During the process, we went to the Marx Memorial Library, the British Library and Manchester, where we visited Contact Theatre and The People’s History Museum. Travelling together allowed us to grow as a group; we had a lot of discussions between us, most of which touched on political issues that are often seen as things that young people are not interested in, or that what they contribute to the discussion isn’t relevant.  It was inspiring for me as one of the older members of the group to see other young people talking about these issues and challenging the groups and their own perceptions.

We researched and pulled apart speeches from John Archer, the first ‘coloured man’ to be elected as Mayor of Battersea, Annie Besant, an activist who stood up for and promoted the struggle of the Match Stick Girls, and John Burns, a politician who worked to get better housing and living conditions for the working class around the Latchmere Estate. As well as the historical content, we also wrote our own material drawn from our own experiences- from soliloquy’s about working in McDonalds, to back-facing monologues about being put into isolation at school, and my very own ‘Letter To The Prime Minister’.

The performance was one of the highlights; sharing the work on stage after everything we had learnt felt exhilarating, and the Homegrown Festival was a perfect space for this as other young people were in the building and got to see our work and participate in the discussion. Our preparations at Carney’s were great; at the start we were using one of the rooms, playing drama games,and mulling over ideas and concepts, and after a while the show really came together. In our last rehearsals we utilised the physical boxing ring at Carney’s. It felt like the space had been opened up to us. It felt homely.

Each of our performances were filled with audiences young and old and from a variety of backgrounds. We received amazing feedback and praise, and I am so grateful to Battersea Art’s Centre, Carney’s Community, Heritage Lottery Fund and The Wandsworth Arts Fringe Festival for giving us the opportunity to share and create this work. Devising something like this was important as it allowed us to contribute our ideas to create something that felt refreshing to be a part of.

The main thing I have taken away from this project is this:

Young people have something important to say. If given the platform, the space and the opportunity, we will share, and you will listen.

“Young Producers has helped me develop my creative skills and learn more about theatre outside of performing – I loved it!”

“Doing Young Producers has helped me gain confidence in my abilities and making things happen. I have learnt so much about producing and have become better at my biggest fear in life – networking!”

“Working on the Young Producers project has been a great experience. I discovered a new passion – It gave me more than I expected and I can’t wait to do more.”

“It’s extremely fun and rewarding. I have always enjoyed spending time in the BAC, but now it feels like a pro-active and supportive home.”

“Coming from a performers perspective, I learned so much about the business of running & producing theatre. This programme shows that theatre really is for everyone!”

“I’d describe my experience at the BAC as an organised mess. It was always busy and thriving with ideas, artists and work, sometimes too busy to get your head around it all but (due to the brilliant producers acting as mentors at the BAC) I was able to harness all of that and turn it into producing a great 3 day festival.” 

“Young Producers offered me an opportunity to train in a field I hadn’t considered before. It taught me the skills I needed to be a businessman and organiser, as well as a performer and is responsible for opening many doors throughout my career. Thanks for that, BAC.”

www.andrewsilverwood.co.uk | www.fragility.co.uk

Whoever come are the right people.

Whenever it starts is the right time.

Whatever happens is the only thing that could have.

When it’s over, it’s over.

As I walked around Battersea Arts Centre on a Sunday afternoon, sticking up the last of the neon cards displaying those 4 rules of the Open Space, Hourglass Festival drew to a triumphant close with burgers, drinks, games and a number of selfie opportunities on the marble stairs.  80 people made up of young artists from all over the UK, external arts professionals, Battersea Arts Centre staff and general lovers of conversation and debate filled BAC’s New Committee Room. Kitted out with dodgy drawings of animals and ample cups of tea & biscuits, the room buzzed with curiosity and ideas as we got ready to take part in the Open Space discussion titled:

What Is The Future of Theatre for Teenagers?

Steven Camden, better known as Spoken Word artist Polarbear, kicked off the conversation by sharing with us his experience of a conference about theatre for young people he had attended, where he became frustrated when he realised this discussion was being held without any young people in the room.  Battersea Arts Centre introduced him to Open Space, and together they planned a discussion event inspired by this format, championed and attended by the young artists these conversations were about. Followed by a few passionate manifestos by artists from Uncover Theatre at The Albany, Contact Theatre in Manchester and New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich, the room instantly felt inspired with unanswered questions people were dying to discuss. We opened the floor, and with a shy start people gradually took a stand to call their topic.

The room felt alive as strangers mixed to introduce themselves and settle into their chosen discussion. Some of the most popular of conversations included:

• Why not create a new network of young companies where they can tour within each other’s venues?
• We need money!
• Is Youth Theatre relevant for all people or just the youth?
• Is it our place as ‘young people’ to challenge and explore ‘adult’ issues on stage?
• How do we convince those in power that the arts are important?
• Should GCSE Drama be scrapped?
• How do we break down stereotypes about young people through theatre?
• Political apathy & theatre
• How do we bring theatre to the people who think theatre isn’t for them?

I took the stance of a butterfly during the Open Space event, fluttering around BAC and hovering on the outskirts of conversations. I found each and every topic stimulating, challenging and fruitful in debate and questions. Most of all, it was refreshing to see people really listening to what young artists had to say about things regarding them. Opposed opinions were welcomed and explored whilst agreements were pushed into actions, but what I found incredible was the atmosphere. These mini hubs of creativity weren’t limited to art converts, there was space for new ideas and energies to merge and blossom into relevant sub-topics that were equally supported by the diversity of voices within the groups, and the impact these voices had on these conversations was evident.

The afternoon came to a close and we gathered back in the New Committee Room. The final cups of tea were made and the last of the biscuits eaten as we fed back on the conversations that’d taken place all over Battersea Arts Centre. There was a supportive and enlightened hubbub as everyone cheered and clapped and nodded in understanding. These conversations continued outside of the room; people sharing their personal experiences of an Open Space event and of Battersea Arts Centre.

When everyone had left, I gathered all the notes and pieces of discussion that were left, feeling deeply motivated and proud of what we had achieved. Having participated in a few Open Space events before, this definitely felt like more of an active conversation that allowed myself and many others to voice their thoughts and be listened to. There is no doubt that Battersea Arts Centre will continue to host more Open Space events like this, and take a lead on giving a voice to the people they affect and sharing these discussions with a wider network.