Young People’s Theatre

The Young People’s Theatre group of the Sligo Drama Circle was set up in April 2005 with three specific aims:

To promote theatre and drama with young people in the Sligo area

To give young people a creative voice

To develop contacts between young people and the Sligo Drama Circle

The broad overall aim is to develop a core of young people with experience of working together. The group is targeted at the 16-19 year old age group, Transition Year and older. The Young People’s Theatre group work on a project by project basis, with newcomers invited to join at the start of each new project. We try to encourage a membership from a broad base of schools so that the group is not seen to be based in any particular school or institution. Auditions for the group do not take place, but it is attempted to create a team of young people for each project who may be encouraged to partake in different roles. The object is to avoid the culture of lead roles, but rather create ensemble productions where every part has value and significance. Workshops form the basis of rehearsals.

In the main, it is hoped that the group will devise productions so that the young people themselves have an input into the content of the productions. Members of the Young People’s Theatre group will be encouraged to take part in Drama Circle productions. The group will share its methods regularly with a wider audience. A variety of directors will be encouraged to work with the young people. There is currently no charge for membership of the group and the Young People’s Theatre group acknowledges the financial and other support of the Drama Circle.

Currently, the Young People’s Theatre group has a cast of ten, its membership taken from a range of secondary schools across the city; some are in apprenticeships, students at IT Sligo or in work. The group meets on Wednesday evenings from 7-9pm at the Drama Circle’s rehearsal space in the Market Yard. Space is limited so numbers in the group are also limited, but new members are always welcome at the start of each new project. If you are in the targeted age group and are interested in becoming a member of the group, e-mail us and let us know your details: sligodramacircle@eircom.net

The group is currently under the stewardship of Peter Milne. Peter has been a workshop leader and director. He has also previously been a secondary school drama and English teacher. He has facilitated many school productions specialising in improvisation towards performance. He worked a lot with Sewell Barn Theatre Co. and Norwich Clowns (Mime) in the UK. He also performed with the Norwich Clowns at the Edinburgh Festival in 1980. He subsequently set up the Sewell Barn Youth Theatre. He moved to London to work as a full time community arts worker at Hoxton Hall community theatre in East London 1984-1986 where he directed many performances. He trained in mime at the City Lit in London. He attended the Central School of Speech and Drama in London in 1987/88 for a one year full time Advance Speech and Drama Course. He directed a Christmas Show in 1988. He joined the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) Cockpit Theatre-In-Education Team, where he achieved an equity card. He was a member of SCYPT Standing Conference of Young People’s Theatre. He attended international drama workshops/conferences on an annual basis for six years. He moved to Harlow Van Theatre-In-Education Team 1989-1993. In 1991he was elected as a member of the campaign team to defend theatre-ineducation and subsidised theatre 1992/93. He taught in many primary schools in London and then in a special school in Sligo where he used drama a lot in the classroom and in school plays.