A group of drama students have created an original show that speaks out about vital issues to inspire change within the Sheffield community.
A Mind Apart theatre company will showcase their creative performance called ‘What About Us?’ for one night only on Wednesday the 26th March at 7:30pm.
The performance, consisting of students aged between 13 and 72, hopes to cover a range of important themes such as mental health, loneliness, acceptance and safety.
Creative Manager, Danielle Murphy, 35, said: “They’ve created the show. I started by saying to them what makes you angry, what do you want to change in the world. The passion that came from the students was amazing.”
“We talked about how sometimes we feel unsafe just walking in our city, sometimes we feel lonely, and it’s a mission to feel accepted, we even talked about climate change and politics. “
“I’ve helped them structure it but it’s been such an organic process and really really amazing to see. “
They hope this performance will urge others to ‘be brave’ and ‘be the change you want to see’ through an amalgamation of self-devised scenes that send a strong message.
The twenty students taking part from the adult and teens drama classes are currently finalising performances with a mix of nerves and excitement.
Ms Murphy said: “All groups have 2 shorter scenes ready to go but because they’ve got so many ideas working on other bits and bobs and making it slick. They’re used to doing comedy and naturalistic performances so I’ve pushed them out their comfort zone to do more physical theatre and performance without words so it was quite challenging at first but they’ve really run with it and had a fantastic time doing it as well.”
Their drama classes are offered to kids, teens and adults and have helped many who suffered with mental health and anxiety gain the confidence to do more.
“We’ve had students who weren’t attending school at all and it was coming towards their GCSEs, but through the power of the performing arts they’ve come to us. We’ve given them a more relaxing environment and are now at college.
“It’s such an amazing journey, we’re not saying to them we’re going to make you West End performers but we’re saying we’re going to help you grow your confidence and grow as a performer.”
Their performance is funded with the help of Tramlines and a recent Young Entrepreneurial Award winner Lauren Wright. This allows them to put on a bigger show in a larger venue at Kelham Island Museum in their Upper Gallery.
Last year reports showed the intake of creative arts subjects for GCSEs have hugely declined by 47% since 2010.
As a past professional actor, Danielle Murphy feels strongly about the importance the work A Mind Apart does to create alternative education opportunities for all through drama, creative therapy and wellbeing sessions.
She says: “For me the performing arts is absolutely vital to education and I will petition that until the end of my life. It’s so upsetting that certain sectors of the education system don’t see that.”
“As young people grow up obviously they have different battles and barriers that they approach, but performing arts can support and help.”
“From the moment I did my postgrad in teaching they said ‘so you’ve got a drama degree, how’s that going to help?’ I knew that I had to be part of that change and show them exactly how its going to help.”