So Much to do......

I thought it would be worth blogging my to do list. Not only does this mean i definately have to do it... but also if any one has questions as to why i am doing what i am doing, or feel that we could connect up with one of my to do list, or if anyone has any other thoughts then hopefully we can have that conversations.

To Do List

- Such for other inclusive theatres
b) see if these theatre have ever produced an issue based piece
c) after research, try and set up an interview if not send a questionnaire (This would be in my actual inquiry)

-Search for organisations which tackle issue without the use of theatres.
b) Once identified try to find the positives and negatives off there methods
c) Again try and set the foundations to be able to have an interview or observe their work when i progress to the next stage 

-Research ETHICs in issue based theatre
b) Try and find the contraversy behind ethics and issue based theatre as im certain that sometimes ethics potenially get over looked using the excuse of an artistic licence. That leads to questionning is this right? 

-See if there is literature about issue based theatre, Tackling issues, Inclusivity and it purpose. Other wise my inquuiry runs the risk of soley being a written debate without literature to add another level


-Set a difinitive path for my inquiry!!!!!!


This is what i aim to do. With my deadline for this being next friday. So would love feedback! Is this the best way to get started? 

Or if you have any information that i can further research or anything you could provide insight in. 

Thanks

Word4Weapons- a completly different approach to issues

http://www.word4weapons.co.uk/

I came accross this organisation a couple of weeks ago when i went to an "Anti-knife Crime" conference.

I spoke quite thouroghly with Michael who is the founder of Word4Weapons. When starting out on my inquiry and trying to think about the best way i could approach this i suddenly thought about our conversation.

I am very passionate about the power of Theatre in order to tackle issues as it has to in its creation and execution take a more holistic approach to any issue in its focus. This holistic approach takes away the element of blame- "Locke 2009" published a book on this "blame culture" which we are now livng in, where people strive to blame anybody, this is seen in lawsuits, compensation adverts, medical practises and in every single acticle in the paper where an issue is disscussed someone is blamed.

Michael from word4weapons has this "tough love" approach, using elements of the blame culture. He is very blunt with the reason why knife crime has risen, and what he has done is provide knife bins in certain areas of the country for young individuals to throw them away and start again.

When i first head of this approach of attempting to tackle this issue i did think quite ignorantly "it would never work it too simple", especially as i belive the way to tackle this issue is indepth conversations to get to the route of the problem and them work our way up from there. HOWEVER IT IS WORKING!

He has had MASSIVE success with these knive bins, his organisation has won awards ect.

Also at this conference an ambulance worker spoke to all of us that were there and told the most horrif stories of what hes seen and delt with in the most grusome detail. And by the look of the audience (who consisted of the target group i would use in my inguiry.) This scare tactit also worked!

This on reflection (and quite late reflection as i didnt think about it until yesterday) has meant that potentially i would change the direction of my inquiry to more of a comparision between other organisations that try and tackle issues in a non-theatrical way and directly compare that to organisations that do use theatre as the medium to push social change. But then compare Chickenshed inclusive methods with other organistions who do not practice inclusive theatre and see what i can find.

I belive this will be more effective in my line of study as all this different organisations are doing some right so combining the best elements and identifying the worst could create a more powerful product....potentially..i might just be getting carried away!

BUT i dont know wether to narrow my search to just knife crime antigang violence issue....or issue based theatre in general ....

any thoughts will be very well recieved

Inquiry questions

So its been awhile and after a sharp wake up call i have scrapped the work i did before and started agian.

These are some questions which i have created....what ive done this time is not cheat and ask questions that really i already new the answers to...i also want to generate both qualitative and quantitative data if i can- as i believe that provides a more solid foundation for my research results.

1) What leads the thematic drive in issue based theatre? The issue? Or the theatre?

2) Is it more impactful to devide and perform issue based theatre in an inclusive environment with an inclusive cast?

3)What percentage of young people involved in an issue based project need to be directly connected to the issue?

b) Can issue based theatre which only workd with those directly assosiated with the issue be considered seperate or excluded?

4) Does issue based theatre show a higher Social Return on Investment (SROI) than other forms of theatre?

b) How does this apply to Chickenshed?

