Jerry Seinfeld’s famously said that according to studies people’s number one
according to studies people’s number one
according to studies people’s number one fear is public speaking
number two is death death is number two
number two is death death is number two so you can imagine when I found out that
so you can imagine when I found out that
so you can imagine when I found out that I was going to be the first life Speaker
I was going to be the first life Speaker
I was going to be the first life Speaker today that I was a little bit nervous
today that I was a little bit nervous
today that I was a little bit nervous but then I thought actually this could
but then I thought actually this could
but then I thought actually this could be great because it kind of chimes with
be great because it kind of chimes with
be great because it kind of chimes with what I wanted to talk to you about I
what I wanted to talk to you about I
what I wanted to talk to you about I want to tell you a story about taking
want to tell you a story about taking
want to tell you a story about taking risks so I’m a theatre director and I
risks so I’m a theatre director and I
risks so I’m a theatre director and I work with young people and about five
work with young people and about five
work with young people and about five years ago I made a discovery that
years ago I made a discovery that
years ago I made a discovery that changed the way I work with young people
changed the way I work with young people
changed the way I work with young people and it changed my views on
and it changed my views on
and it changed my views on transformation that is how theater can
transformation that is how theater can
transformation that is how theater can transform the lives of marginalized
transform the lives of marginalized
transform the lives of marginalized young people but before I tell you the
young people but before I tell you the
young people but before I tell you the story I need to rewind a little bit
story I need to rewind a little bit
story I need to rewind a little bit so before I did what I do now for about
so before I did what I do now for about
so before I did what I do now for about ten years I was working in education and
ten years I was working in education and
ten years I was working in education and participatory Drama projects I taught in
participatory Drama projects I taught in
participatory Drama projects I taught in schools in the top 1% of deprivation
schools in the top 1% of deprivation
schools in the top 1% of deprivation nationally and I worked with deprived
nationally and I worked with deprived
nationally and I worked with deprived young people I really enjoyed what I did
young people I really enjoyed what I did
young people I really enjoyed what I did I was passionate about theatre and I
I was passionate about theatre and I
I was passionate about theatre and I loved seeing young people being inspired
loved seeing young people being inspired
loved seeing young people being inspired by theatre and I knew that theatre could
by theatre and I knew that theatre could
by theatre and I knew that theatre could change people it happened to me as a
change people it happened to me as a
change people it happened to me as a teenager I experienced bouts of poor
teenager I experienced bouts of poor
teenager I experienced bouts of poor mental health and I felt out of place in
mental health and I felt out of place in
mental health and I felt out of place in my body and out of place in the world
my body and out of place in the world
my body and out of place in the world around me joining a theater group it
around me joining a theater group it
around me joining a theater group it saved me it gave me the space to express
saved me it gave me the space to express
saved me it gave me the space to express myself be part of a community find a
myself be part of a community find a
myself be part of a community find a home and find the self belief to know
home and find the self belief to know
home and find the self belief to know that one day I would be okay and so I
that one day I would be okay and so I
that one day I would be okay and so I loved working with young people as a
loved working with young people as a
loved working with young people as a young teacher and practitioner myself
something wasn’t quite right because
something wasn’t quite right because when I looked around me and I looked at
when I looked around me and I looked at
when I looked around me and I looked at the theater industry I couldn’t see the
the theater industry I couldn’t see the
the theater industry I couldn’t see the young people that I was working with
young people that I was working with
young people that I was working with reflected in that industry and even when
reflected in that industry and even when
reflected in that industry and even when I went back to drama school myself to do
I went back to drama school myself to do
I went back to drama school myself to do a masters I saw that those in training
a masters I saw that those in training
a masters I saw that those in training didn’t really reflect the communities
didn’t really reflect the communities
didn’t really reflect the communities that I’d been working with they they
that I’d been working with they they
that I’d been working with they they didn’t seem to come from all walks of
didn’t seem to come from all walks of
didn’t seem to come from all walks of life so something wasn’t quite working
life so something wasn’t quite working
life so something wasn’t quite working and even though I’d been part of some
and even though I’d been part of some
