Brian Jones (Cloudbreak), Owen Calvert-Lyons (York) and Suzanne Gorman (Soho) will be the in country exchange project directors. Each is a committed theatre professional with a wealth of experience in the planning and managing of international creative project work with young people. Brian and Suzanne were co-workers in the Crucible Theatre Education Department for several years. Together they designed and managed a ground breaking three way - three year cultural exchange project between the theatres of UK, Sri Lanka and Japan. The project produced two original pieces of collaborative theatre; Pirivan Piuma and Barefoot Gen. Pirivan Piuma was inspired by Herman Hesse’s ‘Flute Dream’ and fused Sri Lankan dance theatre with western physical theatre technique. This work was premiered at the Crucible Theatre before going on to feature at National Theatre Festivals in both the UK and Sri Lanka. The second work was developed in collaboration with Theatre Zenshinza, Tokyo, Japan and saw the first stage adaptation in English of the Manga classic ‘Barefoot Gen’ by Keiji Nakazawa. This piece premiered with a sell out run at the Crucible Theatre and received the Japan Festival Award. The play was later translated into Singhalese and staged by Maya Shakthi in Sri Lanka. The far reaching scope of this exchange achieved recognition at a Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council Convocation hosted by HM Queen Elizabeth.
Community and Education
This exchange will focus on introducing different sectors of the community to theatre as an art form, which can inspire and develop self-confidence, sharpen self expression and spark people’s imagination. The project aims to build on work that Cloudbreak, Dram Projects, Soho Theatre Young Writers and York Youth Theatre Royal have all been developing locally - work that encourages young people to reflect upon their own place within the world and to connect with and gain a greater understanding of the lives, concerns, hopes and dreams of their peers living in other parts of the world.
Jade Ong
is an educator and facilitator at Cloudbreak Creative Development Centre.
Daphne Lee
is a writer and Project Manager of Dram Projects Community Outreach.
Sarah Jenkins
is a consultant psychotherapist specializing in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Drama Therapy and Life Coaching.
George Wielgus
Bournemouth Media School graduate and lecturer in linguistics, literature, scriptwriting, film production, media arts and theory, performance poet and arts worker George now facilitates personal growth through drama and innovative play. George now dreams of actualization through theatre and community through creativity. Aspiring to help foster an inclusive grassroots arts scene through a championing of DIY amateurism and collectivism, he expects to meet others striving for new horizons of the self. He foresees a contribution of overwritten text, hypercolourful painting, and over-the-top performances.
