Oxford Youth Theatre Platform
T1001328905
Archive :: production:T1001328905, showcase:S021904856, venue:V801
Planet Earth
All the young people who have taken part in this terms course will be demonstrating their new found talent under the direction of the Pegasus team of professional tutors. Two full evenings of diverse entertainment in dance, music and drama. The issues of climate change, population growth and conflict weigh heavily on our minds, but how often do we sit back and really appreciate the planet that we live on? Linking in with UNESCO's International Year of Planet Earth and Oxford Inspires Planet Earth season, performers at Pegasus Theatre, from 6 years old to adult, have been making short performances for Planet Earth. Pegasus based dance and drama groups have prepared a series of pieces over 12 weeks in response to the Planet Earth theme. The programme includes a group of pupils from Warriner School in Banbury who in June volunteered to take part in an after school drama project about family breakdown organised by The Oxfordshire Family Mediation Service in partnership with Pegasus Theatre. With the direction and support from professional tutors, participants have created performances, using drama, music, rap, movement and dance to explore and celebrate our diverse world. Pieces touch on the effect of the moon on our planet and our changing seasons explored through jazz, modern and contemporary dance. The fragility of the eco-system is told in a modern day parable by the adult drama group, the 10-13 year olds explore the ancient adventure of Sir Gawain and the Green knight plus alien evacuees from a planet on the brink of extinction who find the Earth disappointing. The youngest performers (6-9 year olds) have been using drama and music to create musical plays – a mythological story of the lifting of the sky and a fun-filled finale, The Biggest Party in the World!. The newly formed Oxford Youth Theatre Production Company - one of three being established at Pegasus, are leading the design and technical work for Planet Earth with all the backstage activities being managed by the 14 to 19 year olds. The young people are developing their skills in areas such as set design, lighting and stage management with the support of Pegasus based theatre designer Nomi Everall and Technical Manager Dave Thwaites.
