In our latest ‘Innovators’ blog, Dr James Kenworth provides insight into the way Middlesex University is preserving creativity in the higher education sector and in local communities through ‘Pro – localism’ and experience-building opportunities.
“The Newham Plays create cultural participation opportunities for young people from diverse backgrounds. The series has become a significant proponent of Middlesex’s strategy, and aims to catalyse ‘inclusive socio-economic development by enriching lives through culture’.
Skills development
Long-standing funders of the Newham Plays, The Royal Docks Trust, have praised the role of the Newham Plays in ‘enhancing opportunities and mindset around what could be possible for young people raised in one of the most multiply deprived boroughs in the country. The projects were not games in which to have a bit of fun for the summer, they were serious productions, and the young people rose to the challenge.’ (Steve Nicholls, Founding Trustee Director, Royal Docks Trust)
As with previous Newham Plays, there will be a filmed performance of the Madge Gill play, directed and edited by Middlesex BA Film graduates. This experience will help enhance their CVs and employability in the form of trailers and archive filming, demonstrating skills in post-production.
MDX School of Arts will act as the play’s principal producing partner, thus enabling Graduate Academic Assistants and Student Learning Assistants to be offered opportunities to design and produce publicity and marketing material, and to organise social media. There will also be opportunities for paid student internships in production using the University’s mdx works programme.
Playwrights and directors will deepen and strengthen their craft and practical knowledge respectively, enhancing their application of scriptwriting and directing pedagogy in the classroom. The play will offer opportunities for us to expand, strengthen and build on our existing partnerships and connections with local schools, charities, councils and councillors, funding bodies and creatives.
The Newham Plays have attracted widespread media coverage and critical acclaim. Most recently, Angel of the Prisons received a glowing endorsement for its dedication to widening access to the arts and praise for its Pro-Localist approach to creating theatre in the community:
‘Newham Library is a perfectly intimate theatre for this visceral tale. Kenworth’s production is an inspiration for theatre makers across London. The ‘Pro – localist’ ethos, combined with facilitating a local community space, could be the answer to countless fringe and off-west end theatres having to close their doors across London’ ‘London Theatre Reviews’.
Real-world opportunities
Students and graduates will be offered paid opportunities to gain real-world industry experience in publicity and marketing, filming and editing, producing, and arts administration. The Newham Plays has been successful in applying for a part-time internal internship scheme for students that Middlesex University has offered to all its faculties. The scheme has provided the Newham Plays with an intern Graduate Assistant Producer, who has core responsibilities, including working with the Young Person’s Play Co-ordinator in networking and building relationships with schools, colleges, youth clubs and young people, so that more young people can benefit from our cultural offer. The role provides the student with valuable experience of arts administration and management.
The Newham Plays embed a strong public engagement and inclusive ethos in their approach to the arts. The shows offer local youth opportunities for creative expression and participation in building a professional theatre production, in a community usually considered to be a “cold spot” for arts performance and education.
The plays help put the local area and its community spaces on the map for the wider public, benefitting local organisations and raising awareness of Newham’s sites, venues, heritage and history. The Beams venue will benefit from the play, as it lends its local engagement and participation ethos to the space. The incentive clearly supports their stated aim of hosting creative projects ‘with a focus on community projects.’
