Young Company: Global Majority - Ages 16-25
Summer TermInterested in joining? Email getinvolved@bristololdvic.org.uk to book
Be part of reimagining Young Company: Global Majority!
The Young Company Global Majority workshop has passed, but you can still be part of reimagining the sessions by signing up to Spring term!
Imagine a space where you can create theatre alongside like-minded people who share your experiences. A space where you can be your authentic self and share your opinions freely, without fear of judgment. A space where vulnerability is met with understanding, and creativity is celebrated. This is a space where you are empowered to explore your creativity and bring your vision to life. What does this look like for you?
Young Company Global Majority is a space where Young people aged 16-25 from Global Majority backgrounds, which are people who do not consider themselves or are not considered to be white, come together and make theatre.
On Monday 5th February, Bristol Old Vic’s Engagement team held a workshop focused on reimagining Young Company Global Majority. We had some great discussions about the group’s purpose, what members want from the sessions, and some possible new names for the group. From Monday 26th February, we will be running a 5-week Spring term focused on developing these initial ideas and putting them into action.
To be part of the process and make your mark on the group, sign-up to Spring term! (more details below)
What is Young Company Global Majority?
Young Company: Global Majority is a Young Company session for people aged 16-25 who are from the global majority and are interested in creating theatre. Through our work with young people in Bristol, we recognise that there is a need for a global majority space at Bristol Old Vic. The term 'global majority' refers to the group of people in the world who do not consider themselves or are not considered to be white.
We are offering this space specifically so they can be in a creative environment where they feel seen and heard. In an industry that is still predominantly white, this will give young people the choice to be part of a community of global majority artists.
Why Young Company Global Majority?
Imagine being in a space where no one looks like you, in fact you’re one of one in that space. And everyone has a different culture, possibly a different understanding of things to you, and you don’t share many lived experiences with the people in that room. Yet in this space you are encouraged and expected to be your true self and to give yourself over to the room intellectually, physically and emotionally.
This is a feeling that a lot of people who work in the theatre world haven’t experienced, yet it is a lived reality for so many Actors, Facilitators, Designers, Producers, Directors and Writers who belong to the Global Majority.
The Global Majority group was established at Bristol Old Vic as we recognised a need to create environments that serves and provides well rounded experiences to all of our creative young people in the city. Too many times they have found themselves in space where they are the minority, one of one, code switching, taking, shrinking and squeezing parts of their personalities and understandings to appear the same. The Global Majority group is a space where they don’t feel they need to do this, the young people in the room do not feel they need to micro manage their personalities, they can be honest and forth coming with their opinions, and they are in a space where their lived experiences will be met with familiarity. All of this allows them to explore their creativity in a more empowering and authentic way.
- Xahnaa Adlam, co-founder and Creative and Pastoral Care Director of Young SixSix
Spring term 2024
For Spring term 2024, the group will be led by Lydia Cook. Lydia is a Bristol-based Director/Theatre maker whose style is immersive, courageous and bold with elements of music and movement. Her aim as a director is to showcase the voices of people from global majority backgrounds and queer LGBTQIA+ communities and shine a light on their stories. Lydia aspires to create theatre that is accessible for all to experience and enjoy.
Young Company: Global Majority Spring Term — 5 weeks
Term starts: w/c Mon 26 Feb
Term ends: w/c Mon 25 Mar
For Spring term, we are implementing a Pay What You Choose tiered pricing system with options to pay £50 or £25 for the five-week term. We also have a limited number of 100% bursary options available – to apply, please download this form and send it to getinvolved@bristololdvic.org.uk by Monday 5th February 5 pm.