Education

MED Theatre mentored 4 MA students from Exeter University to create a radio play inspired by interviews with veterans from the Armed Forces and their families. In the interviews the students found out about their experiences of the transition from the forces in to civilian life. The radio play is available to be used by schools as an education tool, to raise awareness of the issues surrounding this area. Click here to listen to the play which is split into three manageable sections.

A young group of teenagers worked with MED Theatre over an intensive film-making day in half-term. They focussed on their favourite animals whilst giving a behind the scenes documetary account of the zoo. Check it out on YouTube. David Attenborough, watch out!

190 year 7 pupils from Tavistock College took part in a multi-arts day run by MED Theatre in February. Six different artists ran workshops in animation, film, drama, physical theatre, wearable art and music to inspire pupils to explore and express their aspirations for the future. The day ended with an eclectic sharing in a variety of art forms giving each students a chance to voice their dream.

BTEC students at West Exe Technology College took inspiration from Dartmoor's Castle Drogo, the last castle built in England, to create well developed and fascinating characters from different eras in a MED Theatre workshop. They went on to make an impressive site-specific drama which they performed at the castle itself, bringing to life moments in time in an atmospheric and humorous way.

MED Theatre ran a day of drama workshops to students at Kingsbridge College including the dynamic art of stage combat to inspire scenes of pantomimmic conflict!

Gifted and Talented students from Hatherleigh, Northlew and Boasley Cross primaries worked in small teams to create their own written stories which they later brought to life through the device of african storytelling, a practical, dramatic presentation with a narrator figure leading the story.

Princetown Primary School and out-of-school young people from the Moretonhampstead area had the fantastic opportunity to make their own 3 minute short films, supported by the Lottery through the BFI's First Light initiative. The young film-makers had complete control of their film creations, from the original plot idea, writing the script, composing the music, acting and directing, operating the cameras, editing the final piece and even hosting the launch events. Check out the films here.

The play John Ford's Story is about real Dartmoor characters from the 17th century, notably John Ford, the playwright from Dartmoor who was a contemporary of Shakespeare. Young people trained by MED Theatre created a "polished and professional" performance at the National Trust's location of Buckland Abbey on September 24th. The talented teens created every part of the production from the writing and film to the masks and music.

The teens were trained as workshop leaders and led drama workshops to primary school classes in order to share their heritage knowledge.

Further workshops based on John Ford are available to primary and secondary schools led by our education officer.

Phyiscal Theatre for secondary

MED Theatre carried out a brand new workshop on physical theatre for secondary students at ISCA College in January. The session was inspired by the work of the German choreographer Pina Bausch as well as surrealist artists and musicians such as Magritte, Munch, Dali and Satie.

Site-Specific Drama on Dartmoor

In November 2011 MED Theatre took Exeter University students onto Dartmoor to share how we use the rich surrounding of the moorland to inspire performance work. The studnets visited the grave of Kitty Jay and learnt about the dance-drama documentary Grave Intimations inspired by the famous Dartmoor myth. To see more about this work visit our research website www.dartmoorresource.co.uk.

CPD for Teachers

MED Theatre carried out a Playwriting into Performance workshop with a variety of teachers from the Devon area at the Learning Community Conference held at Okehampton College in October 2011. We also ran our 'Ways into Devising for Primary Aged Pupils' for a second year at the Phoenix Arts Centre in Exeter. To find out when we are running our next CPD course get int touch.

Transition Resource

There is a film and resource book on the transition to 'big school' available to primary schools: they were created during the project Rumours that MED Theatre worked on with students from Clyst Vale Community College, in the summer term 2008.

The new website charts the history, ecology, folklore and communities of Dartmoor through the eyes of the performing arts. Students will navigate their way through the cyber world of Dartmoor, getting inspired to dramatise a contemporary myth of their own which will later appear up on the web -

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