and even though I’d been part of some amazing participatory theater projects
amazing participatory theater projects
amazing participatory theater projects not enough young people were progressing
not enough young people were progressing
not enough young people were progressing on into the industry but before I could
on into the industry but before I could
on into the industry but before I could do anything about those thoughts in 2012
do anything about those thoughts in 2012
do anything about those thoughts in 2012 I was made redundant a theater company
I was made redundant a theater company
I was made redundant a theater company that I was working with they they lost a
that I was working with they they lost a
that I was working with they they lost a lot of money and they needed to find
lot of money and they needed to find
lot of money and they needed to find some more the department that seemed
some more the department that seemed
some more the department that seemed most dispensable was the social
most dispensable was the social
most dispensable was the social inclusion department which I managed so
inclusion department which I managed so
inclusion department which I managed so I found myself unemployed and full of
I found myself unemployed and full of
I found myself unemployed and full of ideas and it was when I was sitting on
ideas and it was when I was sitting on
ideas and it was when I was sitting on the bus one day and I think it was the
the bus one day and I think it was the
the bus one day and I think it was the 43 to London Bridge that I thought I’ve
43 to London Bridge that I thought I’ve
43 to London Bridge that I thought I’ve got an idea why don’t we start a new
got an idea why don’t we start a new
got an idea why don’t we start a new kind of theatre company and
kind of theatre company and
kind of theatre company and not-for-profit organization where young
not-for-profit organization where young
not-for-profit organization where young people in the margins are in fact at the
people in the margins are in fact at the
people in the margins are in fact at the center of the organization they would
center of the organization they would
center of the organization they would create the core work because I had been
create the core work because I had been
create the core work because I had been part of other projects that I wasn’t so
part of other projects that I wasn’t so
part of other projects that I wasn’t so proud to be associated with projects
proud to be associated with projects
proud to be associated with projects that had received funding for working
that had received funding for working
that had received funding for working with young disadvantaged people but
with young disadvantaged people but
with young disadvantaged people but where the real opportunity of that
where the real opportunity of that
where the real opportunity of that funding hadn’t been realized large was
funding hadn’t been realized large was
funding hadn’t been realized large was producing theaters running young
producing theaters running young
producing theaters running young people’s projects in inadequate spaces
people’s projects in inadequate spaces
people’s projects in inadequate spaces because the main actors were busy using
because the main actors were busy using
because the main actors were busy using the best spaces keen but inexperienced
the best spaces keen but inexperienced
the best spaces keen but inexperienced facilitators because the lead artists
facilitators because the lead artists
facilitators because the lead artists well they were too busy
well they were too busy
well they were too busy on the core work and even this use of
on the core work and even this use of
on the core work and even this use of language the core work the the social
language the core work the the social
language the core work the the social inclusion Club the outreach group
inclusion Club the outreach group
inclusion Club the outreach group somehow making this work seem other seem
somehow making this work seem other seem
somehow making this work seem other seem different to that core work so my idea
different to that core work so my idea
different to that core work so my idea was to create a company where the young
was to create a company where the young
was to create a company where the young people’s work was the core work I
people’s work was the core work I
people’s work was the core work I managed to get some funding and set up a
managed to get some funding and set up a
managed to get some funding and set up a company and we started working with
company and we started working with
company and we started working with young people aged 19 to 25 with no prior
young people aged 19 to 25 with no prior
young people aged 19 to 25 with no prior qualifications who had been sign posted
qualifications who had been sign posted
qualifications who had been sign posted to us from local authority services
to us from local authority services
to us from local authority services probation teams leaving her job Center
probation teams leaving her job Center
probation teams leaving her job Center and so on at the age of 19 plus these
and so on at the age of 19 plus these
and so on at the age of 19 plus these young people had slipped through the
young people had slipped through the
young people had slipped through the Nets of Education and participatory
Nets of Education and participatory
Nets of Education and participatory projects so we started offering free and
projects so we started offering free and
projects so we started offering free and high quality training led by the best
high quality training led by the best
high quality training led by the best people in the industry and alongside
