#quarterlymeetings

[youngvicneighbourhoodtheatre]

Quarterly Meeting #4 (Year 2) - 19th June 2018

Tonight, NhT members gathered for the last quarterly meeting of Year 2. The meeting started with feedback about recent community show, Within Reach, which was made alongside Main House show The Inheritance.  Several NhT members were involved in this show, which was created and performed by people with direct experience of HIV and AIDS.  NhT members John and Carol talked about their input, saying how the company were “all so dedicated” and also that “in the performances we felt the audience being involved”.  The piece was almost entirely comprised of movement - which many of the participants had little experience of - and John commented on how he felt the project had “improved my body language as a performer”.

Imogen talked about the upcoming production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, which will be the first production of the first season of new Artistic Director Kwame Kwei-Armah, and how it is important to Kwame that “his first show has community at its heart”.  There will be two community choruses of 30 people, and a taster workshop has already been held to recruit participants.  Imogen thanked those who took part and also those who have helped recruit people by putting up posters and generally spreading the word - the result is that a lot of new people have auditioned to be part of the production, which is really exciting and goes to show the importance of the advocacy NhT do.

Imogen and Kirsten also talked about the upcoming community show, A Carnation for a Song, which will work with LGBTQ+ people over 50.  Again, a taster session has been held for this project and, again, lots of new people have come along to get involved.  It is hoped that many of those who came who will not be in the show, will come and see it.

Imogen also reminded everyone about leaving drinks for Kirsten, which will take place next month.  Kirsten, the Two Boroughs Project Manager, who has been such an enormous part of the setting up and running of Neighbourhood Theatre, will be leaving the Young Vic in July to take up a new post at The Barbican as Creative Learning Producer.  NhT members are obviously very sad to see Kirsten go - both Imogen and Kirsten are involved with members and participants on a very personal level, and know each person individually.  They are always present to meet and greet people at rehearsals and events, even those they are not running, and some NhT members have known Kirsten for many years.

The commitment of Taking Part staff, and the significance of NhT was further borne out by the second half of the meeting, during which evaluation exercises were run with participants to gather feedback about this last year.

This started with participants being invited to write down their highlights of the year on a post it note, which were gathered together in a display on the wall.  This was followed by an active, ‘on the feet’, discussion around a number of comments made by (anonymised) NhT members and project participants about NhT.  One end of the room was designated as 100% and the other end as 0%, and those present had to decide how far they agreed with the comments, placing themselves either at 100% if they completely agreed, or 0% if they completely disagreed, or anywhere in the middle to show the extent of their agreement/disagreement.  The comments discussed were as follows, and all came from conversations about, feedback and evaluation forms for, various NhT projects:

“It’s certainly been great, making new friends”

“I’ve certainly learnt things”

“It’s given [me] confidence”

“it [working towards a show] can turn people’s lives around”

“[the Young Vic is] a space to find people from where I am who look like me and sound like me”

“I really like the fact that its an all-inclusive group and its so empowering”

“I’ve tried to be understanding [of different members of the community, as a result of NhT projects]”

“I discovered skills I didn’t know I had”

Reflection on these quotes prompted some really lovely comments from members, many very personal and emotional: one member talked of how she had actually become rehoused happily as a result of her involvement here; another, we heard, feels “more at home at the Young Vic than anywhere else”; and another member, who is not originally from the UK, talked of how this was her “first place to be with British people”.  These three examples alone demonstrate the diversity of members and their lives that NhT has affected.

Next, members wrote a poem about NhT.  This activity borrowed an excellent exercise from poet Deanna Roger, who wrote Sing Before You Speak Again, and ran this exercise with members in a workshop in December.  This time, members were asked, if the Neighbourhood Theatre was a person....

What would its eyes look like?

What would its breath smell of?

How would it move through space?

What would its touch feel like?

What object would it hold?

What would its voice sound like?

What might it say?

The exercise aimed at a more creative way of getting feedback from members than simply asking them to fill in a form.  There were some lovely results, some of which can be seen in the photo below.

As they left, members were asked to write on postcards any suggestions they had for NhT for the coming year.  It was really great to hear so many people’s thoughts and give everyone a chance to celebrate another successful year of NhT.

