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Green Shoes Theatre Workshop 8th July 2024
BackFeedback by Miss Hemlall (Drama teacher)
Selected Year 9 and Year 10 pupils at the Warren School were both inspired and excited by the workshop delivered by Green Shoes theatre company. The local theatre company based in Barking and Dagenham enjoyed the raw talent and resilience from our pupils at The Warren school and were excited to offer pupils life-changing opportunities. Some of these opportunities include joining the Green Shoes local youth theatre group, performing at a range of local theatres and working with directors from the National Theatre. This was a great opportunity for our students to raise their self-esteem and it also allowed them to believe that they could be considered for a career in the creative performing arts.
Kirstie Cherrett and Verona Smith who work within the Green Shoes youth theatre company delivered and explosive and gritty workshop which thoroughly engaged our pupils. The skills and techniques that the pupils learnt provided an excellent base for artistic expression and exploration of a range of drama skills. The workshop allowed pupils to access script work, improvisation, role-play, physical theatre and group work. After the workshop a group of our pupils wanted the join the youth theatre run by Green Shoes theatre company. Students were excited and believed that their raw talents were valued. They were allowed to make considerable progress and development with their drama skills. One student said ‘ It was fun and I can’t wait to join the youth theatre’ another pupil said that ‘The workshop was really inspiring and I enjoyed the different starting points and ways of creating drama’ My favourite comment from a pupil was ‘I actually feel as though people like me can be represented and given a chance and I have never thought this before the workshop’. Both Kirstie and Verona’s drama workshop empowered pupils from Barking and Dagenham to feel confident regardless of background and ability.
It allowed me as a teacher to realise the power that drama can have on our young people in terms of talent, life skills and self- belief. I would definitely invite Green Shoes theatre company back to the school because they had such a positive impact on the pupils. A big thank you to Kirstie and Verona, who delivered the workshop tasks with an infectious passion and enthusiasm. I am looking forward to working with them on future projects because of the positive impact that their work has on the young people who will be our future performers, writers and directors.
