DRAMA SPACES - Youth Arts Programme

dramaspaces6 18/8/05 4:25 PM Page 7Be aware that drama is an art form and needs to be regarded as such. You have to explore your creativitywithin the art form; to find your own way in; to become enthused about your own creativity within thatart form before you can consider trying it with your client group.Why should they take a risk on tryingsomething new if you aren’t enthused by it? This may seem obvious but it is worth stating. Contact theNational Youth Arts Programme or the National Association for Youth Drama to see if you can access a youthdrama workshop in your area. Participate in as many workshops as you can.Steal ideas – everyone does –and ask the facilitators questions.They will be happy to answer them.Go see a play or movie.Analyse the following:• How was the story conveyed?• What elements of it spoke to you and why?• If nothing spoke to you, why?• Where did the producers go wrong?Who are you working with?Many of you will be working with young people who are in very difficult circumstances, with many problems.Try to enter into this process without your client group in mind. You will impede your own progress if youare constantly thinking ‘Jamie won’t do that,’or ‘Dean won’t be able to work in this way’.I recommend that you use the fictional groups suggested in the Cuppa Tea section on page 5 as your imaginarygroup. Once you are comfortable in planning what it is you would like to do, look at the needs of your owngroup. You are the best person to assess these needs when planning your work.This manual does not set out to address the needs of all young people and/or deal with every eventuality.It would be futile, patronising and useless to do so. But please do not let potential problems and ‘what ifs’stop you.7