Imaginate, the national organisation in Scotland that promotes, develops and celebrates theatre and dance for children and young people, announces a new 12 strong team of artists to lead their school residencies programme, Immerse.
Immerse is an ambitious multi-year programme which embeds theatre, dance and creativity in six primary schools located in areas of high social deprivation including Brunstane, Muirhouse and Wester Hailes. As part of the residencies, pupils in six schools will spend one term working with two artists on developing new skills, exploring aspects of live performance and building their confidence.
The artists, from diverse cultural and artistic backgrounds, are all interested in collaborating creatively with children and exploring important local and global themes through performances.
Thanks to the recent loosening of restrictions, all residencies are taking place in-person and comprise:
Sanjay Lago and Afton Moran who will be at Canal View where they will create a short performance looking at identity, as well as build the confidence of the young people navigating society through this pandemic. They will work in all the local spaces from the outdoor playgrounds and woodlands to the canal itself.
Lou Brodie and Finn Ross Russell who will be at Forthview where they will explore what wonderlands they can create, the power and joy of imagination and what it means to grow up and grow into the adult world and rules around us. Each week they will be inspired by a new chapter of Lewis Carroll’s tale, in addition to the music, art, fashion and political movements it has influenced in its long history.
Xana Marwick and Marie-Gabrielle Koumenda who will be at Brunstane where they will create a brand new podcast series, The Brunstane Mysteries, with children taking on the roles of writer, storyteller, actor, researcher, musician and producer.
Sara Shaarawi and Serena Doran who will be at St Ninian’s RC where they will help the pupils create a world of their own, asking questions and investigating possible answers. They’ll create characters, places and stories. They’ll create rules and then they’ll break them.
Jack Anderson and Susie McGuiness who will be at Craigroyston residency where they will be creating a performance, harnessing the children’s natural physical exuberance, using movement and creativity to explore the meaning of change – the unknown, beginnings and endings.
Eoin McKenzie and Francesca McCoy who will be at St David’s RC where they will explore the uniqueness of “the stage”, inviting the pupils to re-imagine classical theatrical texts, concoct their own performance, and present an innovative performative experience to an invited audience.
Pupils have also been taking part in interactive in-school projects and performances and will also attend a show at the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival in May.
The Immerse programme is funded through the PLACE Programme, a partnership between the Scottish Government through Creative Scotland, the City of Edinburgh Council and the Edinburgh Festivals, and supported by sponsorship from Baillie Gifford.
For more information about Imaginate please visit www.imaginate.org.uk.
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 