This project is funded by the Arts Council Of Wales for 3 years as a pilot under the Arts in Targeted Community Development scheme.
Small World Theatre is working in partnership with the Jigsaw project of Pembrokeshire Children and Youth Partnership and the Princes Trust using participation in the arts as a medium through which marginalised communities in Pembrokeshire can articulate their concerns and explore new possibilities.
The work started in the Hubberston and Hakin areas of Milford Haven in 2001 / 2 and in Pembroke Dock, Pennar in 2002 / 3, a combined festival of arts activities is envisaged for 2003 / 4.
YEAR 1
Through participatory drama and democratic discussion the young people in the Hubberston and Hakin Youth Forum identified bullying as a major concern. As a starter activity SWT worked with them to make a play to take to younger children in the area.
The young people did baseline research amongst children and adults in the community about their attitudes and experiences of bullying. These real 'stories' were used to devise a play.
Exploration of these ‘narratives’ and their own personal stories through drama produced two plays. The first play was performed once at a Youth Conference, and the second six times. There were five performances of the second play in local primary schools and one at a Youth Forum meeting. The play is highly interactive with the young performers becoming peer facilitators. It never had a name, maybe because the participants saw it as a continually evolving process.
Participants devised scenes and set in this young person led production.
The performance and audience in Milford Junior school, peer education in action
In late August 2001 a two day arts event in a geodesic dome introduced the project to the wider community. Three artists from SWT worked with local people to build giant processional structures.These giants later took part in a 'One World Week' Carnival in Pembroke.
The makers of the armadillo on a tricycle .........Mike Shoring who shot the video of the procession helps test drive the giant....... putting up the dome in, Gellyswick
The 9 metre snake winds around the dome as Ann and two young participants discuss the final details
"Streets" project is another aspect of "Beats the Box". Participants identified ways to interpret their own streets through a variety of artistic media such as theatre, poetry, light projection, stellar mapping, sculpture, flat art, web art to illustrate and enhance a sense of place. Historical details, stories, memories, abstractions, interactions, food, environmental features both natural and built, all informed the process.
The youth forum's research located an area that was crying out for some artistic input. There was a raised flower bed that for years had lain dormant because any flowers planted in this public space were soon torn up and thrown about. The challenge was to find some arts activity that the forum and other young people could undertake together that would be both relevant and vandal resistant.
pebble cobbles
can we make out the designs ?
A sun
an Orca whale
a Puffin
a Dolphin
Two Fish
and a Compass
Starting work on the Orca and the Sun
Despite threats of vandalism the pebble mosaic survives and is valued by the residents of the area.
YEAR 2
A week of introductory arts workshops in Pennar, Pembroke Dock started with mask making
followed on day 2 by drama improvisation and the use of props in storymaking with Vanya Constant.
The theme of day 3 of shadow puppet making and performance was "what in the world do we want to know about?"
Football - Beckham - Heaven and God - Endangered Species and the Environment - Shady Characters in the News - How Curiosity Killed the Cat
were woven into a the story for a shadow puppet performance by the end of the day
During days 3 and 4 the disparate group of young people were able to work together to produce a giant golden phoenix that was included in the Christmas carnival in Pembroke Dock. A parents group is beginning to form around the arts activity, watch this space!.
In the making
In the Christmas parade the children won the prize for best walking entry
There were music making and drama workshops during Spring half term and there are more Giants in construction for the summer carnival.
Starfish, Seahorses, a Sea Monster, Blue Turtles and a Skeletal Creatue feature.
Work in process
Oragami Fish
2004
Hey due whers' my Spaceship? a community play
Life on Mars
The finale
Life on Earth turns into life underwater
Below: Forum Theatre piece by the community
Back over to Milford Haven for a few workshops and a whole new bunch of people to work with making a viking ship and costumes.
construction
Milford Haven Vikings and Valkaries Parade
AIM: To encourage children, young
people and others in the community to participate in arts activities and to
support locally owned community arts development with a view to:
Developing an arts project informed by local concerns.
