Galway Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB ), together with Galway Youth Theatre, has launched new research into youth theatre as a means of achieving positive personal outcomes for young people.
At the launch on July 18 in Nun’s Island Theatre, Galway, Sinéad Morgan, GRETB’s director of further education and training was joined by young people from Galway Youth Theatre; Andrew Flynn, artistic director of Galway Youth Theatre; GRETB’s youth and arts committee; and members of CYPSC and the Galway and Roscommon youth work and arts community.
Attendees were also privileged to see an excerpt from the Galway Youth Theatre production, As We Face The Sun, directed by Jarlath Tivnan, currently running as part of the Galway International Arts Festival.
The research, conducted by Rozi Perez Goodbody, examines the key strengths of youth theatre and the benefits to young people of being part of a safe environment which supports them to achieve personal outcomes.
The case study measures the progress of young people engaged with Galway Youth Theatre against the seven social and personal outcomes recognised in the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme, funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The findings of the case study are a result of consultation with young people, tutors and the director of Galway Youth Theatre, as well as a review of other relevant studies.
Young people who took part in the research noted that, “GYT is a place I can express myself and try new things, which has given me confidence in myself”. They spoke about how the theatre experience has allowed them to take chances without fear of failure. As one young person explained, “My favourite part is probably the tutors, as they tend to be kind and always helping to push you along to try and do more”.
“In a world and especially in this country, where we put such an emphasis on academic achievement… it is worth highlighting again and again the benefits of being part of Galway Youth Theatre, as they are the attributes that will be needed throughout life, not just in terms of personal fulfilment, but these are the very skills and attributes that employers are reporting to us in our Enterprise Engagement Unit, that they desperately need within their workforces,” Sinéad Morgan said at the launch.
It is hoped that this case study might offer insights and best practice guidance for other projects looking to replicate this type of work.
Galway Youth Theatre is funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, through Galway and Roscommon ETB. It is managed by Galway Arts Centre.
For further information about youth work provision in Galway and Roscommon or for a copy of the case study, visit www.gretb.ie or email [email protected].