people in the industry and alongside
people in the industry and alongside that structured pastoral support that
that structured pastoral support that
that structured pastoral support that meant we could take away any barriers
meant we could take away any barriers
meant we could take away any barriers the young people face to accessing our
the young people face to accessing our
the young people face to accessing our training now as well as teaching things
training now as well as teaching things
training now as well as teaching things like voice and movement and Shakespeare
like voice and movement and Shakespeare
like voice and movement and Shakespeare and working with text we also decided
and working with text we also decided
and working with text we also decided that crucially this training would
that crucially this training would
that crucially this training would culminate in a six-week devised theatre
culminate in a six-week devised theatre
culminate in a six-week devised theatre process in an empty room with 15 actors
process in an empty room with 15 actors
process in an empty room with 15 actors we would make a new piece of theater
we would make a new piece of theater
we would make a new piece of theater there would be no writer there would be
there would be no writer there would be
there would be no writer there would be no theme imposed or no preconceived
no theme imposed or no preconceived
no theme imposed or no preconceived ideas just the imaginations and the
ideas just the imaginations and the
ideas just the imaginations and the creativity of everyone in that room so
creativity of everyone in that room so
creativity of everyone in that room so why devised theatre because of the fear
why devised theatre because of the fear
why devised theatre because of the fear let me explain without a script or any
let me explain without a script or any
let me explain without a script or any prescribed ideas the possibility was
prescribed ideas the possibility was
prescribed ideas the possibility was that anything could happen including
that anything could happen including
that anything could happen including quatre
quatre
quatre strophic failure now the young people
strophic failure now the young people
strophic failure now the young people were working with no different from any
were working with no different from any
were working with no different from any other artist they had an element of ego
other artist they had an element of ego
other artist they had an element of ego and they were worried that they were
and they were worried that they were
and they were worried that they were going to look stupid or silly on the
going to look stupid or silly on the
going to look stupid or silly on the first night other people said to me why
first night other people said to me why
first night other people said to me why are you doing this why don’t you just
are you doing this why don’t you just
are you doing this why don’t you just get a writer actually I know a great
get a writer actually I know a great
get a writer actually I know a great writer you could use oh why don’t you
writer you could use oh why don’t you
writer you could use oh why don’t you give them a structure a theme they could
give them a structure a theme they could
give them a structure a theme they could do a play about knife crime or something
do a play about knife crime or something
do a play about knife crime or something but no we stuck to our ideas the show
but no we stuck to our ideas the show
but no we stuck to our ideas the show must go on that was our motto for the
must go on that was our motto for the
must go on that was our motto for the six weeks in that rehearsal space
six weeks in that rehearsal space
six weeks in that rehearsal space because we knew we have a theater booked
because we knew we have a theater booked
because we knew we have a theater booked for six weeks time for a week and
for six weeks time for a week and
for six weeks time for a week and there’s paying public audiences coming
there’s paying public audiences coming
there’s paying public audiences coming to see a show we’ve got to do something
to see a show we’ve got to do something
to see a show we’ve got to do something and we sat there in that empty rehearsal
and we sat there in that empty rehearsal
and we sat there in that empty rehearsal room in Hackney fifteen young actors and
room in Hackney fifteen young actors and
room in Hackney fifteen young actors and a small production team looking at each
a small production team looking at each
a small production team looking at each other thinking who came up with this
other thinking who came up with this
other thinking who came up with this idea and someone said you know it’s easy
idea and someone said you know it’s easy
idea and someone said you know it’s easy all we have to do to make sure that we
all we have to do to make sure that we
all we have to do to make sure that we don’t look silly on the first night is
don’t look silly on the first night is
don’t look silly on the first night is make a really brilliant piece of theatre
make a really brilliant piece of theatre
make a really brilliant piece of theatre okay great thanks easy right now I must
okay great thanks easy right now I must
okay great thanks easy right now I must confess at that point privately as the
confess at that point privately as the
confess at that point privately as the director I was going home and panicking
director I was going home and panicking
director I was going home and panicking I was worrying about why did I come up
I was worrying about why did I come up
