Youth Performance Partnership Programmes
5 Pilot programmes were awarded the Youth Performance Partnership Fund, Stage Directions would like to thank each of them for their contributions developing the principles around co-creation with Children and Young People within education settings.
The links below will take you to each of the respective programmes, where you can find out about their delivery:
The links below will take you to each of the respective programmes, where you can find out about their delivery:
Contributor Biographies
We understand that the work generated around the guiding co-creation principles wouldn't be possible without the generosity of a number of professionals who contributed to the discussions.
Lee Brennan (Curator)
Lee has worked within the creative sector for over 25 years, supporting communities through new creative work. Leading the Stage Directions Programme from 2019 till July 2020 and then moved to Head up the Creative Learning and Engagement Programme for LEEDS2023. Over his professional career, Lee has worked with Bolton Octagon, The Lowry, Royal Exchange and a number of Local Authorities alongside Curious Minds as a Curious Associate, supporting and nurturing LCEP's.
Lee has worked within the creative sector for over 25 years, supporting communities through new creative work. Leading the Stage Directions Programme from 2019 till July 2020 and then moved to Head up the Creative Learning and Engagement Programme for LEEDS2023. Over his professional career, Lee has worked with Bolton Octagon, The Lowry, Royal Exchange and a number of Local Authorities alongside Curious Minds as a Curious Associate, supporting and nurturing LCEP's.
Caz Brader (Facilitator)
Caz has been working to support theatre and arts for children and young people in one form or another since 2001 and recently became the Executive Director for Action Transport Theatre. Prior to that Caz help the position of Deputy CEO at the regional arts education charity & Bridge Organisation – Curious Minds. During the last 20 years her vast experience has included roles with the Old Town Hall Theatre, The Octagon Theatre, Bolton, Bolton Council, UFA and for the last 8 years, Curious Minds. Caz has a wealth of knowledge and experience as a facilitator, and we are excited for her to lead us on our exciting journey throughout the series.
Caz has been working to support theatre and arts for children and young people in one form or another since 2001 and recently became the Executive Director for Action Transport Theatre. Prior to that Caz help the position of Deputy CEO at the regional arts education charity & Bridge Organisation – Curious Minds. During the last 20 years her vast experience has included roles with the Old Town Hall Theatre, The Octagon Theatre, Bolton, Bolton Council, UFA and for the last 8 years, Curious Minds. Caz has a wealth of knowledge and experience as a facilitator, and we are excited for her to lead us on our exciting journey throughout the series.
François Matarasso (Guest Speaker - Defining Co-Creation)
François is a community artist, writer and researcher working in Europe his recent book 'A Restless Art' published in 2019 explores the history, theory and practice of participatory art. His work in community art stands on the belief that everyone has the right to create art and to share the result, as well as to enjoy and participate what others do.'Shaping your own cultural identity – and having it recognised by others – is central to human dignity and growth. If people can’t represent themselves culturally, how can they do so in any other way, including politically? If people are only imagined and portrayed by others, how can they be full, free and equal citizens? And yet, in every society, people’s access to culture is uneven. Those who identify with dominant cultures have no difficulty creating and promoting their values. Others, passively or actively denied cultural resources, platforms and legitimacy, remain on the margins'. François' work tackles those issues by making art with people, sharing ideas, thinking and writing about it.
François is a community artist, writer and researcher working in Europe his recent book 'A Restless Art' published in 2019 explores the history, theory and practice of participatory art. His work in community art stands on the belief that everyone has the right to create art and to share the result, as well as to enjoy and participate what others do.'Shaping your own cultural identity – and having it recognised by others – is central to human dignity and growth. If people can’t represent themselves culturally, how can they do so in any other way, including politically? If people are only imagined and portrayed by others, how can they be full, free and equal citizens? And yet, in every society, people’s access to culture is uneven. Those who identify with dominant cultures have no difficulty creating and promoting their values. Others, passively or actively denied cultural resources, platforms and legitimacy, remain on the margins'. François' work tackles those issues by making art with people, sharing ideas, thinking and writing about it.
Nina Hajiyianni (Guest Speaker - Why This Approach?)
Artistic Director of Theatre Porto
Theatre Porto (previously Action Transport Theatre (ATT)) is a leading professional theatre company for young people based in the North West and one of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organisations. Theatre Porto collaborate with children and young people to make world-class theatre, merging the playful and political. Nina shared an approach to co-creation with a focus on 'Adrift' which was a co-created production with children from St Bernards RC primary school.
