of ages between 1-100 and creating pieces of performance in different forms to reflect or explore those ages/stages of their lives. This will be open to different forms and will be presented as a complete piece. It can also be their 10/10 lives.
This piece consists of the group being given a sample of ages between 1-100 and creating pieces of performance in different forms to reflect or explore those ages/stages of their lives. This will be open to different forms and will be presented as a complete piece. It can also be their 10/10 lives.
Company Three Gatherings
As part of When This Is Over our members will have the opportunity to connect with other young people from all across the country as part of a series of ‘Gatherings’ led by Company Three.
The gatherings will be big online meet-ups for young people and leaders involved in the project to connect and share. The focus of these gatherings will be less on the play and more on the future of youth theatre and its role in the world.
These gatherings will involve:
The gatherings will be big online meet-ups for young people and leaders involved in the project to connect and share. The focus of these gatherings will be less on the play and more on the future of youth theatre and its role in the world.
These gatherings will involve:
- A series of presentations delivered by Company Three & Invited Guest Artists working in the creative industry
- Creative breakout activities
- Opportunity for young people to network & connect with each other
- Opportunity for young people to share their ideas with each other about the future of youth theatre
Project Timeline
Please note: These dates are subject to change but we will keep our members up to date with any new information or changes as soon as they arise.
Dates |
Activity |
14th September 6-7pm |
Information Session via Zoom: for parents, carers and young people to find out more about the project and ask any questions they might have. |
21st September - 16th December 2021 |
Devising: Weekly sessions to develop and devise the plays, using the new, live blueprints. |
October Half Term 2021 |
Creative Intervention Sessions: 1 - 2 full day sessions, focusing on wellbeing games/exercises, devising and rehearsal (dates TBC) |
11th January 2022 - date TBC |
Rehearsal: Rehearsing our plays, ready for our performance event in Mid Jan / Early February. |
Mid January / early February 2022 - date TBC |
Final performance of the plays as part of our When This Is Over showcase week |
Performance date:
We don’t have a date for the final performance yet, but it will be on a weekend in either Mid-late January or early February.
The performance will be taking place early next year, instead of December, because we want to make sure our young people have the best possible chance to do a proper production in a proper venue. This simply won’t be possible in the Autumn, as theatres are so busy dealing with the backlog of cancelled shows. Instead, we’ll be aiming to have our shows finished by the end of 2021, ready to rehearse and make brilliant in January!
We don’t have a date for the final performance yet, but it will be on a weekend in either Mid-late January or early February.
The performance will be taking place early next year, instead of December, because we want to make sure our young people have the best possible chance to do a proper production in a proper venue. This simply won’t be possible in the Autumn, as theatres are so busy dealing with the backlog of cancelled shows. Instead, we’ll be aiming to have our shows finished by the end of 2021, ready to rehearse and make brilliant in January!
Group Dates and Locations:
In-person sessions (Riding Mill, Northumberland)
MFYT Stage 2:
|
Age: Open to all young people currently in school years 3 - 6
Date and Time: Thursdays (term-time only), 5:00pm - 6:30pm Location: Riding Mill Parish Hall (Millfield Road, NE44 6DJ) First session: 23/09/2021 Blueprint play: 1 - 100 |
MFYT Stage 3:
|
Age: Open to all young people currently in school years 7+
Date and Time: Tuesdays (term-time only), 6:00pm - 8:00pm Location: Riding Mill Parish Hall (Millfield Road, NE44 6DJ) First session: 21/09/2021 Blueprint play: When This is Over |
MFYT Online group
Our recent online projects meant we could reach young people who live further afield and couldn’t attend weekly in-person sessions. These members have become an important part of our youth theatre community and we want to ensure they can still be involved.
Our MFYT online group will involve
Due to the online group being a mixed age group, we will be exploring & developing both plays (1:100 / When This is Over) together, based on what the young people are interested in.
Our MFYT online group will involve
- 1 x MFYT online session per week for members who can’t attend regularly in person.
- Opportunities for the MFYT online group and in-person Stage 3 group to work together via live streaming and occasional in-person activities.
Due to the online group being a mixed age group, we will be exploring & developing both plays (1:100 / When This is Over) together, based on what the young people are interested in.
MFYT Online:
|
Open to all young people based in the North East, currently in school years 5 - 9, who are unable to travel to our in-person session locations on a regular basis.
Date and Time: Tuesdays (term-time only), 6:00pm - 7:30pm Location: Sessions will be held via zoom, with occassional in-person sessions which will take place in locations across the Tyne Valley. First session: 21/09/2021 |
