Each November, Youth Theatre Ireland holds a youth theatre practice symposium in partnership with third-level institutions.
The symposium takes place across two days and welcomes practitioners to a programme of talks, presentations, roundtables, and practice-based workshops. The annual event provides a space for networking and cross-fertilisation of ideas between practitioners. The symposium also incorporates the annual launch of Playshare that includes rehearsed readings of plays written for young ensembles.
Registration for the Symposium starts in October each year and is open to a wide-range of people such as youth theatre leaders and practitioners, freelance facilitators, theatre professionals, youth arts workers, arts education professionals, students, and academics.
Supporting Inclusion In Youth Theatre- A Youth Theatre Practice Symposium (2022)
How can youth theatre practice support the inclusion of young people both within a workshop space, in performance spaces, and in wider contexts across their lives?
The 2022 symposium explored how youth theatres are currently developing inclusive practice, offered skilled workshops to examine approaches to inclusion. It also had opportunities to discuss and share practice and work towards shaping future supports.With workshops and presentations across a range of areas including Exploring Inclusive Methodologies in Youth Theatre Facilitation, Demystifying and developing Inclusive Drama and Story-Making and Dyslexia in Youth Theatre the symposium facilitated a chance to reflect on what is working and what could be different.
One of our presenters was Kel Menton, who spoke of their experiences and offered insights with their presentation, The Act of Creation: Being trans in the world of youth theatre
Kel Menton is a non-binary writer from Cork. They currently work as an assistant youth theatre facilitator at Graffiti Theatre Company, and as a coordinator for Fighting Words Cork. You can find some of their work published in the Irish Examiner, Playshare, Good Day Cork, and the ROPES literary journal.
Steven Tully's presentation was entitled Ballyfermot Youth Theatre: From Zoom to in the Room.
Steven Tully (he/him) is an a Youth Arts Worker, Artist and Youth Theatre Facilitator currently working for Familibase in the Ballyfermot, Dublin 10 community. Steven has also spent the last three years establishing the Ballyfermot Youth Theatre, of which he is the lead facilitator. With the support of Youth Theatre Ireland, Creative Ireland and Familibase, Steven has taken the youth Theatre from a small online group during the pandemic to a large, diverse group of young people all from the Ballyfermot community. The youth theatre are currently gearing up for their first live production.
Past symposia events include:
Supporting Inclusion In Youth Theatre- A Youth Theatre Practice Symposium (2022)
Back in the Room - A Youth Theatre Practice Symposium (2021)
Youth Theatre @ 40 : A Youth Theatre Practice Symposium (2020)
Which way from here? Youth Theatre Symposium (2019)
Outside the Box... Youth Theatre Practice Symposium (2018)
In the Making... Youth Theatre Practice Symposium (2017)
Changemakers: Youth Theatre Practice Symposium (2016)
Symposia partners have included the Department of Theatre, University College Cork, and the Department of Drama and Theatre Studies, Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick.
Register your Interest
If you would like to be included on the Symposium mailing list please register your interest by emailing Alan King