Artistic Director of Theatre Porto
Theatre Porto (previously Action Transport Theatre (ATT)) is a leading professional theatre company for young people based in the North West and one of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organisations. Theatre Porto collaborate with children and young people to make world-class theatre, merging the playful and political. Nina shared an approach to co-creation with a focus on 'Adrift' which was a co-created production with children from St Bernards RC primary school.
Sarah Blowers (Guest Speaker - Why This Approach?)
Project Director Co-Creating Change Network & Co Artistic Director of Strike a Light
Co-Creating Change is a network and programme which explores the role which artists, cultural organisations and communities can play to co-create change together around the UK and beyond. Sarah will be sharing how the network supports and promotes approaches across the network of organisations which use co-creation within their work.
Project Director Co-Creating Change Network & Co Artistic Director of Strike a Light
Co-Creating Change is a network and programme which explores the role which artists, cultural organisations and communities can play to co-create change together around the UK and beyond. Sarah will be sharing how the network supports and promotes approaches across the network of organisations which use co-creation within their work.
Evie Manning (Guest Speaker- How Do You Co-Create?)
Co Artistic Director of Commonwealth
Common Wealth make site-specific theatre events that encompass electronic sound, new writing, visual design and verbatim. Their work is political and contemporary – based in the present day – the here and now. They make work that is relevant and addresses concerns of our times. Evie will talk us through their process for a show: PEACEOPHOBIA and what has and hasn’t worked with co-creation.
Co Artistic Director of Commonwealth
Common Wealth make site-specific theatre events that encompass electronic sound, new writing, visual design and verbatim. Their work is political and contemporary – based in the present day – the here and now. They make work that is relevant and addresses concerns of our times. Evie will talk us through their process for a show: PEACEOPHOBIA and what has and hasn’t worked with co-creation.
Christopher Elmer-Gorry (Guest Speaker - How Do You Co-Create?)
Artistic Director The Spark Festival (Previously Warts and All Theatre)
Warts and All Theatre delivers extraordinary theatre in unexpected places. With radical acting programmes for all ages in Northampton, Coventry and Wellingborough, and supporting developing theatre producers, they aim to give everyone a voice, and allow everyone to speak their truth. Chris will reflect on the Warts & All approach to making in their many varied contexts.
Artistic Director The Spark Festival (Previously Warts and All Theatre)
Warts and All Theatre delivers extraordinary theatre in unexpected places. With radical acting programmes for all ages in Northampton, Coventry and Wellingborough, and supporting developing theatre producers, they aim to give everyone a voice, and allow everyone to speak their truth. Chris will reflect on the Warts & All approach to making in their many varied contexts.
Stella Toonen (Guest Speaker - The Impact)
Stella Toonen is a PhD researcher who works on the topic of co-creation between arts organisations and communities. Her research is based at both Tate Modern and King’s College London as part of a collaborative project, and has looked at co-creation projects at Tate Modern (London), the Whitworth Art Gallery (Manchester) and Queens Museum (New York). Stellaalso works as a freelance researcher and producer, most recently on projects with the Museum of London, 64 Million Artists, Creative People and Places, and Museums Galleries Scotland. Previously, she worked as a producer for public engagement programmes at the Imperial War Museum and King’s College London’s Cultural Institute, as well as on exhibition projects for the V&A, British Museum and Science Museum. Stellawas on Clore's Emerging Leader programme in 2018 and is currently a trustee of Culture24.
Stella Toonen is a PhD researcher who works on the topic of co-creation between arts organisations and communities. Her research is based at both Tate Modern and King’s College London as part of a collaborative project, and has looked at co-creation projects at Tate Modern (London), the Whitworth Art Gallery (Manchester) and Queens Museum (New York). Stellaalso works as a freelance researcher and producer, most recently on projects with the Museum of London, 64 Million Artists, Creative People and Places, and Museums Galleries Scotland. Previously, she worked as a producer for public engagement programmes at the Imperial War Museum and King’s College London’s Cultural Institute, as well as on exhibition projects for the V&A, British Museum and Science Museum. Stellawas on Clore's Emerging Leader programme in 2018 and is currently a trustee of Culture24.