[pointy-unicorn-tits]

Just a Tiffany looking for her Chucky 🔪❤️🔪 (Our costume department has the best meetings 😉) #tiffany #brideofchucky #chuckyandtiffany #ilovechucky #horrormovies #serialkiller #tittytattoo #whitedress #leatherjacket #spikedcollar #cholaeyebrows #blacklipstick #weirdo #blonde #shortblondehair #professortrelawney #universalstudios #ush #costumedepartment #quarterlymeeting #dressup #dressuptime #toomuchfun #ilovemycoworkers

[kimilat]

I'm here in a ballroom full of folks getting ready to be motivated & inspired! Already met Supertrainer @thechrisdowning, and I'll be working out with him live later! #superweekend #supersunday #quarterlymeeting #minisummit (at New York LaGuardia Airport Marriott) https://www.instagram.com/p/BslLNaRhE2B/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=lon4eja6sh2t

[honeybanks]

When the #QuarterlyMeetings are ... BLAH ... 🙄

[scy-chicago]

It’s Friday, and fall...let’s talk about it all!

This week’s blog is written by Dion McGill, SCY Communications and Community Outreach Manager. 

1) Strengthening Chicago’s Youth Annual Survey

Have you taken the SCY Annual Survey?  

No??? 

Why not? 

Share your feedback through Strengthening Chicago's Youth’s (SCY) 2019 Annual Survey! 

This survey is intended to assess SCY’s strategies, activities, communication, and partner resources. Your feedback will give us a window into what we’re doing great, and what we can do better. 

Additionally, this survey will help us to determine priorities for violence prevention, policy and advocacy, and future strategies and activities.

Completion of the questionnaire is voluntary, you may skip any question, and there are no right or wrong answers. The survey is anonymous, which means we will not be collecting identifying information about you. When you have completed the survey, you will also have the option of entering a raffle for a chance to win one of five $50 Visa gift cards. I consider that a win/win! 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. 

________________________________________________________________

2) SCY Quarterly Meeting

This meeting will focus on the connection between justice reform and violence prevention. The topics explored will include addressing policies and systems that create racial disparities and providing better support and resources. A panel discussion and action-oriented breakout groups will examine how changes to the juvenile and criminal justice systems can result in less involvement for youth and help make communities safer.

Join SCY and partners across Chicago to explore the role you and your organization can play in addressing these issues, discuss asset-based solutions, and promote the health and healing of all Chicagoans.

SCY Quarterly meetings are also a great time to meet, network, and collaborate with like-minded individuals from across the city. You never know who will be in the room.  I do know that we have a fabulous panel planned, and I will be there.  Be sure to stop me and say hello.  

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3) Time Vaping Article

It goes without saying that vaping is a hot button topic right now. 

If you are a dedicated reader of our blog, you’ll recall the article I wrote previously on e-cigarettes, vaping, and Juul.  

Additionally, Dr. Maria Rahmandar of Lurie Children’s spoke at a press conference with Senator Dick Durbin, shining a special focus on the dangers of vaping, and speaking from firsthand experience at the increase of adolescents that Lurie Children’s has seen as a result.  

Now, an amazingly insightful and well written article was recently released by Time magazine.  

How Juul Hooked Kids and Ignited a Public Health Crisis

As our Executive Director Rebecca Levin wrote in her letter this week in the SCY Newsletter:

“As part of SCY's work on substance use prevention, the topic of vaping and electronic cigarettes is a growing concern. The Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery has recently provided information and advisories regarding vaping related illness. SCY hopes that by sharing these recommendations with partners we can help keep Illinois and Chicago youth healthy and informed.”

Suggested Listening: The Juul Paradox

What's better: promoting e-cigarettes to help smokers quit, or restricting vaping so teens don't pick up a new nicotine addiction? 

Listen to the podcast HERE.

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4) Spooky Ooky Kooky Contest

What is your favorite fall non-alcoholic drink?  

SCY’s project Preventing Alcohol Abuse in Chicago Teens, as a part of their I Got This! campaign have announced the Spooky Ooky Kooky Contest. 

Whip out that recipe, and you could have the chance to win a $25 gift certificate in our new fall mocktail contest.  

Winners will be chosen and taste-tested by Strengthening Chicago’s Youth staff.  

Entries can be posted now on either Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook using the hashtag #SpookyNotSpiked.  

Also, be sure to follow I Got This on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram! 

