Previous Projects

TRANSITIONS (Market Harborough, 2010) Comedy/improv/drama workshops helping young people identify and develop strategies for dealing with change. These were tied in with curriculum subjects. FIND YOUR TALENT MENTORSHIP SCHEME (Leicester 2010) Formal mentoring with artists who were keen to work in educational settings. THE LYRIC LOUNGE (Leicester 2009) Performance poetry workshops with young people at risk of exclusion from school. These workshops culminated in a live showcase performance by young people involved, and involved the mentorship of another performance poet.

BRIGHTSPARKS COMEDY ASYLUM (Leicester 2007-10) Series of comedy workshops with mental health service users culminating in a series of live performances in clubs, psychiatric units and conferences throughout the Midlands region. BACK IN TIME SCHOOL WAS FINE (Leicester 2009) Preparation and performance of multimedia show exploring changes in education since the 19th Century. Prepared and performed with young people at risk of exclusion from school. TENAGE SEXUAL HEALTH PROJECT (Leicester 2008) Series of sexual health/sketch comedy workshops with Year 10 students culminating in the filming and distribution of a DVD to be used as a teaching aid across the East Midlands.

HAPPY TO BE ME (Leicester 2007/8) Sketch comedy workshops and live show with children and teenagers experiencing social exclusion in the St Matthews area of Leicester. COALVILLE COMEDY COMPOST (Coalville 2007) After school sketch comedy workshops with year 5 students, culminating in comedy performance in school assembly. GHOUL SCHOOL (Castle Donington 2007) Literature/performance/filming workshops with Year 5 students, culminating in the creation of a comedy horror movie about a school for the undead. DITCH THE CHIPS (Wellingborough & Kettering, 2007) Updated version of project piloted in Leicester – see below. WINTER (Leicester 2006) Interactive art installation with Metro-Boulot-Dodo Theatre Company, Largescale Productions and CP. 36 x 15 minute performances in three days!

ROLLESTON ORACY PROJECT (Leicester 2006) Series of workshops for the Spark Children’s Festival in a primary school, exploring the theme of change and recycling through live performance. OUR STORIES TRAVEL (Newham 2006) Performance poetry workshops enabling Year 4 and 6 students to write and perform their own poetry based on West African myths and legends. WONKAVISION (Leicester 2006) A series of performance poetry, sketch comedy, improvisation, film and journalism workshops with year 6 students, based on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. ST ALBANS COMEDY PROJECT (Birmingham 2006) A series of comedy workshops with Year 10 students, exploring improvisation, comic poetry and sketch comedy. DITCH THE CHIPS (Leicester 2005) A series of workshops across four primary schools, exploring principles of healthy lifestyle and translating them into comedy sketches. To hear an interview about this project click THE SCIENCE POETRY SLAM (Birmingham 2005) Poetry workshops in which Year 9 students explored various scientific concepts and produced their own performances to help them revise for their science exams. EYSIP STREET WORKSHOPS (Edinburgh 2004) A series of adhoc performance poetry/rap workshops for teenagers on streets in deprived areas of Edinburgh. VC2W POETRY SLAM (Birmingham 2004) Slam poetry workshops with Year 10 students which culminated in an international poetry slam by video-conference. EVERYBODY'S READING (Leicester 2002) Three days of performance poetry workshops in secondary schools for Leicester City Council. MAKE ME HAPPY (2002 - current) Numerous comedy/performance poetry projects for Leicester Comedy Festival, involving workshops in primary and secondary schools across Leicestershire. DERBY FESTIVAL OF WORDS (2000) A series of performance poetry workshops for Derby City Council, culminating in a collaborative performance between two secondary schools at Derby Guildhall. ARTS AND SACRED PLACES (Leicester 2000) Poetry workshop in a primary school as part of a national World Wildlife Fund competition. One of the participants came second.