Escape : Contemporary Youth Theatre are a youth theatre like no other.
Every Monday evening during term time a Drama Club made up of young people aged between 9 and 12 years meet at Leeds City School to play games and develop theatre skills. As the participants advance in years, skill and confidence they become eligible to join the Tuesday evening Youth Theatre when they hit 13. There are regular showings of the work created by both groups, enthusiastically attended by encouraging family members and friends. Along with creative and performance skills, the participants learn team work, galvanise their self esteem and much more.
Perhaps at this stage you asking yourself what the fuss is about, thinking that this model doesn’t differ greatly from the other youth theatre groups out there. So, what does Escape:cyt offer that your Saturday morning Theatretrain or Stagecoach or the local theatre youth group don’t?
Firstly, the artistic aims of Escape:cyt differ greatly. Rather than imitate the role of the artist, the young people who attend are encouraged to be artists in their own right. The performance work that Youth Theatre create is ‘devised’ which means it is constructed using the ideas of the people involved. Rather than simply working from a script which dictates what should be said and done, the performers generate ideas, make decisions and solve problems creatively. The benefits of working in this way are significant and numerous. In fact ‘devising’ is a method of engagement, exploration, expression and deepening understanding that is widely employed in outreach work with disenchanted or hard to reach young people. Themes are explored, issues can be addressed and alternative perspectives and approaches can be discovered. Unpacking young people’s ideas and experiences and sharing them creatively is valuable and rewarding, and the results can be striking.
However, the government funding that enables this kind of experience and activity is rightfully going to the areas that need it the most. And the dominant model of youth theatre favours a different type of skill development (often focused on musical theatre). And the funding available to local theatres who run this kind of programme is limited and consistently under threat. So access to this kind of experience for ordinary young people is also very limited.
Escape:cyt are committed to rectifying this which brings me to their second distinctive feature. As an independent, not for profit organisation they employ a socially enterprising business model. Rather than making profits, a socially enterprising business model supports a social aim. The social aim of Escape:cyt is to give a greater number of young people from normal, everyday backgrounds the opportunity to make daring, original work and to explore their potential as artists. So, members pay fees which cover the costs of the venue, professional staff and the expenses associated with putting on a show but no-one makes a profit above that which they should be paid as a fair wage.
Leeds is lucky to be host to this progressive organisation with admirable aims and an impressive long term vision. Perhaps there are young people in your life who would like to get involved? The Drama Club are currently recruiting new members aged 9 or 10 and Escape:cyt would love to hear from anyone who might be interested. There are no stipulations about experience or ability. For further information please visit their website : www.escapecyt.co.uk
A fantastic article and well deserved. As a supportive parent it has been wonderful to see the young people develop in skills and confidence. I have both enjoyed and been moved by the performances I have seen.
Within weeks of joining my daughter had performed on stage at the West Yorkshire Playhouse. What an opportunity and a fantastic experience for all those young people. Simons passion, energy and drive inspires the children and his commitment to them ‘devising’ their own work puts a refreshing slant on the all round experience.
Thanks Joanne for the very kind words and clear explanation of what we are all about in the above. Also it is great to hear the comments from the parents! It has taken a while to get the model of practice sorted but now I feel like it is gathering a lot of momentum and I am really excited about Devising a full public performance with the youth theatre for the Spring!