'History Alive!'
 
The first three options below are based upon the ‘History Alive’ project that was piloted with Kingussie High School and local primaries in 2006. The project was a great success and we have included the project report and costing in this pack as a guide.

The project encourages young people to participate in activities whilst highlighting the significance of Highland culture and history. 'Our aim is to instil confidence and self-awareness while representing history in a fresh and exciting way. By mixing the old with the new and producing something that everyone will enjoy, this project will entice young people to participate in future cultural activities.' (Kenny McGlashan, Associate Director.)

In each option, the project will be tailor made to the participant groups and their local history. The cost will depend on the number of groups involved in each project. Please contact Scottish Youth Theatre if you have any queries.


OPTION 1 – ‘HISTORY ALIVE - Residency’ (2 weeks)

CLUSTER PACKAGE: This is a good option for cluster groups to experience all of the different elements of the ‘History Alive’ project in one cost cutting package! Scottish Youth Theatre’s experienced drama tutors will work with each school to create a unique experience that all of the groups can share.

The first part of the project will be based in the schools with participants exploring a variety of drama and group work skills and devising their very own historical stories.

In the second week the groups will get a chance to visit a local historical site and develop their ideas into a short site-specific promenade performance with the rest of the class or for an invited audience.



OPTION 2 - ‘HISTORY ALIVE - Site-specific workshops’ (2 days)

The first day of the project will be based in school. Scottish Youth Theatre’s experienced tutors will deliver a full day workshop exploring the language, characters, settings and stories from the past. Participants will explore a variety of drama and group work skills whilst devising their very own historical scenes inspired by these traditions.

The second day of the project will be based at a local historical site. The participants will develop their ideas into a short site-specific promenade performance with the rest of the class.



OPTION 3 - ‘HISTORY ALIVE - School workshop’ (1 day)

Scottish Youth Theatre’s experienced tutors will do a full day workshop exploring the language, characters, settings and stories from the past. Participants will explore a variety of drama and group work skills whilst devising their very own historical scenes inspired by these traditions.



OPTION 4 - ‘THEMED WORKSHOPS’ (1 day per workshop)

Scottish Youth Theatre’s experienced tutors will creatively explore the themes or skills that have been chosen by your group (options listed below).

Whether you choose ‘one day’ or ‘a full week’ of workshops, the experience will be fully practical; we don’t just tell, we show and share!

If there is an option that you are looking for but it is not on the list, contact SYT to discuss how we can tailor-make this project for you.

The workshops available are: THEMES, FRIENDSHIP, CELBRATING DIVERSITY, MIXING IT – SECTARIANISM,
SKILLS, INSPIRATION THROUGH TEXT, THE POWER OF THE ENSEMBLE, INTRODUCTION TO SHAKESPEARE.

HIGHLAND 2007 – PILOT PROJECT REPORT

Scottish Youth Theatre ‘History Alive’ Project (Sept-Oct 2006)
 

During the two week project, SYT tutors delivered ‘History Alive’ workshops in various local primaries, at Kingussie High School and on location at the Highland Folk Museum.

They worked with approximately 200 young people, exploring Scottish history and Highland culture. Participants got a taste of the language, characters, settings and songs from the past - as well as creating and performing in their own scenes inspired by these traditions.

The High school pupils further developed their ideas on location at the Highland Folk Museum; where a 1930s phone box became a time-travelling machine and fierce clans met in the forest to fight for their honour or greet long lost loved ones!

The first year groups responded particularly well to this stage in the project with teachers commenting on improved attitude and focus in all of the groups.

On the final two days, a performance group from the High School also developed and performed in a short promenade show. They worked exceptionally hard and an audience of invited guests, along with visitors to the museum, enjoyed the ambitious show.

The show helped to raise the profile of the project in the local area and built the confidence of the young people involved.

Staff at Kingussie High School have since enquired about the possibility of developing an afterlife to this project due to the particular success with some of the first years.

INDICATIVE COST: £3500 - This included; tutor fees, accommodation, research, organisation and evaluation.
It did not include; travel expenses.

Kenny McGlashan, SYT’s Associate Director, can be contacted on 0141 552 3988 www.scottishyouththeatre.org