As Jess’s internship nears its close she reflects on the lesson plans she has made, the funding the REP has received and her time as an assistant music director…
As suspected the last few months have been busy to say the least!
The most exciting news is that we secured funding from Arts Council England to stage For/With/By Festival of European Youth Theatre 2020! I’ve been working as assistant producer on the project since the beginning of the year, after a very exciting consortium meeting at the end of last year with our partners. For/With/By piloted at the REP in 2018 and was a great success, engaging with over 250 young people from the UK and Europe. Aptly named, the festival is created for, with and by young people. It includes performances, workshops, social events and a symposium organised by the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
So far I’ve been working on funding applications to trusts and funds, liaising with the producer on scheduling, and meeting with our young consortium members to draw up a marketing plan and surround ideas for the week of the festival. For/With/By 2020 will run from 27th-31st July and is set to showcase some of the best young talent in Europe. I’m also very fortunate to have secured employment with the project until the end of the festival.
Aside from festival duties, the education materials for Asking for It were signed off too. Creating these materials was a mammoth task, but one that I’m incredibly proud of. The document, which includes four lesson plans on Consent, Lad Culture, Victim Blaming and Online Safety, is now available on the REP website for teachers aimed at KS4&5. Loudmouth who specialise in training and education in theatre kindly offered their feedback and are collaborating with us on the delivery of the resources.
I’m still facilitating on Saturday’s with Young REP. Since working as assistant music director on Angry Birds, I’ve been responsible for supporting vocal calls, auditioning band members and ensuring our young people feel confident with the music they’ve learnt so far. Juniors and Intermediates are busy devising their performances too, and an exciting collaboration is taking place between Young REP and the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery for the Intermediates intergenerational performance with the Adult Drama Company. Their performance (which is inspired by protest and the political landscape of Birmingham) is being staged in the Industrial Gallery – a stunning venue and just the right space for what is going to be an incredibly powerful piece of new writing inspired by both companies.
Seeing as I’m not delivering in schools this term, I’ve had the chance to work on different projects in learning and participation. I recently lead a play reading session for a group who meet regularly at Thimblemill Library in Smethwick. The play chosen was Zinnie Harris’ The Restless House, an adaptation of Aeschylus’ Oresteia. It was great to share a room with members who have attended the group for years and are so passionate about it. In my opinion it is projects like this one that make the outreach programme at the REP so special.
As my time at the REP as Cultural Intern nears an end, I can firmly say that I’ve grown so much as a working professional. I’ve gained a greater understanding of how a large regional producing theatre works, and most importantly I have a much clearer idea of the path I see myself venturing down in this industry. With every person I speak to about the cultural internships, internal or external to the REP, I’m constantly reminded how lucky I am that this scheme even exists, and I plan on gaining as much as possible from this experience in the final weeks to come.
Cultural Intern Scheme @ uob 