[smallstepsadventure-blog]

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A post shared by Small Steps Adventures (@smallstepsadventures)

Funny ways of learning #smallstepsadventures #Teambuilding_games, #corporate_events #team_outing #quarterlymeet #outdoor_events #best_experts #unlimited_fun

[loudlybeautifulthings-blog]

#thewaxahachieproject #quarterlymeeting #lovemycommunity (at Freedom Fellowship Int'l)

[goyouyougo]

I count far more than birds 😊 #birds #bird #burgundydineandwine #maribaya #lembang #birdhouse #quarterlymeeting #matthew6 (at Burgundy)

[tiffietiffietiffie]

1st quarterly meeting of the year! #ampest #quarterlymeeting (at The Farm at High Shoals)

[youngvicneighbourhoodtheatre]

Quarterly Meeting #2 (Year 2) - 7th December 2017

There was a good turnout tonight for the second quarterly meeting of Year 2 of Neighbourhood Theatre.  The meeting began with an update of recent projects and events.  These included Sing Before You Speak Again (SBYSA), the beautiful show that was created in response to Wings (more details in the blog below).  This has since toured to some of the centres and homes where the creative team ran initial workshops and created the show’s songs and lyrics, meaning many of those who’s stories are told by the piece have been in the audiences.  

Members who were part of the SBYSA company talked about the experience of being in this show, and other members who had seen it also shared their responses.  This felt like a really nice way of honouring the company’s work, and the people who’s stories were being told in the songs; and a great way of sharing feedback about the project.  Although SBYSA is not explicitly about Stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, Aphasia or Dementia, it is clear that the show has opened the eyes of many - cast and audience members alike - to members of society who are not always given a voice, and created more awareness of the people who live with these conditions.  

NhT member, Jennifer, who performed in SBYSA, talked about how, when she was performing, she was thinking about someone she knows who has suffered a stroke, and how she “was trying to give a voice to this particular person” through her performance.  It is striking to think of the varied ways in which this piece has reverberated through people’s lives.

Imogen then talked about Suppliant Women, a recent production in the Main House, for which there was a community chorus of women, drawn from Southwark and Lambeth through NhT members’ contacts.  The play itself is 2,500 years old, and tells the story of fifty women who flee their homes to escape forced marriage and seek asylum in Greece.  Two thirds of the audiences who saw this show had never been to the theatre before, and 80% had not been to the Young Vic before.

It is clear from the subject-matter of Supplicant Women that it tackles issues which connect with marginalised peoples but, like SBYSA, it has created far-reaching - and perhaps less predicted - reverberations.  NhT member, Ben, talked about the importance to her of being a black woman in the cast, and “being the change that I want to be in theatre”.  She spoke of how she felt as a young person going to the theatre and wanting to see “kids that look like me and sound like me”, and how it “is nice to look and see yourself reflected back at you”.  This last sentence sums up the particular importance of the Young Vic’s integration of community work with their programming.

Lily then talked about the two-week How to Win Against History workshop currently happening (see below for more information), and Imogen talked about new show The Jungle, opening tonight.  The Jungle is a new play from Good Chance Theatre, about the Jungle encampment in Calais.  NhT members had been invited to a dress rehearsal of the show earlier today and one member talked of how “she didn’t know [before seeing the show] what it was like in the Jungle” -  a simple but clear statement of, again, increased awareness of another part of our society that does not always get a voice.

There are lots of exciting events to come for NhT members, including a Costume workshop on the 18th December, in response to members’ requests for more contact with different departments at the Young Vic, and further insight into the creative process.  

In January, new Artistic Director, Kwame Kwei-Armah, takes up his post, and will be attending the first Neighbourhood Theatre meeting of 2018, on 6th March.  Members are invited to have questions ready to put to Kwame. 

The show Brothers Size is returning to the Young Vic, and NhT members are invited to its press night on 26th January.  Alongside this production, there will be a community project run with young men in prisons rehabilitating from excessive drug use to create a new piece of writing.  The text created will then be performed by young men outside prison at risk of offending.  

The Choir With No Name project will kick off early in 2018, and will see three groups rehearse separately for four weeks, leading to a performance to an invited audience at The Workshop, a community space in Vauxhall, in March.  The project will bring together Choir With No Name members with people from the Young Vic’s local boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark.  It is hoped that there will be 200 singers taking part in the final performance.  

