Body, Voice and Drama
Arc Theatre, 2022
 

A week-long club for young women working with the Adolescent Team in Children's Care and Support Services led by practitioners from Arc Theatre exploring creative activities to improve confidence and self-esteem.

2 young people performing to a crowded theatre
Copyright 2022, Arc Theatre, LBBD and Jimmy Lee

This project took place at The Vibe, a community and youth centre in Dagenham. During this week-long club the group explored new ways to communicate, connect and share stories and experiences using their bodies and voices. Throughout the week, Arc Theatre introduced the group to a range of drama and performance skills and opportunities to learn new skills in presenting, writing and film making. The young women each worked very hard to devise, develop and create a short film exploring themes and experiences based on issues they care about. The week culminated in a celebration and presentation of the films made by the young women.

Arc Theatre has thoroughly enjoyed working with NTC and the young people involved. Our creative drama workshops were well organised and supported by the NTC Team throughout. We are so proud of the process and products (short films) created by the groups and especially seeing the young people grow in confidence and self-esteem - Nat Smith, Education Director, Arc Theatre
My young person really benefited from the Arc drama club and is now in College for drama! - Meghan Drennan, Social Worker
Well what definitely surprised me was the writing thing. Because I was just writing down scribbles and I thought "no it's not really that good, but I'll bring it in anyway, just to show everyone". And it turned out good and we made a whole movie about it - Lisa, participant
Arc Theatre

Natalie Smith, Executive Director joined Arc Theatre in 1992. Natalie both performs in and facilitates Forum Theatre and training workshops for adults and young people, and has spent much of the last four years leading Arc’s ground-breaking projects for girls at risk – Girls Have Their Say (funded by the Home Office CAGGK), Finding the Words and Raised Voices (both funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation). Most recently Natalie has devised, developed and facilitated Arc Broadcast programme, raising awareness about ‘sexting’ and cyberbullying.

Arc Theatre was founded in Founded in 1984, Arc specialises in creating and performing theatre that challenges assumptions and causes real change in the way that people relate to one another at work, at school and in the community. As a pioneering organisation we were instrumental in bringing the issue of racism in football to the forefront of public awareness.