Promenart

When Aishley Docherty happened to bump into Melanie Whitehead at a Leftcoast gathering, neither could have predicted that the chance meeting would very quickly lead to a collaboration between the two, and the pooling of creative ideas to come up with an exciting new event in Blackpool.

The result, supported by Leftcoast, is Promenart – a pop-up theatre for young adults aged 13 plus.

Aishley and Melanie, who are managing and running the event, have a wealth of experience in drama, dance and theatre production, and are well qualified to make a success of the project. Both graduated from the same university, some years apart, after studying similar subjects in art, drama and theatre studies. They went on to pursue various activities in those areas before meeting for the first time earlier this year.

The two women would like the new venture to encourage teenagers and young people to engage with the arts in a unique and exciting way. They are hoping to entice a variety of applicants within the youth age range. No previous experience of acting is necessary but participants do need plenty of enthusiasm, ideas, energy and should be prepared to take part in the whole theatre bootcamp experience. As an added bonus, participation is free, and places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Aishley told me, “The participants will be performing a play which was written in 2013 especially for young people as part of the National Theatre’s ongoing youth theatre programme. We don’t plan to announce the title of the play we’ll be performing, preferring instead to build the production using techniques that are rooted in personal and group development. Creativity and improvisation will be key to the final performance. As a group, we will produce a piece of dynamic theatre for public performance in just one week!”

Although, sadly, I am otherwise engaged on the days of the actual performances (Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 August 2014 at The Oracle and other local venues TBC) I look forward to photographing rehearsals, alongside Julie Corcoran, at The Oracle, between Monday 28 July and Friday 1 August 2014. This sounds like an ambitious project, but one which will have many benefits for those young people who decide to take part.