I was worrying about why did I come up with this idea in the first place and I
with this idea in the first place and I
with this idea in the first place and I would lie awake at night imagining all
would lie awake at night imagining all
would lie awake at night imagining all sorts of catastrophes the audience
sorts of catastrophes the audience
sorts of catastrophes the audience walking out us being the first ever
walking out us being the first ever
walking out us being the first ever theatre company in history to get a –
theatre company in history to get a –
theatre company in history to get a – five-star review for something and then
five-star review for something and then
five-star review for something and then I had a word with myself and I said just
I had a word with myself and I said just
I had a word with myself and I said just stop and breathe always good advice and
stop and breathe always good advice and
stop and breathe always good advice and take your own advice because I’d ask the
take your own advice because I’d ask the
take your own advice because I’d ask the young people to take risks and here I
young people to take risks and here I
young people to take risks and here I was worrying sits with the fear trust
was worrying sits with the fear trust
was worrying sits with the fear trust the process and as for a brilliant piece
the process and as for a brilliant piece
the process and as for a brilliant piece of theatre well in my opinion artistic
of theatre well in my opinion artistic
of theatre well in my opinion artistic excellent
excellent
excellent can only ever be achieved where there is
can only ever be achieved where there is
can only ever be achieved where there is integrity and how do we achieve that
integrity and how do we achieve that
integrity and how do we achieve that goal well we just have to work together
goal well we just have to work together
goal well we just have to work together and try something and fail and then try
and try something and fail and then try
and try something and fail and then try something else
something else
something else and fail again and then try something
and fail again and then try something
and fail again and then try something else and keep doing that every single
else and keep doing that every single
else and keep doing that every single day every day making little failures
day every day making little failures
day every day making little failures with each other and an incredible thing
with each other and an incredible thing
with each other and an incredible thing happened in taking little risks and
happened in taking little risks and
happened in taking little risks and making mistakes the young people
making mistakes the young people
making mistakes the young people realized hang on a minute the world
realized hang on a minute the world
realized hang on a minute the world didn’t just end because I took a risk
didn’t just end because I took a risk
didn’t just end because I took a risk and it gave them confidence to try
and it gave them confidence to try
and it gave them confidence to try something new
something new
something new to work with people to listen to ideas
to work with people to listen to ideas
to work with people to listen to ideas to offer ideas to throw away 95% of
to offer ideas to throw away 95% of
to offer ideas to throw away 95% of those ideas even the ones that belong to
those ideas even the ones that belong to
those ideas even the ones that belong to themselves they learnt but failure after
themselves they learnt but failure after
themselves they learnt but failure after all wasn’t something to be feared in
all wasn’t something to be feared in
all wasn’t something to be feared in fact it was something we needed it was
fact it was something we needed it was
fact it was something we needed it was something that made us progress I love
something that made us progress I love
something that made us progress I love this quote from Jacques Lecoq era is not
this quote from Jacques Lecoq era is not
this quote from Jacques Lecoq era is not just acceptable it is necessary for the
just acceptable it is necessary for the
just acceptable it is necessary for the continuation of life provided it is not
continuation of life provided it is not
continuation of life provided it is not too great a large error is a catastrophe
too great a large error is a catastrophe
too great a large error is a catastrophe and a small error is essential for
and a small error is essential for
and a small error is essential for enhancing existence without error there
enhancing existence without error there
enhancing existence without error there is no movement death follows now before
is no movement death follows now before
is no movement death follows now before I go on I must point out that all of
I go on I must point out that all of
I go on I must point out that all of this work and this risk-taking it was
this work and this risk-taking it was
this work and this risk-taking it was taking place in an atmosphere of safety
taking place in an atmosphere of safety
taking place in an atmosphere of safety in a safe space that we had spent a long
in a safe space that we had spent a long
in a safe space that we had spent a long time setting up with the young people
time setting up with the young people
time setting up with the young people over weeks beforehand we established
over weeks beforehand we established
over weeks beforehand we established safe space rules and boundaries we
safe space rules and boundaries we
safe space rules and boundaries we agreed rules and boundaries about safety
agreed rules and boundaries about safety
