Lyceum Creative Learning Report 2011/12 Programme for Secondary Schools

Programme for Primary Schools

Lyceum Youth Theatre

LYT Holiday Courses

Participation Programme

Early Years

Welcome

Hello and welcome to Lyceum Creative Learning and our Report for the Season 2011/12. As always our aim is to provide people of all ages with a variety of ways of engaging with professional theatre and theatre making. We do this through 3 main strands: Programme for Schools; the Lyceum Youth Theatre and the Participation Programme and this Report gives an account of these activities in more detail. Highlights from the 2011/12 Creative Learning Programme include the LYT Primary Schools Christmas tour and performing at the Traverse Theatre with LYT’s Kick Ass Christmas; a small scale but rewarding partnership with Hearts and Minds for the co-production with the National Theatre of Scotland, 27 and a vibrant, Greek themed Summer on Stage programme. Our varied Participation Programme features a range of events from Curtain Raisers inspired by the main Company Productions, to our regular series of Theatre Classes and Discussion groups. None of this work would be possible without the tireless dedication and energies of the team of professionals, both freelance and staff members, who find creative and inspiring ways to open up the world of theatre to everyone. Thank you to all Contributors and Participants during 2011/12 – and we look forward to working with you again! With best wishes,

Lucy Vaughan Head of Lyceum Creative Learning lvaughan@lyceum.org.uk

Season 2011/12

MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS GOT HER HEAD CHOPPED OFF By Liz Lochhead

27 By Abi Morgan

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST By Stuart Paterson

THE INFAMOUS BROTHERS DAVENPORT By Candice Edmunds, Jamie Harrison and Peter Arnott

OF MICE AND MEN By John Steinbeck

THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO By Beaumarchais, adapted by DC Jackson

THE LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE By Martin McDonagh

Creative Learning Team 2011/12 Head of Creative Learning: Lucy Vaughan Lyceum Youth Theatre Producer: John Glancy Creative Learning Administrator (to August 2012): Catherine Campbell Drama Artist: Christie O’Carroll

LYT Tutors and Assistants (September 2011 – June 2012) Peter Airlie Caroline Donald Rachel Easdale Elaine Fechlie Gillian Howie Sarah Hunter Hayley Jones Steve Mann Fiona McKay Lucy McGlennon Annabel Rodger Caitlin Skinner Clare Stephen

LYT Interns Catherine Major Jo Rush

Programme for Schools Our work with secondary schools includes workshops and resource packs on the productions and

backstage tours and work experience programmes. Our aim is to engage pupils and teachers in the

work of the theatre, and to encourage them to become confident and enthusiastic theatre-goers.

In 2011/12:

184 school groups attended performances

71 separate schools attended performances

11,611 individuals attended performances

21% of these schools were City of Edinburgh Council Schools

20% of these schools were Independent Schools

55% of these schools were Local Authority Schools from other parts of Scotland

4% of these schools came from other parts of the UK

65% of all City of Edinburgh Council Schools attended performances

44% of all Edinburgh Independent Schools attended performances

20% of all Scottish Independent Schools attended performances

Backstage Tours

In 2011/12 we offered groups a choice of either a general backstage tour,

focussing on the history of the theatre and aspects of the current production,

or a Standard Grade Drama Tour specifically looking at the vocabulary used in

theatre, identifying parts of the stage and auditorium, and looking at some

aspects of a working stage.

In 2011/12:

11 High School groups attended backstage tours

208 pupils attended backstage tours

6 University or College groups attended backstage tours

119 students attended backstage tours

2 University Groups attended talks on speciality subjects, led by Lyceum Staff

45 Students were in these groups

Workshops

In 2011/12 we offered drama workshops exploring the plot, themes and characters of the productions in

our Season. We also expanded our programme to offer schools tailor-made workshops exploring the

subject, period or text of their choice, in addition to devising and general drama workshops.

In 2011/12:

36 High School groups attended workshops 690 pupils attended workshops

For 2011/12 we produced online video resources for two of our productions,

Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off and Of Mice and Men. These

gave teachers and pupils access behind the scenes of our productions,

through video footage of rehearsals and interviews with key cast and crew

members.

