The Rotherham Project
In late June 2012 we piloted Oliver Twist Now a youth drama project working with up to
ten young people over four consecutive twilight sessions to create a play/film starting with the story of OLIVER TWIST and
imagining what the story would be like if it happened today.
Charles Dickens had been poor as a child; his dad had been
sent to prison for debt and his family had fallen on desperate times. Later
when he became a journalist and a writer he realized that “respectable” people
had no idea what the lives of poor children were really like. Using his own
experience, he wrote Oliver Twist to tell them.
Starting with Oliver Twist Now we work with young
people to make their story that shows what real life is like for young people
growing up today. We work as actors alongside the young people, first to
explore the story of Oliver Twist Now! and then to enable the young people to
create and perform their own story.
The performance/showing takes place on day four to a
small invited audience of parents and workers.
Who is Oliver Twist Now for?
A group of eight-ten young people, between the ages of 11
and 18. The whole group should either be an existing group who are used to
working together, or of a similar age e.g. 11-13; 14-16; 16-18.
They won’t need any experience of drama or acting. The
project doesn’t require literacy or any specific skills.
They will need to be prepared to say what they think,
put in their ideas to help make a realistic story about life for young people
today and be prepared to work as a group where everyone contributes and gets
listened to.
After The Project
Each young person will be presented with a certificate, a
scrap book covering the work they’ve done and a DVD of the film/final
performance.
Leeds TiE have run this project model with a range of groups
with positive outcomes including raised self-esteem and confidence, group work
skills, sharing own knowledge and opinions, and providing an opportunity for
achievement.
Oliver Twist now is part of a collaborative CPD Project undertaken with Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah, more about that here.
Enquiries about Oliver Twist Now!, a youth drama project, are welcome, please contact us.
Enquiries about Oliver Twist Now!, a youth drama project, are welcome, please contact us.
