Ed. Stuart Bennett
An exploration of the way Theatre for Children and Young People has responded to cultural diversity in a continually changing social and political context over the last fifty years. The resourcefulness of companies in sustaining output, quality and innovation over many years is an example to other sectors.
This publication is a tool to record and stimulate innovation and excellence - contributing to the long-term stability of the arts.
It is the first publication to give the whole story of Theatre for Children and Young People and its development in the UK. It is essential reading for drama and theatre practitioners and for students of contemporary British theatre everywhere.
About the author
Stuart Bennett was one of the original company of Actor-Teachers who developed
Theatre in Education at the Belgrade Theatre Coventry. He went on to develop
Drama School training for actors in TIE, and theatre for young people, from
which have come a range of actors, directors and writers. Then as Director
of the inner-London Cockpit Theatre was involved in theatre in schools and
the community. He is active within Equity promoting recognition for children
and young people's theatre.
‘ Peter Brook once defined theatre as "serious play". Play
is something children know all about; "the play" is generally
regarded as adult territory. This book deals, in a multitude of ways, with
the interaction between the two... It is good to have on offer so many voices
and such a wealth of experience, often with concrete examples, from, for
instance, Tim Webb describing Oily Cart's inspiring special needs projects,
to David Wood, the most prolific of children's playwrights, who provides
tips on writing and directing; from Ian Yeoman, director of Theatre Powys,
who, having declared that his company does not want theatre to be "an
illustrated lesson attached to an attainment target", helpfully lists
the principles of TIE, to Tony Graham, artistic director of the Unicorn
Theatre, which is about to open its purpose-built theatre near Tower Bridge.
- Heather Neill, TES
