Join us as we launch our report investigating the value that young people place on their experiences of participation in drama, theatre and performance.

In 2014 Theatre Peckham and Royal Central School of Speech and Drama received funding from Creativeworks London to carry out research in to young people’s engagement with drama, theatre and performance.  We received the funding as part of Round 7, ‘Demonstrating Value’. The research is intended to be a critical step for Theatre Peckham in setting up a fit-for-purpose 2 year post-16 performing arts course for those aspiring to enter into education and employment in the creative and cultural sectors.

We asked 34 young people to tell us about the value they placed on such education and participation in the arts – what is participation worth to them? The young people were from Theatre Peckham, two schools and a college in the London Borough of Southwark and London Bubble, another theatre organisation that provides education and training for young people. The young people were all aged between 14 and 21 years.

At this event, we will share the key findings which include the themes and patterns which emerge from the interviews and a set of concrete ‘suggestions for action’ which will be of interest to a wide range of people involved in young people’s education and training in the performing arts industries.

The event will be introduced by a member of the Creativeworks London team and the panel will include:

·         Dr Catherine McNamara, Pro-Dean (Students) at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Academic Partner in the research project and lead author of the report

·         Teresa Early, Artistic Director Theatre Peckham

·         Ronald Nsubuga, graduate of Theatre Peckham and current student on Central’s BA Acting (Collaborative and Devised Theatre)

·         Martins Imhangbe, actor and Graduate Ambassador of Central’s BA Acting (Collaborative and Devised Theatre)

·         Topher Campbell, Artistic Director of the Red Room Theatre Company, director of television and film, writer and social commentator

·         Adjoa Andoh, Actor in theatre, film, television and radio, human rights advocate

Arrive from 6.15 for a 6.45 start. Refreshments will be served to welcome you to the event and again after the Q&A. Hard copies of the report will be available.