Alternative theatre scene thriving in Swindon

MARION SAUVEBOIS meets the new contenders ready to shake up the status quo on the local and national stage.

QUIRKY BIRD THEATRE Plucking young talent right from the cradle and initiating little ones into the exacting world of professional theatre was Anna Friend's primary goal when she launched Quirky Bird Theatre last winter.

The group based at Royal Wootton Bassett's Methodist Church Hall welcomes children as young as four-years-old up to 16 but don't be fooled by the starting age, this is no amateur children's playgroup.

Some members may be knee-high to a grasshopper but they know their Shakespeare from their modern canon, or they will by summer's end.

Quirky Bird is divided into three main strands: the school - Quirky Bird Juniors Juniors - and two professional companies, Quirky Bird Young Company and Quirky Bird Theatre.

"I just wanted to introduce young people to drama, help build their confidence, improve social interactions, help them use their imagination to create stories," says artistic director Anna Friend, who trained as a teacher at The Royal Central School of Speech & Drama.

"It's important for arts practitioners to start people's journeys in the industry young. There is still this X Factor mystery about careers in the arts, this idea that real people don't become performers but they do and they need people around them to say 'This is possible'."

Quirky Bird Juniors is split into three subdivisions, based on age but mostly ability and enthusiasm.

The Minis is aimed at pupils between four and seven.

The intermediate group is the level up. Seven to 11-year-olds are challenged to create their own material, encouraged to unleash their potential, master new techniques, and thrust into the rigorous world of production. A senior section for children aged over 11 will launch in September.

"With the intermediates it's really about introducing them to drama skills and techniques, rather then what we do with younger children, which is more about games and fun," explains Anna, who was recently appointed resident director at The Alma Tavern & Theatre in Bristol.

Those so inclined can take their training to the next stage by joining Anna's award-winning Quirky Bird Theatre. Aimed at her most dedicated and promising students, it operates as a full-blown troupe, with the time commitment, demands and hard work that entails. There, young people join forces with a professional crew and adult actors to learn the ropes from the experts and become well-rounded performers with their heads firmly on their shoulders.

"They are expected to attend rehearsals, learn their lines. They receive notes, and are expected to respond to them, improve and work hard. I have the same expectations I would have with adults and I push hard, I demand focus. That's a reflection of how the industry works. If they have no understanding of how it works, how a production comes together, they don't have an appreciation of the industry they're getting into. You can't produce children focused on the adoration from the audience. It's not just about being clapped at the end. A better performer is one who understands they're a part of the process. You need to get rid of the star experience."

Quirky Bird's latest production of Tusk Tusk recently scooped a string of accolades, including overall winner and the Peter English Award for Best Direction at the One Act Play, first place and Best Junior Actor for Rosie Walker at the All England Theatre Festival quarter finals.

"It's been so successful," beams Anna. "They did fantastic, we were on stage for 30 minutes without a break, it was fast paced and really funny and they did it together."

Anna will run a Shakespeare Summer Intensive between August 21 and 27 for children over ten. To book or join Quirky Bird email quirkybirdtheatre@gmail.com or go to www.quirkybirdtheatre.com.

PRIME THEATRE Doesn't ring any bells? That's because until very recently it was known as Sixth Sense - one of the town's oldest theatre companies with no fewer than 30 years to its credit.

Sixth Sense ran (and still does) a professional theatre troupe of the same name and a youth group, Swindon Youth Theatre; but these separate incarnations caused no end of confusion for the public who, over the years, took to using the moniker interchangeably between the two.

To put paid to this very baffling state of affairs, the team chose its 30th anniversary celebration to rebrand as a single entity - with its adult company and youth theatre arm cohabiting under the Prime family. The name was suggested by an imaginative local during a town-wide public consultation.

"It was a chance to relaunch and revitalise the company," says artistic director Mark Powell. "For us Prime says the right thing. It means first, important, getting something ready and that's what we've been doing for 30 years."

Sixth Sense was founded in 1986 by Benedict Eccles and Julia Dickinson as a professional company putting on topical plays on such subjects as road safety, stranger-danger and even HIV, and performing in schools.

