Wild Nights - Young Company   began in 2004 as a 18-month project to create two plays about the issues of young people on Dartmoor. Led by the young people themselves, the plan was to devise a play on an ecological theme for performance, followed by collaboration on a full-scale community play looking at issues around growing up on Dartmoor, to be toured round village halls in March 2006. With partners English Nature and Dartmoor National Park, MED Theatre introduced the young participants to Dartmoor's geology and wildlife. They were also able to manage part of the budget, and make decisions about the planning of the project.

In December 2004, the group went on a residential weekend to Pixies Holt Centre at Dartmeet, a mixture of walks and storytelling sessions, as well as fun and team bonding. This weekend, led by Tom Wigston and Mark Beeson, backed up devising workshops already in progress in Moretonhampstead on Tuesday evenings. In April 2005, the group visited Yarner Wood Nature Reserve for a talk by Phil Page of English Nature.

Workshops to devise a Dartmoor play on an ecological theme were held at the MED Theatre studio at 11a The Square, Moretonhampstead, on Tuesday evenings. Here young people brought their ideas and directed the group as they cast and acted them out. The play Roots was performed in July, 2005 - DVDs available for £6 plus p+p - contact info@medtheatre.co.uk or 01647 441356.

The second stage involved a collaboration between young writers and playwright Mark Beeson on a new community play Loricum about growing up on Dartmoor, which was performed in March 2006.

Read a Diary about the WNYC project,

Written by Young Company member, Laura Wilson

PHOTOS FROM THE PROJECT:

Loricum

December Residential Reports and Reflections

Yarner Wood Outing

Plymouth Performance

Floor Canvas Painting

Roots

Home page

Devising in the studio

Flyer for Roots

Flyer for Loricum