[youngvicneighbourhoodtheatre]

Quarterly Meeting #1 (Year 2) - 31st August 2017

Members gathered this evening for the first quarterly meeting of Year 2 of the Neighbourhood Theatre.  It was good to see both new and old members introducing themselves to each other and catching up.  As well as Imogen and Kirsten, this evening other members of the Taking Part team also joined the first part of the meeting: Rob Lehmann (Participation Projects Manager), Georgia Dale (Schools and Colleges Project Manager) and Lily Einhorn (Two Boroughs Project Manager). This is a good example of how available - and visible - the Young Vic staff are, and how integrated NhT is in the life of the theatre.

The evening started with an ice-breaker exercise, led by Imogen, centring around introductions and getting to know each other: members walked around the space and, pairing up with a new person each time, had to talk for a minute each to their partner about their favourite song, favourite television programme, the best thing that had happened to them in August, and what annoys them.  This simple exercise was a fun way of learning something about a number of people in the room very quickly, and created a relaxed, down-to-earth, and inclusive atmosphere.

Imogen and Kirsten then talked briefly about the purpose of Neighbourhood Theatre, and discussed the feedback received from members about Year 1.  Members were sent a questionnaire via email over the summer to gather their thoughts and comments.  Following this up with discussion at a meeting - and talking about how the theatre intends to follow these things up - is another great example of the Young Vic being willing to be held to account.  Some of the responses to NhT feedback includes:

A community project with Choir With No Name; and a singing workshop for NhT members following this meeting, in response to the number of people who requested more singing and music following a Choir With No Name workshop with members last year. 

A writing project alongside Main House show My Name Is Rachel Corrie, which opens in October, and a blogging workshop, in response to members’ request for more opportunities to learn about creating work through writing.  The blogging workshop will be a great opportunity to learn about this genre specifically, and explore writing guest posts for this blog, extending members’ input further.

A workshop with Catherine Kodicek, Head of Wardrobe, and the costume designer on upcoming show, The Jungle and a session with the Young Vic’s new Artistic Director in the new year.  This was in response to the number of people who said they would like to learn more about how theatre is made, and to have access to the artists who work at the Young Vic.  Other workshops will be organised over the course of the year in addition to the two sessions mentioned above.

Taking Part’s response demonstrates the Young Vic’s commitment to Neighbourhood Theatre; and to not only listening to, but actioning, their ideas.  

Imogen, Kirsten and Lily then briefed members about upcoming projects and how they can contribute to these:

Choir With No Name 

This project will happen in February 2018 and involve four different community groups.  Each group will get four workshops each, during which they will learn two songs for a performance.  The aim is to have 200 people in the final show.

There will be no auditions for this project, and NhT members were asked to think about individuals or groups in the local community who might want to join in.

How to Win Against History

Lily talked to members about this project, which will run alongside the Main House show of the same name.  The show is a musical about the 5th Marquis of Anglesey,  who spent his whole family fortune on building a theatre and putting on shows.  The director and cast of How to Win Against History will also be involved in the project, and NhT members were asked to consider who from the wider community of Lambeth and Southwark might be interested in the project.

The Jungle

As with the How to Win Against History project, this project will run alongside a Main House show - in this case, The Jungle, a play from Good Chance Theatre about the refugee camp in France.  

Good Chance Theatre are an associate company of the Young Vic, and are based at the  Young Vic.  They “build temporary theatres of hope promoting freedom of expression, creativity and dignity for everyone”.  Their first theatre was built in the Jungle refugee and migrant camp in Calais in 2015. It was “conceived as a place for people to come to express themselves and offered a space ‘to escape or confront the situations they were in’”.  Imogen described how Good Chance’s ethos is to help people not only survive, but live.

The show, The Jungle, opens at the beginning of December, and Taking Part are keen that it has as diverse an audience as possible.  Members were asked to think about ways of attracting an audience, such as a relaxed or ‘safe space’ performance.

Following this briefing, members were divided into working groups to discuss the projects.  It was clear from siting with each of these working groups that lots of ideas were being floated; and that there was some potential for excellent contacts.

Another very productive quarterly meeting for members - it will be exciting to follow up these projects as they happen.  

