I was lucky enough to spend the latter part of last week in Bangor, observing the National Theatre Wales Assembly project The Big Democracy in action (in my joint role as trainee workshop facilitator - via YOCA -  and awkward bloke trying not to get in the way).

The Poetry Party, suggested by Martin Daws, Young People’s Laureate for Wales, had been chosen in a public vote on the NTW forum as the focus of this first North Wales event. The theme: Voter Apathy.

Thus, on Wednesday morning, he and his fellow North Wales-based performance poets Sophie McKeand and Rhys Trimble, as well as Cardiff’s Ali Goolyad and Nikki Hill, a local actress with physical theatre/circus skills, convened in Bangor’s Penrhyn Hall to devise a piece which would be given a public performance a mere four days later, under the direction of NTW Creative Associate Gavin Porter.

From early explorations, some potential characters quickly emerged: the smarmy politician, the angry young man, the tea-lady, the sententious Speaker. All involved, though, were wary of veering into shallow, didactic, agit-prop territory, and focussed on the aim of stimulating debate on the night.

There was some respite from the devising progress on Friday lunchtime, when the poets offered their services for free at a Poetry Takeaway stall in Bangor town centre, the company taking the opportunity to do some leafleting.

Miraculously, by Saturday evening, a full-length piece had been developed, consisting of freshly minted individual performances sequenced alongside provocative collaborations. This incorporated workshop sessions during which the audience was asked to work in groups to come up with creative answers to the questions: What needs to change? Do you vote? Should Wales be independent? What are you going to do?

I don’t know how it came across on the live internet stream, but my impression was that the magnetism of the performance poetry element, in combination with the currency of the debate, seemed to engage and stimulate all present, the more physical moments being especially well-received. And, afterwards, the audience was slow to disperse, attracted both by the free wine and the opportunity to discuss the themes raised with the performers and one another.

A fascinating experience, and one which suggests that innovative approaches of this kind might provide the key to making “issues”-oriented theatre more involving and entertaining than has traditionally been the case. 

(Photography by Jan Miller)

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Comment by abdul shayek on October 14, 2014 at 1:39

Hey Othneil - great blog, really glad you enjoyed your time with NTW and also it has been a pleasure having you as part of YOCA Facilitator Training Programme.

Comment by Gavin Porter on October 13, 2014 at 0:54

Thanks for being a part of the process Othniel. Maybe we can meet up sometime soon for a cup of tea and a de-brief?

Comment by Sophie McKeand on October 7, 2014 at 6:53

Hey Othniel - great blog! It was such a great event to be a part of. I feel proud to have contributed to this show. I've never had the chance to work as part of an NTW team before - it was just fantastic :)

Your blog describes the event perfectly and it was also really lovely to meet you and get to know 'awkward bloke in the corner'. I hope our paths cross again!

Sophie x

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