THE idea of a ‘youth theatre’ is a complicated one. When discussing it I need to admit that I no longer fall into that category of being a young person, writes Capall Dorcha’s Jack Stancliffe.

I recently attended the National Youth Theatre Arts conference which was specifically important due to it being the official Year of Young People.

It was great to see many different approaches to youth arts practice. It’s an exciting time in how we work with and understand the role of young people and I believe it’s also important that the voices of those within North Ayrshire are heard.

For a long time, my understanding of a youth theatre’s function has not been about making sure all young people attending go on to appear on big stages or blockbusters (as no matter how well skilled we may make our young people, the chances of this happening are sadly slim!).

In my opinion, youth theatre is about seeing it as an exciting medium to communicate a variety of interests in which these skills go on to help with employability, allowing young people to become confident individuals, whether through words, song, movement or theatre craft.

It’s important then that the theatre provides a space for these things to be given attention to.

How we do this, however, is the real task. Our P5-7 participants will be able to explore a series of relevant topics and questions through fictional worlds, exciting narratives and task riddled situations, all while developing confidence, communication skills and knowledge of theatre.

We have been fortunate to be welcomed by local primary schools to provide initial sessions and have been overwhelmed by enthusiasm and ideas already coming through.

For our older groups of S1 and above we are providing performance opportunities from the start with a plan to cast, produce and perform a play specifically written for young people in a professional theatre venue all in the space of 10 weeks.

We aim to run taster workshops of the play and what to expect of our youth theatre in local secondary schools over the coming weeks as a way to form our initial Ensemble group.

Our youth board meeting based at our office in Ardrossan on April 17 will allow any young person to take part and help programme what we work on.

Our youth theatre sessions are scheduled to take place at the Ardrossan Civic Centre on Saturday, April 21 between 10am and 12pm. Classes cost £6 per session, paid monthly with up to 50 per cent off if you have an Ensemble membership.

Details at capalldorcha.com/portfolio/ensemble-youththeatre or facebook.com/CapallDorchaEnsemble or 01294 475648.