agreed rules and boundaries about safety and respect in the space and that we
and respect in the space and that we
and respect in the space and that we would support each other to trust the
would support each other to trust the
would support each other to trust the process
process
process at 6 o’clock when we finished rehearsals
at 6 o’clock when we finished rehearsals
at 6 o’clock when we finished rehearsals we would go home and we would leave work
we would go home and we would leave work
we would go home and we would leave work at work if anyone had something they
at work if anyone had something they
at work if anyone had something they were unhappy about or felt unsure about
were unhappy about or felt unsure about
were unhappy about or felt unsure about they would come back into the space the
they would come back into the space the
they would come back into the space the next day and share it with everyone and
next day and share it with everyone and
next day and share it with everyone and we would discuss it professionally in
we would discuss it professionally in
we would discuss it professionally in that safe space now these rules and
that safe space now these rules and
that safe space now these rules and boundaries were absolutely essential for
boundaries were absolutely essential for
boundaries were absolutely essential for this way of working because they
this way of working because they
this way of working because they provided a structure a framework within
provided a structure a framework within
provided a structure a framework within which the young people felt safe to take
which the young people felt safe to take
which the young people felt safe to take significant creative risks and this is
significant creative risks and this is
significant creative risks and this is what we discovered the greater the
what we discovered the greater the
what we discovered the greater the creative risk the more significant the
creative risk the more significant the
creative risk the more significant the transformation in the young person’s
transformation in the young person’s
transformation in the young person’s life big creative risk equals big
life big creative risk equals big
life big creative risk equals big artistic rewards equals affirmation from
artistic rewards equals affirmation from
artistic rewards equals affirmation from oneself and from the audience
oneself and from the audience
oneself and from the audience equals self belief equals confidence
equals self belief equals confidence
equals self belief equals confidence equals aspiration and goals and
equals aspiration and goals and
equals aspiration and goals and achievement equals smiley faces all
achievement equals smiley faces all
achievement equals smiley faces all around essentially devising theatre
around essentially devising theatre
around essentially devising theatre transforms lives this is Malik he is one
transforms lives this is Malik he is one
transforms lives this is Malik he is one of many many many young people we’ve
of many many many young people we’ve
of many many many young people we’ve worked with whose stories I could tell
worked with whose stories I could tell
worked with whose stories I could tell you about today he came to us referred
you about today he came to us referred
you about today he came to us referred via probation services and like many
via probation services and like many
via probation services and like many ex-prisoners he had experienced
ex-prisoners he had experienced
ex-prisoners he had experienced homelessness and had even been sleeping
homelessness and had even been sleeping
homelessness and had even been sleeping rough we worked with Malik to remove any
rough we worked with Malik to remove any
rough we worked with Malik to remove any barriers he faced to accessing our
barriers he faced to accessing our
barriers he faced to accessing our training we helped him with travel and
training we helped him with travel and
training we helped him with travel and housing etc and like many young people
housing etc and like many young people
housing etc and like many young people we worked with he really struggled with
we worked with he really struggled with
we worked with he really struggled with the devising process at first he found
the devising process at first he found
the devising process at first he found it really challenging especially not
it really challenging especially not
it really challenging especially not knowing what that final piece would look
knowing what that final piece would look
knowing what that final piece would look like and what he would look like in fact
like and what he would look like in fact
like and what he would look like in fact there was one moment in frustration that
there was one moment in frustration that
there was one moment in frustration that he tore down a piece of paper on the
he tore down a piece of paper on the
he tore down a piece of paper on the wall that had all his ideas on it a
wall that had all his ideas on it a
wall that had all his ideas on it a moment he now refer
moment he now refer
moment he now refer – as his little tantrum but a moment
– as his little tantrum but a moment
– as his little tantrum but a moment which revealed his really human fears
which revealed his really human fears
which revealed his really human fears about failure that moment became a
about failure that moment became a
about failure that moment became a turning point for Malik he went on to
turning point for Malik he went on to
turning point for Malik he went on to co-create a piece of theater that had
co-create a piece of theater that had
co-create a piece of theater that had hearts and vitality and according to one