Glow

In 2011/12 the Lyceum increased its involvement in Glow by creating Glow

Groups for our productions of Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped

Off and Of Mice and Men. These included our activities and questions

relating to the productions, costume and set design images and our resource

videos. We also held a Glow meet with Jamie Harrison and Candice

Edmunds, the Artistic Directors of Vox Motus Theatre Company, who co-

produced The Infamous Brothers Davenport. Our presence on the Creativity

Portal continued with updates on all of our schools and youth theatre

activities.

Priority Schools Programme

In 2011/12 we repeated our priority school programme, offering 9 schools

from socially and economically challenged areas of Edinburgh 25 free tickets

and 1 free drama workshop or backstage tour per Lyceum production.

In 2011/12 the following schools took part in the Priority Schools

Programme:

Castlebrae Community High School Leith Academy

Craigroyson High School Liberton High School

Forrester High School St Augustine’s High School

Gracemount High School Tynecastle High School

Wester Hailes Education Centre

Work Experience / Volunteers

The Lyceum offers a structured programme of work experience placements for S4 pupils, supervised by

the Creative Learning Administrator. As part of this programme, pupils are given the opportunity to

observe and work with the administration, marketing and production aspects of the Lyceum Theatre.

In 2011/12:

21 school pupils took part in work experience placements at The Lyceum

Theatre

15 university students/recent graduates undertook voluntary

placements

1 school pupil undertook a long-term placement through the Jet

programme.

Spotlight on… Careers in Theatre

In 2011/12 the Lyceum continued our successful Spotlight on… Careers

in Theatre events for High Schools in partnership with the Traverse and

Festival Theatres. This year we tailored the events specifically to

different year groups with S5/6s attending a very focused day in

September 2011 looking at Costume and Set Design, Directing and

Technical Theatre and Front of House and Box Office, and S4s attending

a more general day in February 2012 looking at mounting a touring

show, creating a show at a producing theatre and directing and writing

for the theatre. The event was free for all pupils.

63 Pupils attended our S5/6 Careers Day in September 2011

71 Pupils attended our S4 Careers Day in February 2012

Beauty and the Beast Workshops

To complement our Christmas production of Beauty and the Beast, primary

schools were offered fun, practical drama workshops. These workshops helped

the group to engage with the theme and plot of the show and also offered an

insight into the production.

In 2011:

62 schools attended performances

9675 pupils attended performances

11 schools participated in a total of 33 workshops

18% of schools attending performances also participated in workshops

Tailor-Made Primary School

Workshops

In 2011/12 we continued to offer tailor-made workshops for primary schools to

complement themes, texts or historical periods that classes were studying. This

year we were asked to offer a workshop to pupils on Front of House and what it

involved. We also carried out a programme of 6 sessions each for 2 classes of

30 pupils to teach them about movement and blocking for their school show.

LYT Lyceum Youth Theatre is one of Scotland’s biggest youth theatre companies and has established a name for itself as a producer of high quality contemporary theatre, by young people.

LYT was established in 1999, and since then has involved thousands of young people. Weekly drama sessions are held for young people between the ages of 5 and 18 years old, drawing participants from Edinburgh City, the West, East and Mid-Lothians, the Borders, Fife and further afield.

The ethos of LYT is that of a professional theatre company; young people are given the opportunity to develop skills and learn from experienced tutors, working in a professional manner as young actors and theatre makers.

LYT Weekly Sessions

In 2011/12:

270 young people took part in 11 core LYT group weekly sessions

These LYT members are aged between 5-18 years. To meet demand we increased provision, with a 4th Junior LYT group (11-13) added to our portfolio of classes in September 2011.

LYT Performances In December, our 4 Senior Youth Theatre Groups took part in Kick Ass Christmas, a two day winter festival at the Traverse Theatre, consisting of work devised by the participants during the autumn term. Senior 1 also took their devised Christmas plays to 5 Edinburgh Primary schools. In March 2012, 17 Senior LYT members performed the NT Connections play Victim Sidekick Boyfriend Me by Hilary Bell at the Traverse Theatre. This appeared as part of a collection of new writing from the Traverse Scribble young writers’ group, whose plays were performed by 8 LYT actors. 340 people attended 4 performances of Victim Sidekick Boyfriend Me

Connections Festival 2011

In June, the Lyceum hosted the NT Connections Festival of new writing. The week-long Festival included a showcase by all three Junior LYT groups on Saturday 18 June. The Festival at the Lyceum was sponsored by Cairn Energy. 250 young people took part in the Connections Festival 1200 people attended the Connections Festival

Holiday Courses

As well as weekly groups, LYT delivered four holiday courses in October 2011 and Easter 2012. In October, we ran ‘So You Want To Be An Actor’ for the 2nd year running alongside LYT Theatre Makers. During the Easter holidays we produced another Theatre Maker’s event alongside a new course called LYT Glee, based on developing Musical Theatre skills.

