SKILL UP is an open access event aimed at youth theatre practitioners and anyone engaging in performing arts with young people at a voluntary, educational or professional level. Next year in 2007 it will take place on 9-10 February 2007 at the Craigmonie Centre, Drumnadrochit (Loch Ness).

Held in association with Eden Court Theatre and funded by The Scottish Arts Council, HI~Arts, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, HIE Inverness and East Highlands and Lloyds TSB Foundation with the support of TAG Theatre Company, Scottish Youth Theatre and the Highland Council.

Designed for all levels of expertise, SKILL UP will offer you the unique opportunity to:

• Participate in our SKILL UP development workshops facilitated by leading artists or specialists
• Participate in sessions designed to share skills and advance / refresh specific youth theatre skills and techniques.
• Hear from guest speakers and access information which could benefit you and the young people you work with
• Watch youth theatre in action, network and socialise

Over 120 people attended SKILL UP in Glasgow this year, here is what they had to say…

“I would love to come to another Promote event. I met lots of great people, came away with some good stuff – more inspiration to keep me going!” - Participant – SKILL UP 2006

“Genuine ideas and expertise from others” - Participant - SKILL UP 2006

“Refreshing to take a bit of time out to think about practice and communicate issues with others who understand your practical concerns” - Participant - SKILL UP 2006

The 2007 five hour SKILL UP development workshops programme:

Directing – everything is for the audience

Facilitated by Guy Hollands (Co-Artistic Director, TAG & Citizens Theatre)

Inspired by the success of TAG's recent production of David Greig's Yellow Moon, this practical workshop will focus on working with actors on text that requires a relationship with the audience that doesn't rely on set, props and theatre lighting.

Multi Media Training
Facilitated by Arts-in-Motion

Make the most of the visual equipment your group has available by exploring dynamic and practical techniques with this much celebrated Highland based multi-arts company. Arts-in-Motion have worked on countless arts events in the community providing multi visual installations, video projections and their pioneering ‘Cartoon Theatre’. 

A Clear Path
Facilitated by Birds of Paradise and Solar Bear

This workshop will introduce you to the artistic and practical techniques required to improve access to your youth theatre for young people with special needs. The session will cover the preparations required and will explore the avenues of the further planning and training required to challenge the provision of your group.  This workshop is supported by the Lloyds TSB Foundation

Alternative Worlds – On a Budget
Facilitated by Francis Gallop (Scenographer and Dramaturg)

Designing for performance is a process of story telling, creating an alternative reality tailored to its inhabitants (often with few resources). This practical seminar discusses how to priorities production demands and to make magic out of the barest essentials.

Dramatising Our Own Stories
Facilitated by John Batty (Eden Court Theatre)

Based on the Highland traditions of ‘story telling’ part one of this workshop will lead to participants building confidence to tell anecdotes and stories of their own lives, or the lives of people they know. Part two will develop a process of dramatisation to bring selected "true stories" to the stage. Various dramatic techniques and styles will be employed to communicate the material. The idea is that the average drama group has source material for theatre in their own lives.
Our SKILL UP workshops will be supported by:

Auditorium Events

An introduction to the MA Arts in Social Contexts (talk)
Maggie Kinloch, Director of the School of Drama, RSAMD

Ten years of Highland Out-reach (talk)
John Batty, Drama Artist, Eden Court Theatre

Performance
As You Like It
A short performance from Drumnadrochit Youth Theatre (Out of Eden)

Skill Share
Following the success of 2006, SKILL UP will once again free up space for you to share, participate and observes each others skills.


SKILL UP Surgeries
Will focus further on skills touched upon during the event, or develop new skills featuring:

Challenging, Challenging Behavior
Making Moves (Movement technique for non-movers)
Rural Arts Toolkit
The First 10 minutes (techniques to inspire young people from the word ‘GO’)

Costs

A Individuals - Non-funded organisations and individuals: £40

B Funded Groups - Leader: £60, Additional group delegates £30

C Associates - Local authority workers / teachers etc £80

Costs include:

• Delegate information pack
• Five hour skill development session
• Facilitated networking and skill share session
• Two hour youth theatre technique workshop
• Talks from invited speakers
• Youth theatre performance
• An invite to the ‘SKILL UP’ Ceilidh (Friday night)
• Lunch Friday and Saturday / Buffet Dinner on Friday
• Teas and Coffee
• Coach transfer to / from Inverness and accommodation venues

Travel and Accommodation

The Craigmonie Centre is in the village of Drumadrochit situated on the North West side of Loch Ness on the A82. Drumnadrochit is 15 miles by road from Inverness and is served daily by bus services 17, 19, 917, 919 (from Inverness).

The Craigmonie Centre is signposted from the A82 as you enter Drumnadrochit.

So that you can arrange the accommodation that best suits your requirements SKILL UP will be running a bus shuttle service from Inverness at key times starting on the evening of Thursday 8th February. This shuttle service is included in your delegate fee and will make extensive affordable accommodation options available in Inverness and Drumnadrochit.

Contact Promote YT directly for a SKILL UP Accommodation and Travel Pack containing information on the hotels, B&B’s and hostels served by our shuttle service as well as details on our ‘Car Share Scheme’.

If travelling by car, further accommodation options close to the event can be found in Invermoriston and Fort Augustus.

Travelling from the Highlands?

Limited travel and accommodation bursaries are available for Highland based individuals and / or organisations through HI~Arts.

For more information and / or to apply please contact:

Maggie Dunlop, Funding & Liaison Manager, T: 01463 720895 E: maggie@hi-arts.co.uk


SPACES ARE LIMITED SO BOOK EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT

For a booking form or to book directly over the phone contact: Caroline Donald (Deposit / Upfront payment not required) T: 0131 313 6810 E: caroline@promoteyt.co.uk  


We want to make this event as ACCESSIBLE as possible. Please contact us directly if you any questions, worries, requests or special requirements.

The SKILL UP 2007 programme is subject to change