5) What percentage of young people who have experiences Chickenshed's anti-gang violence piece "Crime of the Century) believe it was.....
a) able to positively impact on gang violence
b)able to positively impact on the own ability to effect change in their lives
c)belive it was potentilly irrelevent to their lives

These questions i composed because i am generally interested in the responce, i think it will be challenging to accurately find answers to them..and also i believe my result can benifit Chickenshed developement of Issue based theatre.

Please let me know what you think, how i can impove what you dont think works etc?

OR TIPS!

Verona

I'm currently in Verona- an amazing experience which is solely based on the work that I do at the Chickenshed Theatre company. It's experiences like these that remind me as to why I work at Chickenshed and why my passion lies there and also why I am intending to do my final project on issue based theatre. The values, ethos and Chickenshed methodology enable the work which Chickenshed completes to be so varied. A typical week at Chickenshed proves that. Two days a week I go out on "anti-knife crime" workshops, 2 days I work on a "tales" production for children under 5, also mentoring the foundation degree students and now in Verona doing workshops. This variety allows me to tap into my interest of issue based theatre and the 3rd year allows me to force myself to understand how everything I am doing is so valid and worth while- and if I reflect upon my practice I can develop much quicker than I would originally! Just a quick update Jojo x

Foundation Degree Show

I am currently in the process of helping to direct the Foundation Degree Year Two's in their final show. This experience has taught me alot, not only with how to help mould ideas together but also how societies issues- which on the surface are believed to be "adult" issues- are infact in the minds of young people. This provide me with more evidence as to why my investigation into issue based theatre being a successful vehiclefor tackling unsolvable issues is so important to do!
Young people myself included have ideas, worries and solutions- same as the older generations however we just have a different way of expressing these ideas- and society SHOULD and MUST become adaptable inorder to provide a forum to which every idea no matter how presented is as valued and acknowledged as the next.

Meadway follow up

Since my last visit to Meadway Youth offenders... it has inspired me to use what i gained from this workshop and also to try and make another appointment for Crime of the Century to go in and have a follow up workshop. Due to circumstance it would not be possible for Crime of the Century to do its usual 7week programme however a follow up would be helpful.

Ive started gathering information which i am going to need for my end project. Ive got a testimonial from Brooke Kinsella, and also some interviews and conferences which i have been to about the issue of knife crime- and also the positive outcome which Crime of the Century has on its audiences.
The true beauty of what i will eventually try to prove is that issue based theatre- crime of the century particularly can reach ALL types of audiences regardless of age, ethnicity, social standing and wealth. Therefore it has to be the best way to bridge those gaps between all the different boxes and labels in society.

Although i have deferred my project due to poor time management I'm starting to really enjoy what i am doing and am investigating a topic which i am very very passionate about!

Please feel free to leave your thoughts positive or negative as it will all help my investigation

Social Return on Investment Policy

"A recent report sponsored by The Social Investment Business, and The City UK – “Making Good in Social Impact Investment- Opportunities in an Emerging Asset Class” also suggests organisations “measure what is important” in their quest for investment.
At the recent Labour party conference, leader Ed Miliband stated that businesses who deliver long term social value should be rewarded.
On the back of all of this, people are now beginning to recognise a need to incorporate and understand a broader concept of value – social, economic and environmental value from a stakeholder perspective, to give a fuller picture of how value is created and destroyed. In addressing this need, we must begin with a set of principles."

http://www.socialinnovationeurope.eu/node/2557

This is an article which I found when researching the Social Return on Investment structure. The reason why i am researching this particular topic is because on the surface it looks to be a positive framework which should allow companies to tackle issue which do not have a tangible profit return ie making more money.
However this structure has hindered the progress of Chickenshed Theatre Company's "Crime of the Century" which is an anti-gang violence piece. This is because to create this model to give to investors to tell them how society will save money in the long run is a very long and ironically enough- an EXPENSIVE process. The time in which it takes to complete this model and tell investers how every £ which they have been given will be given out is a very hard task to make.
I haven't completed my research yet- but from a possibly ignorant view point i cannot see the sense in this model. How can you prove that a child has been effected by a workshop process and then therefore will not turn to knife-crime violence or murder in the future?
I can understand why it is possibly needed- but with the result of knife-crime murder being 70% likely to end in death of the removal of a limb- it seems like society- more directly investors with money to help the issue- should just watch the process and decide if it is one they would like to invest in

BUT TIME IS MONEY! and most people have too much money but little time!
so Social Investment on Return Policy is the way it is at the moment!