In 2011/12: 75 young people took part in the holiday courses

Summer On Stage

The Summer on Stage programme, themed around Greek Myths and Legends, took place in July. Mini Summer on Stage performed The Torch of Mount Olympus, and the double bill of Seniors shows was Jason and the Argonauts, written and directed by Andrew McGregor and The Trojans, written and directed by Lawrence Crawford. We also ran 2 Theatre Craft and Skills courses, one in Theatre Costume and one in Technical Theatre. This enabled young people to work alongside the professional production team to stage the Summer on Stage shows. In 2011/12:

102 children and young people took part in LYT’s annual Summer on Stage Programme.

680 people attended the 2 performances on 22nd and 23rd July 14 young people took part in Theatre Craft and Skills courses.

LYT Outreach LYT Discover In May 2011, LYT started 3 satellite youth theatre groups for young people in areas of Edinburgh experiencing social and economic challenges. LYT worked alongside three community arts partners: North Edinburgh Arts, WHALE Arts and Venchie Children’s and Young People’s Centre. Around 30 young people aged 8-12 years attended these weekly sessions.

LYT Midlothian In May 2011, LYT started working in partnership with Midlothian council to provide a youth theatre session in the region. LYT Midlothian takes place at Dalkeith Arts Centre and has a core group of 10 young people.

Participation Programme Our Participation Programme provides a series of events for people aged 16 and over to engage with Lyceum productions through talks, classes and workshops.

In 2011/12: 148 participants attended Theatre Classes 90 participants attended Matinee Discussion Groups 205 participants attended Curtain Raiser Events 150 audience members attended Union, a rehearsed reading of a play by Tim Barrow

Clowning and Dementia Workshops In conjunction with National Theatre of Scotland and our performance of Abi Morgan’s 27, the Lyceum ran three free workshops on Clowning and Dementia. The workshops were led by Hearts & Minds, one of Scotland’s leading arts-in-health organisations. Hearts and Minds provide their unique Elderflowers programme to people in the mid to advanced stages of dementia across seven healthcare locations in Scotland. Elderflower practitioners use the performing arts and European style theatre clowning to create links with their audience. 17 people attended Performing Elderflowers, for theatre practitioners, performers and arts sector workers. 20 people attended Caring Elderflowers for carers and healthcare staff. 8 people attended Family Elderflowers for audience members, general public interested in the subjects, including relatives, and people affected by issues relating to dementia.

Doors Open Day 2012 The company hosted a successful Open Day in September 2011 as part of Edinburgh Open Doors Weekend, attended by around 300 people.

Participation Programme Contributors: Rod McAra, Owen Dudley Edwards, David Greig, Paul Henderson Scott, Jamie Harrison, Candice Edmunds, Tim Barrow, The Cast of Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off, Dr Ken Millard, Mark Thomson, DC Jackson and Nicola McCartney.

Play Time Play Time, the Lyceum’s fun early years drama sessions for 2-4 year olds, involve toddlers and their parents/carers in creative and expressive play together.

Each block is led by a different practitioner specialising in early years work and includes activities such as creating characters, using stories, songs, rhymes and dance and making costumes and props. Play Time develops communication and language skills as well as confidence and social skills.

In 2011/12:

158 participants attended Play Time

25 sessions of Play Time were held

Acknowledgements

Lyceum Creative Learning would like to thank everybody who took part in the

Programme for Schools, Lyceum Youth Theatre and Participation Programme

2011/12.

We would especially like to thank our freelance tutors, volunteers and our Royal

Lyceum Theatre Company Colleagues for their contribution to the programme.

We would also like to thank all the trusts, foundations and companies who support

Lyceum Creative Learning:

Photography Credits: Jenni Douglas (Summer On Stage) and Al McCredie (LYT Victim Sidekick Boyfriend

Me).