After finishing and evaluating the first round TMP we are now preparing for a second round. The first round, despite the special situation during the pandemic, gave us worthy experience with both the e-learning, the workshops, supervision and how to treat a group of very diverse theatre workers. We have learned a lot about how to organise the on-line learning sessions, and we have also become more aware about what should be the main themes and competences for a theatre mediator.

In the Theatre Mediation Programme, in all, we will train more than 50 theatre / festival employees and teachers from key schools to become Theatre Mediators in the two 18-month runs. This study programme is open for non-Europeans as well. For the first round we had – with great success – two participants from the Philippine theatre PETA. They brought us interesting insight in their organization and working form. For our next round we plan to include participants from Canada and USA, with a start-up workshop in Vancouver, Canada.

Each CONNECTUP partner organisation delegates at least one staff member (e.g., a literary adviser, musician, dancer, actor, designer, marketing person, festival organiser) to each of the two runs. From the key schools one teacher (per partner) will participate.
The continuous involvement of teachers in the training is done to achieve the following strategic goals:

• To build stable and sustainable networks (theatre / schools), which benefits both sides.
• To develop a sound understanding for teachers about theatrical processes. Especially for cultural offers off / beyond the mainstream;
• To teach theatrical techniques that help teachers use playful methods in lessons.

The participants become artistic team members of the professional productions and create accompanying work around them such as co-creations, workshops, talks etc. They have the opportunity to take part in a one-week exchange visit (job shadowing) with one of their international project colleagues.

 

TMP second round

The course will, like the first round, comprise on-line classes and workshops, lectures, seminars, group projects, conferences, rehearsals, and independent practice. This time it will start up with a physical gathering, to let the participants meet each other and facilitate for more in-depth communication on-line later.

This course is meant to give an understanding of how different forms of theatre can interact with diverse audiences. It will also give insight in how schools, culture institutions and groups can interact, both as participants and as audiences, when engaging in theatre processes.

Theatre for Young Audiences /TYA) must always balance between the interests of the target groups and the artists. Theatre Mediation (also known as theatre education, theatre pedagogy, engagement work), can be a way to create an artistic and educational platform that connects the three involved parties (artists – teachers – young people) and unite them as equal partners in working with theatre processes. TMP is given a special role in addressing new hard-to-reach audience groups and merging them with the existing ones.

Professionalization of the mediation process in theatre art is a keyword and the leading guideline of the course.

 

The TMP has three main foci:

Theatre FOR young Audiences. Establish a common language about making theatre for young audiences. Investigate why and how theatre can make an impact. Work with different target groups and diverse audiences. “Pre and post” performance activities. Connecting performance, in schools and communities

Theatre WITH Young People:

Explore drama and theatre techniques and approaches to create theatre with young people.  Exploring how professional artists work with young people to explore educational/ community themes and ensure lesser heard stories are given a platform.  A way of making authentic work.

 

Theatre BY Young People:

How to support young people to make theatre, in response to professional productions. How you develop a relationship with a whole community. Using co-creative practices and how these approaches empower and support young people to find their voice.

After course completion the candidate must have achieved the following:

• Have practical and theoretical understanding of the work of a Theatre Mediator
• Have knowledge of target groups and be able to use this in thinking and argumentation in relation to their own theatre mediation practice,
• Have skills in how to engage and include diverse target audiences in drama and theatre work.
• Be able to engage young people in working with reflection on – and response to a theatre performance.
• Have an understanding of theatre-making practice, particularly of devising work with targeted young people.
• Have developed facilitation skills with targeted young people.
• Have an in-depth understanding of how drama and theatre work may be developed in various settings and situations. E.g., in school, in community work, in theatre.

We are looking forward to welcoming a new group of TMP participants!