Summer Programme 2011
Booking opens March 2011
Week 1: 4 to 9 July (7 to 9 year olds) Drama
Week 2: 18 to 23 July (10 to 13 years) Drama
Week 3: 25 to 30 July (11 to 18 yrs) Musical Theatre
Weeks 4 to 5: 1 to 13 August (14 to 18 yrs) Drama
Last year, 130 young people aged between 7 to 17 years old took part in the summer programme and got the chance to find out about treading the boards, creating new plays and learning about the world of theatre. Thanks to sponsorship from Belfast Harbour, 16 young people from areas of social need were able to participate in the programme.
Our experienced professional artists who facilitated this year's programme were Niki Doherty & Orla McKeagney (acting) and Anna Donovan & Bobbi Rai Purdy (prop making and scenic design). Thanks also to the volunteers and chaperones who helped the programme run smoothly. Carol Moore, the Lyric's Education and Creative Learning Co-ordinator oversaw the programme content.
There were three age ranges: 7 to 10 year olds, 11 to 13 year olds and 14 to 17 year olds. The programme lasted for either one or two weeks; some of the young people had so much fun and learned so much, they even straddled age groups to come back for more.
The themes of the programme included:
- Jungle Animals for 7 to 10 year olds;
- Famous Paintings for 11 to 13 year olds;
- Theatre of the Absurd for 14 to 17 year olds and
- A Midsummer Night's Dream for 14 to 17 year olds.
Carol Moore picked her favourite feedback comment from the programme.
"We'll make you cry blood!"
Carol loved how one aspiring young actor was inspired by his experience during Theatre of the Absurd week. "He was being theatrical and enjoying the opportunity to use the style they were working on – the theme of the work was Theatre of the Absurd – the absurdity of human existence. The theatre style is about lack of logic, plot, character, and often disjointed dialogue that seems meaningless as in Samuel Beckett’s work"
Other comments fed back on the best things about the programme were:
”We won’t try to force you to enjoy our show but we may attempt hypnosis”
"It was the best ever"
"Learning different styles of performing"
"Making the play your own"
"Meeting lots of new people"
"I found much of the art and the dancing to be relaxing"
"All the tutors, chaperones and volunteers did a really good job"
"Acting spontaneously and feeling insane"
"Being with other people my age I didn’t know"
"The chaperones were cool"
"Totally awesome"
"Doing something you’ll be proud of"
"Doing element of dance and music which I didn't know would be included"
Click here to have a look at some photography from rehearsal and performance for family and friends.