Youth Project
Bedlam Theatre is home to the Edinburgh University Theatre Company (EUTC). It is one of the oldest student run theatres in the UK, encompassing every aspect of the dramatic arts; acting, writing, directing, stage management, lighting and sound design, show marketing, as well as the general management and running of the theatre. It produces over 40 shows in an academic year, and during the Fringe Festival it becomes a major venue.
All those who join the EUTC have a passion for theatre and in becoming part of the society, they are able to amplify their existing skills as well as explore new areas of drama. At Bedlam, there is an informal mentor system whereby newer participants work closely with older members to help with current projects; our ethos is to pass down skills through demonstration and practice.
Our aim as a Youth Project is bring what we know and love about theatre to children in the local community in a fun and interactive way.
We hope to achieve this in two ways:
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By offering specialised theatre workshops to local schools and other youth organisations, free of charge (to find out more click here).
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By inviting school groups into Bedlam Theatre to watch academically and age appropriate performances at discounted ticket rates, with the opportunity of question and answer sessions with the cast and crew afterwards (to find out more click here).
Ultimately, we want young people to discover their own creative potential, to gain in confidence and to develop new and valuable skills. We wish their experience to be educational but also fun and exciting at the same time.
If you have any queries regarding Youth Project, please do not hesitate to contact youth project co-ordinator at youthproject@bedlamtheatre.co.uk
We aim to translate the Bedlam Theatre mentor system into a workshop format, which essentially constitutes ‘learning by doing’. We are currently working hard to finalise the range of workshops that will be available and full details will appear here very shortly. We hope to offer workshops in a wide range of theatrical disciplines, such as acting, writing, directing, technical theatre and stage management. Each one can be adapted to suit the needs of the individual group and will be tailored to its age and size. If you are organising your own production we would also be very happy to provide workshops on any aspect that the performance may entail or offer advice and guidance generally. If you would like to find out more about the workshops we can offer, or would like to book one, please contact Susanna Grenga at youthproject@bedlamtheatre.co.uk
A new initiative introduced last year, and deemed very successful, was the opportunity for school groups to watch theatrical performances within Bedlam Theatre, and talk to the cast and crew afterwards. This not only gives them a chance to watch live theatre, but also gives the children an opportunity to understand what goes on behind the scenes of shows and the theatre itself. Some performances may be relevant to their literary or dramatic studies. For older students, it is also a fantastic way to have a taste of university life and its extracurricular activities that will be available to them. Bearing this in mind we are able to tailor these question and answer sessions to the needs and ages of the school group. For example, for a drama class there would be an emphasis on the aspects and conventions of the theatre, and for an English class the themes and characters of the play could be discussed.
The plays that are currently on offer:
Tristan and Yseult
Wednesday 16th March
Suitable for ages: 12+
Cost: £3.50 per person
(Question and Answer session is available after the performance)
If you are interested in booking tickets for any of the above shows, or have any queries at all, please contact youth project co-ordinator at youthproject@bedlamtheatre.co.uk.