hearts and vitality and according to one
hearts and vitality and according to one reviewer a righteous anger running
reviewer a righteous anger running
reviewer a righteous anger running through it he auditioned for drama
through it he auditioned for drama
through it he auditioned for drama school and he got in to guilt all and to
school and he got in to guilt all and to
school and he got in to guilt all and to Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Royal Central School of Speech and Drama he chose guilt oh sorry
he chose guilt oh sorry
he chose guilt oh sorry sensual I still love you and the same
sensual I still love you and the same
sensual I still love you and the same year he was offered a part in a play at
year he was offered a part in a play at
year he was offered a part in a play at Shakespeare’s Globe I asked him to
Shakespeare’s Globe I asked him to
Shakespeare’s Globe I asked him to reflect on the devising process and he
reflect on the devising process and he
reflect on the devising process and he told me it gave him the confidence and
told me it gave him the confidence and
told me it gave him the confidence and the competence to be able to handle a
the competence to be able to handle a
the competence to be able to handle a three year degree and a professional
three year degree and a professional
three year degree and a professional role on the globe stage so it’s five
role on the globe stage so it’s five
role on the globe stage so it’s five years later and every year we have
years later and every year we have
years later and every year we have invited a new group of young people to
invited a new group of young people to
invited a new group of young people to trust the process
trust the process
trust the process and make important and spirited work and
and make important and spirited work and
and make important and spirited work and thanks to the skills that come through
thanks to the skills that come through
thanks to the skills that come through this devising process a hundred percent
this devising process a hundred percent
this devising process a hundred percent of those young people have progressed on
of those young people have progressed on
of those young people have progressed on to University and drama school including
to University and drama school including
to University and drama school including some of the top Conservatoire schools in
some of the top Conservatoire schools in
some of the top Conservatoire schools in the UK that first group of 15 actors
the UK that first group of 15 actors
the UK that first group of 15 actors from the first year they’ve now
from the first year they’ve now
from the first year they’ve now graduated from drama school and are
graduated from drama school and are
graduated from drama school and are becoming the theatre makers of tomorrow
becoming the theatre makers of tomorrow
becoming the theatre makers of tomorrow not very afraid to share their voices
not very afraid to share their voices
not very afraid to share their voices and in a tiny way diversifying an
and in a tiny way diversifying an
and in a tiny way diversifying an industry which is well recorded as
industry which is well recorded as
industry which is well recorded as lacking plural voices and stories so as
lacking plural voices and stories so as
lacking plural voices and stories so as I was on that bus that day on the 43 I
I was on that bus that day on the 43 I
I was on that bus that day on the 43 I think it was to London
think it was to London
think it was to London I knew that I must be taking a risk
I knew that I must be taking a risk
I knew that I must be taking a risk because I felt fear those 15 actors in
because I felt fear those 15 actors in
because I felt fear those 15 actors in that rehearsal room in Hackney they felt
that rehearsal room in Hackney they felt
that rehearsal room in Hackney they felt fear even I confess when I was asked to
fear even I confess when I was asked to
fear even I confess when I was asked to give this talk I felt fear but in
give this talk I felt fear but in
give this talk I felt fear but in devising theatre with young people I
devising theatre with young people I
devising theatre with young people I have learnt this if we allow fear to
have learnt this if we allow fear to
have learnt this if we allow fear to prevent us from taking substantial
prevent us from taking substantial
prevent us from taking substantial creative risks we limit the
creative risks we limit the
creative risks we limit the possibilities of our own and others
possibilities of our own and others
possibilities of our own and others potential and we risk resorting back to
potential and we risk resorting back to
potential and we risk resorting back to the same old stories in our work let’s
the same old stories in our work let’s
the same old stories in our work let’s accept failure as a professional friend
accept failure as a professional friend
accept failure as a professional friend and in a safe space support young people
and in a safe space support young people
and in a safe space support young people to take significant creative risks and
to take significant creative risks and
to take significant creative risks and to make work that challenges work that
to make work that challenges work that
to make work that challenges work that really makes a difference to our
really makes a difference to our
really makes a difference to our industry work that is fearless thank you
industry work that is fearless thank you
industry work that is fearless thank you [Applause]
”
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