Are you ready for the youthquake?

Vikki Doig from Youth Theatre Arts Scotland tells us about an exciting event coming up in March.

Scotland’s Year of Young People is an exciting opportunity to celebrate the talents, personalities and achievements of our young people and to provide a platform for their voices to be heard. As part of this important celebration and in support of the current youthquake, Youth Theatre Arts Scotland is proud to present Scotland’s first ever National Convention of Youth Drama at the Macrobert Arts Centre in Stirling on the 23 and 24 March 2018.

This two-day gathering of passionate and curious thinkers, doers and makers from the arts, community, youth work and education sectors aims to inspire new ideas, spark epiphanies, foster debate, share skills and connect new partners whilst exploring the role that theatre and drama can play in preparing young people for an unknown future.

The convention may appeal to drama workshop leaders and assistants, community group facilitators, teachers, community learning and development practitioners, youth workers, theatre practitioners, further and higher education students and anyone who uses creative practices in their work with young people. The convention will be an important opportunity to bring together these different sectors to imagine what kind of future sector we want to build and how we can work together to ensure young people across Scotland have a creative platform to have their voices heard.

There will be a range of opportunities to listen to presenters as well as contribute your own ideas and experiences through panels discussions, round table discussions, Q&As and some on the-floor practical workshops. Key areas for exploration on Day 1 of the convention are outlined on our website: https://www.ytas.org.uk/opportunities-for-professionals/convention-of-youth-drama/.

In addition to the packed chatty programme on the Friday, there is also an opportunity for practitioners who use drama and theatre in their work with young people to take some time for their own professional development through a choice of practical masterclasses on Day 2. Masterclasses include: Dramaturgy Toolbox, Making Work About Sensitive Subjects, Visual Language and Creative Incubator – a practical space to bring a new project from the seed of an idea to a robust and achievable project.

Over the past few years, Youth Theatre Arts Scotland has taken a strong interest in regional development and diversifying the ways we engage with and work with youth organisations across Scotland. We are very keen to have a strong voluntary and rural voice at the Convention, to ensure that challenges and opportunities of working in diverse regions and settings can be taken forward in our reimagining of the sector. We would welcome the opportunity to talk to any groups or practitioners who work in these areas to discuss your contribution to the event and how you can get involved in this vital national conversation.

For further information please contact Vikki Doig, Sector Engagement Officer on 0131 538 0591 or email vikki@ytas.org.uk.