What's on
Free drama workshops for young people who stammer (aged 16-30)
"It doesn't matter if you stammer a little or a lot. You don't need experience of speech therapy or drama either. Everyone says how different this is to anything they have experienced before - no dodgy play reciting, or performing in front of an audience...unless you really want to, that is. We hope you'll consider coming 'cos it could change your life..."
Cian.
 More comments from previous participants below...
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Update, 31st March 2008: we have 15 participants so far. Still happy to welcome additional people into the project as it has a long life span.
BSA Scotland, in association with TAG Theatre Company, ran four free drama sessions for young adults who stammer in March/April 2007. Following these extremely successful workshops (see below What previous participants have said), we are delighted to announce another series of FREE workshops, as a pilot project for our longer term Outspoken project for young people who stammer. All workshops will be based at the Citizens' Theatre, Glasgow.
Cian Bell, who now volunteers for BSA Scotland, took part in workshops last year, he said:
"I had the privilege to take part in some taster workshops and I can only say they unleashed unknown aspects of my personality and changed my whole perspective on communication. It was hilarious and very entertaining to watch friends express themselves in such a wonderful and whacky way!"
The pilot will involve a programme, of 10 free Thursday evening workshops (7.30-9.45pm) at the Citizens' Theatre, running from March 27th - 12th June, with further sessions on offer after the summer break. These relaxed sessions will offer a space to explore self-expression through games, discussion and improvisation.
The outcome of these workshops will inform the development of a new collaborative project, Outspoken, between BSA Scotland & TAG, for which funds are currently being raised.
The first part of the fundraising campaign has already been successful with a commitment by the Scottish Arts Council to a grant of £19,422. This grant is subject to the successful outcome of current applications for the matched funding for the project.
The Outspoken project will include the commission and development of a new play to challenge the stigma attached to stammering. The initial development period for the production will be in autumn 2008 and the production will then tour Scotland in 2009. Participants from the drama workshops will be invited to form a core group to inform and support the project when it gets underway. They will be able to get involved in the latter stages of the project to the extent they feel inspired to do so.
If you are a person who stammers with an interest in having fun and developing your expressive skills and confidence through drama, aged 16-30, and able to travel to sessions at the Citizens' Theatre in central Glasgow, please get in touch to register your interest.
Travel costs can be reimbursed.
Contact:
Get in touch to find out more:
Email Jan Anderson at BSA Scotland on bsascotland@stammering.org or
Call: 08453 303 800 / Text: 07731 302 018
You can also read about the project on the TAG website: www.tag-theatre.co.uk and blog at: http://tagtheatre.blogspot.com
| What previous participants have said...
Cian Bell, 21, is a film & photography student who stammers, who also volunteers for BSA Scotland. He says:
"Last year, the mystery of my stammering and how to deal with it became more of an issue. I contacted BSA Scotland when I read about the pilot workshops for 'Outspoken'. It was extraordinary that they were organising drama workshops just as I had been wondering if and when such a thing might come up! I was interested in working creatively alongside artists and fellow 'stammerheids'. I can only say the workshops unleashed unknown aspects of my personality and changed my whole perspective on communication. It was hilarious and very entertaining to watch my new friends express themselves in such a wonderful and wacky way! I think I also became more self aware, more patient and a better listener."
Ros Urquhart, 26, is a former art student and recently qualified art therapist, she comments:
"I always thought drama was for people who were confident in themselves and their bodies. I never thought I could stand up in front of people and express myself. The workshops allowed me to find a voice that was deep inside that hadn't come out very much. We didn't talk about the fact that we stammered. We just had fun!"
Campbell Lauder, 30, graduated in screenwriting for film and television, he says:
"My stammering, and people's reactions to it, has cast a dark shadow, which to this day I struggle to cope with. Attending the pilot drama workshops opened my eyes to the possibility that I could try new things and not be afraid."
Richard Perry, 22, is a final year civil engineering student who also participated in the pilot workshops:
"The workshops undoubtedly increased my confidence in expressing myself in verbal and non-verbal ways. In the past I held back from speaking, but I have recently felt more able to put myself forward. This is a change I noticed in others as well. They took the focus of communication away from just speech. I am much more aware of how tone of voice, gesture and other aspects of body language affect self-expression."
Cian adds:
"It doesn't matter if you stammer a little or a lot - my own stammer appears unexpectedly, then disappears under my skin in the most mysterious fashion. You don't need experience of speech therapy or drama either. Everyone says how different this is to anything they have experienced before - no dodgy play reciting, or performing in front of an audience...unless you really want to, that is. We hope you'll consider coming 'cos it could change your life..."
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More on the workshops in March/April 2007
BSA Scotland News Release: CALLING ALL 'STAMMERHEIDS' - THE STAGE AWAITS' (Word doc)
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