Glasgow City Council - How to Create an Avitar
Scottish Youth Theatre
Glasgow City Council
Outcomes
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Glasgow City Council, in partnership with Scottish Youth Theatre, embarked on a major music theatre project in September 2007. The project was part of the Council’s wider Youth Music Initiative (YMI) Formula Funding programme. |
Writer Fiona McGarry and composer Ian Hammond Brown were commissioned to produce a new piece of music theatre for the project. How to Create an Avitar is based around the idea of ‘body image’. It looks at the relationship between how young people would like to be perceived by their peer group and how their peer group actually perceive them. The work cleverly moves between the real and virtual world to explore these issues.
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Every secondary school in Glasgow nominated second year pupils to take part in the project. The final cast consisted of 56 pupils from 22 secondary schools throughout the city. Emphasis was placed on inclusion and developing social skills; the cast included pupils with additional special needs (ASN) as well as those from mainstream schools. |
Young people wanting to stay out of the footlights also had the opportunity to participate in the project. Pupils worked as part of the technical crew developing camera, lighting and sound skills. The ‘pit band’ was also made up entirely from school pupils.
Rehearsals took place over six evening sessions at Scottish Youth Theatre’s headquarters in Glasgow. Each session consisted of three 50-minute classes focusing on singing, drama and dance. Preparation concluded with a 4-day residential course at Castle Toward Residential Education Centre in Dunoon.
| The final performances took place on 3 October in the Old Fruitmarket, Candleriggs. 300 pupils attended a free schools matinee performance and an evening performance was enjoyed by a supportive and enthusiastic audience of parents and friends. |
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The project produced a new piece of musical theatre performed to a high standard for an appreciative audience. Participants had a great time, as these comments by pupils demonstrate:
'I wouldn't change anything about the course, it was one of the greatest experiences I've ever had.'
'Very enjoyable - I LOVED this project and I’m missing it so much!'
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However, there were also other benefits to the young people involved. Skills in music, drama and dance were developed, and pupils gained confidence as the project progressed. The project provided the opportunity for pupils to work both individually and as a member of a team. One class teacher said
'it's great that pupils from an ASN school like mine can be included in projects such as this'. |
As well as the benefits to the young people involved, the project strengthened partnerships between the organisations involved (Glasgow City Council, Scottish Youth Theatre and NHS Health Scotland).
| To find out more about the YMI's Formula Funding visit the other Youth Music Initiative pages. For more information about Glasgow City Council's Formula Fund projects, contact Neil Robertson, YMI Officer. | |