Dissemination / Engagement Case Studies: A Global, Advocacy-Focused Research Seminar
ASSITEJ International & The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama

In this interactive seminar, we will consider and problematise the factors that inhibit young people access to theatre, for both watching and making performances. We will explore practices, methodologies and approaches that circumnavigate the barriers stopping young people from accessing theatre.

 

There are recurring themes in the research that cut across and through individual country's policies and practices surrounding young people’s access to theatre. Some of these are obvious, like funding and appropriate, relevant training, others are more surprising.

 

Core values attached to theatre for young people both as theatre audiences and theatre makers are not currently shared across the countries surveyed. Theatre and the arts are not valued equally in education settings and non-education settings equitably, despite the social development, educational and revenue potential of the theatre and the creative industries. 

 

This short seminar focuses on the practice of making theatre by, for and with young people in Greece, Kenya, Spain, Norway, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. We will also provide opportunities for discussion and problem solving and think about how we move from talking to ourselves, to influencing transnational policy and disseminating best practice.

Production Credits

Dr Selina BUSBY

Dr Tasos ANGELOPOULOS

Dr Laura KRESSLY

Peter Mwashi LITONDE

Gabriel VIVAS MARTINEZ

About the Artists

Dr Selina Busby is an academic and theatre practitioner who makes performances with community groups and a National Teaching Fellow. She is professor of applied and social theatre at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, where she is also the Course Leader for the MA Applied Theatre and the lead for Research Ethics and Integrity. Her research and practice focus on theatre that invites the possibility of change. She uses participatory and emancipatory research methods, and has worked in prison settings, youth theatres, and with people living in adverse conditions both in the UK and internationally. Her research investigates applied theatre with marginalised communities undertaking in partnerships with theatres, ngos, youth groups and grass roots practitioners. Current projects include work with communities living in informal housing settlements and those living with gender-based violence in India and a cultural heritage project in Kenya archiving African Rock Art in order to create a digital learning resource and drama package for schools in partnership with local practitioners and UK based C&T.  Recent publications include Applied Theatre: A Pedagogy of Utopia (2021) Methuen and The Routledge Companion To Theatre and Young People. Co-edited with Kelly Freebody and Charlene Rajendran. (2022), Routledge.  

  • TARGET AGE GROUP
    18+
  • AGE CLASSIFICATION
    -
  • REASON FOR CLASSIFICATION
    • Professional Content
Primary Language
English
Accessibility Information
  • Relaxed (adapted to people with communication difficulties, autism or sensory impairment)
Event Format
‘Hybrid’ (some contributors ‘On the Ground’ and some presenting via Pre-Recorded Video)