[youngvicneighbourhoodtheatre]

Q&A With Young Vic Artistic Director David Lan - 9th May 2017

As part of the 4th Quarterly Neighbourhood Theatre Meeting on Tuesday 9th May (see posts below for details), we were joined by Young Vic Artistic Director David Lan, and members were invited to ask questions. Questions included: What are the Young Vic doing about elections? What is the process of selecting a show for performance at the Young Vic? How can we get politicians / policy-makers here? How do you continue to bring in diverse audiences? Do you consider touring versions (of shows) to take to the 'unconverted'? The social and political aspect of these questions is telling and significant, and demonstrates the unique interplay at the Young Vic of the community with the theatre itself. David spoke warmly, eloquently and passionately about how he sees the Young Vic's responsibilities to the public and community, both locally and beyond. Involvement with the upcoming election will include a banner in the foyer encouraging people to vote; holding hustings; a Migrants Organise event; and inviting in young people who are not engaged in the voting process. David was clear that he thinks of the Young Vic building "very much as a public building", and is keen to open it to discussion and exploration of ideas outside actual performances and explicitly theatrical events. Closely connected to these more literally Political activities, David discussed more broadly the political and social role of the Young Vic and its work, commenting that he feels that "what is important is this [ie NhT]....what this building is and the way we are with each other". Again, this places the significance of NhT right at the heart of the Young Vic's work, right at the heart of the connections David hopes the theatre makes between people. Building on this point further, he commented that he feels that "this company [NhT] expresses something about the way society should work". Closely connected to this is the idea of wanting the "people who come to the theatre to be the same people who walk past the theatre". David's words were powerful and elicited strong responses from members. Comments included that "this place [the Young Vic] gives me hope"; and that coming to see shows there has "been a catalyst and an opportunity" for people who wouldn't normally come to the theatre. David spoke about how he chooses shows for the Young Vic programme, and his commitment to work that he is passionate about, rather than shows that he's less interested in that might ensure a big audience. David talked about how, if he chooses a classic play that is well-known, he looks for a director who will create a production that allows audiences to experience that play as if they are seeing it for the first time. The success of this approach is borne out by members' comments on the current Main House show, Life of Galileo, and how current it feels - comments included it feeling "like being at a rave" and "an inspired choice for now". It is really exciting to see a theatre being held to account by their audiences, and an Artistic Director who welcomes this, making himself available and accessible. Yet another example of the powerful potential of the Young Vic's Neighbourhood Theatre, and its significance to the organisation as a whole.

[youngvicneighbourhoodtheatre]

Quarterly Meeting #4 - 9th May 2017

Quarterly Meeting #4 Tonight saw the last quarterly meeting of Neighbourhood Theatre's (NhT) inaugural year. It was lovely to see lots of members in attendance, and catch glimpses of new friendships forged and connections made. As people arrived tonight, they were asked to think about their NhT highlight of the year and write it on a post-it note. These were stuck to the wall so that the memories could be shared and discussed (more of this in the post above). And Yet It Moves - Community Show The meeting started with an update about the Research and Development (R&D) process for And Yet It Moves, the community show running alongside Life of Galileo, which some members have been involved in. This is a new development in the way community shows work for members of NhT, in that it allows greater involvement for those who choose it, in the creative process, even if they are not in the show itself. Kirsten reported that the show's director, Joe Hancock, and it's writer, Molly Taylor, had found these R&D workshops really fruitful. Rehearsals for the show itself start on Monday 15th May, and there will be opportunities throughout the process for NhT members to watch rehearsals and have access to the design process as it develops. Performances of And Yet it Moves will be on the 15th, 16th and 17th of June, and all NhT members will be invited to these. The Great Get-Together This is a nationwide event, which the Young Vic are part of, taking place on Saturday 17th June. It is being organised by the Jo Cox Foundation, and aims to bring together people who wouldn't normally be brought together. As this coincides with the end of NhT's first year, the Young Vic will be throwing a party to celebrate NhT, a group of people who are dedicated to making such connections, and facilitating connections in their wider community. A fitting way to round off a packed and successful year of growing communities. The party will be at Platform, 4-6pm, on Saturday 17th June, and members are invited to bring someone who has never been to the Young Vic before. The idea is for an event that will be really informal and fun. Members of NhT will help to organise, and are asked to contact Kirsten and Imogen if they would like to help. The next year of NhT will see several new members joining the core group, and these people will also be at the party. Photo Project For the Go Between project the photographer Jordan Lee took some beautiful photos of participants (see earlier blog entry on the project, below). Jordan is going to take portraits of NhT members, documenting the individuals involved in this exciting community initiative.