Before we can help to show students a vision of the future, we must first help them to deal with the present and their past.
Throughout the last two years, young people have had their lives turned upside down. Their education and social development suffering due to school closures, isolations and constant uncertainty. As theatre practitioners, we want to concentrate on the art form, help them to understand the methods of famous practitioners like Brecht, Stanislavski and Berkoff. We want to research and explore the work of great playwrights, lyricists and composers and draw interesting comparisons to our own lives and influences through constant reflection.
But before we get to that point, before we can really “practice theatre” we must first become leaders, trusted mentors, social workers, diplomats and confidants. We must help our young people believe in themselves, understand their strengths and embrace their limitations. Before we can help to show students a vision of the future, we must first help them to deal with the present and their past. Producing shows during the ongoing battle with Covid-19 has been like quietly meditating at a heavy metal concert. Not easy!
In life we fear two things, the unknown and judgement; this show has plenty of both. But what we must remember, is that unlike main stream education, this has been a choice. Students have chosen to be a part of the 2021 Artz Exam cohort, and they have chosen to embrace the unknown and accept any judgement that comes their way; and that in itself shouldn’t be over looked. They have all made a conscious decision to suffer a little, in order to gain valuable new experience and further their own development.
Perhaps now more than ever, it is important to strip away all the lights, costume, set design and make up and let our students rely on their talents and abundant characters to see them through. My hope is that after the show, they can look themselves in the eye and can be proud of the person looking back. I am excited to watch all of their hard work be rewarded, and I have huge respect for all of them who had the courage to see it through.