In the early 1990s, the troupe branched out into youth theatre, offering young people the chance to perform. The youth section now counts more than 100 members from five years old to 25.

Swindon's "best kept secret", according to Mark, Prime is funded by Arts Council England and runs from the Wyvern Theatre.

Now ready to usher in a new era of youth theatre, the team is expanding its focus from strict actor training to playwriting, design and technical tuition and production mentoring.

"Not everyone wants to be an actor or stand on a stage but many of them have amazing talents they want to share," adds Mark.

"We want to give them a chance to experience every aspect of theatre, to find something in theatre that excites them. And its important for young people to work with professionals, with the people they aspire to be."

Always keen to push the boundaries, for the first time in its history Prime will unveil The Odyssey, a modern reimagining of Odysseus's epic journey home, written and produced in house by its young thesps under the supervision of associate director Aaron Parsons at the Arts Centre on July 21.

"It gives them a platform to experience every aspect of theatre and everything we do has a level of professionalism, so it makes it tangible for them, and they get that connection with the industry," says Prime associate director Aaron, who trained at the Bristol Old Vic.

"They learn discipline, what the challenges are. We have amazing young people, who have ambitions to work in the industry, and we want to give them every opportunity to discover their voice and celebrate creativity."

To join Prime Theatre or find out more about upcoming professional productions and youth theatre projects call 01793 614864, email info@primetheatre.co.uk or go to www.sixthsensetheatre.com.

GATECRASH THEATRE COMPANY Gatecrash was born out of sheer necessity.

From would-be actors rejected from the handful of top-brass colleges in the big city to the throng of thesps unable to afford their astronomical fees and hobbyists after a fun diversion on a week night but far too old for youth troupes, one thing was clear to Laura Barnes: there was simply nothing in the way of adult workshops to satisfy the needs of Swindon's theatrically-inclined masses.

So the former Sixth Sense education and outreach coordinator took matters in her own hands and in 2014 unveiled Gatecrash Theatre, as "a creative outlet" to plug a glaring gap in arts provision and offer a welcome alternative to a closed off London-centric industry.

"The opportunities for young people in Swindon are exceptional but I felt people reached 18 or 19 and they had two options: work for one of Swindon's big corporate companies or go to London, Bristol or Bath and get creative there," says Laura. "I met a lot of talented young people who were getting older and I could see what was going to happen. They were going to lose this creative buzz and they needed to be able to continue in Swindon.

"There were also people who had a great career but wanted to do it on the side, or people trying to get into drama school. They should have opportunities here to learn and experience theatre in Swindon."

Gatecrash, which is based at Commonweal Schoo,l is split into two sections: Gatecrash Ignite, for amateurs looking to wet their toes, and Gatecrash Evolve, for professionals, aspiring actors, writers or directors, or gifted amateurs committed to honing their skills and braving the stage. The group's oldest member is 70 years old.

"It's called Gatecrash because there's that feeling that you've got to go to drama school, that there's an official route into theatre but there's an alternative," says the artistic director and producer. "We're gate crashers in Swindon, but we're sitting on a creative hub - we just need to let it blossom."

Laura also stages full-blown productions under the Gatecrash umbrella, showcasing artists and promising amateurs all carefully handpicked through auditions. Each year one of the shows is led by a range of industry professionals who mentor students in their field of choice whether it be design, tech, acting or production. Recent productions include Breathing Corpses and Jerusalem.

"It raises the game," insists Laura, from Wroughton. "It's all professionally-led from director to the designers. Students do it all themselves but are mentored and get the support they need from professionals. It's great for them to learn from associate artists - and not just work with me all the time - diversify and build industry connections."

Gatecrash is poised to premiere its summer project, a revival of Arthur Miller's The Crucible at the Arts Centre from July 28.

Gatecrash will hold auditions to join Evolve on September 13. It will also offer aspiring actors the chance to put together a professional package complete with headshots and show reels in September. For more information and to book a place or audition slot email gatecrashtheatre@gmail.com or go to gatecrashtheatre.co.uk.