workshop at Central School of Speech and Drama II

Our workshop at Central was a resounding success!

We knew we wanted the students to experience our work rather than just explain it, so Frank and Natasha arrived as Colin and Susan, the Guildford Chapter of the Rambling Association.

Vociferously demanding the right to roam through the rehearsal room, the Central students gently pointed out the errors in Colin's map-reading skills (the map was upside down and of China), so our embarrassed walkers whipped out a tarpaulin and had a picnic of rich tea biscuits, polo mints and Kendal Mint Cake with the group instead.

Susan and Colin then morphed back into Natasha and Frank and talked the group through CCC's current repertoire to explain our artistic practice, from how we generate ideas to practical tips on working with the public.

Natasha and Frank then took the basic premise - to create an act in the style of CCC to raise money for Red Nose Day - and got the students to devise their own performance.

As the act needed to raise money the group was set the question:

How do people make money on the street?

The group then brainstormed and came up with a long list such as: busking, shoe-shining, prostitution, selling the Big Issue, collecting for charity, a market stall, begging, picking pockets, and gambling (card table, cup and ball etc.).

Once they had chosen the idea that appealed to them most they asked themselves one of the following:

Who is the least likely person to do this?

What is the least likely thing they would be asking for money for?

What is going wrong for them in this situation?

Frank and Natasha then wandered around asking each group or individual what ideas they had come up with, and were delighted at the wonderful scenarios emerging. Not only were the acts and characters funny and engaging, they managed to weave in social commentary on issues such as the current financial crisis, the war on terror, ageism, human trafficking, homelessness, the housing maket, and wheel-clamping with intelligence and humour. (Natasha and Frank did actually devise an act before the workshop (here's one we made earlier!) in case the students didn't come up with anything, but it ceratinly wasn't needed!)

The students were also so tuned in to the process that when a battery fell out of someone's pocket they immediately leapt on it to use as another idea. The other great thing to see was the idea sharing between groups.

The group then did practice performances, with the other students wandering past as the public would during a performance, and we discussed possible pitfalls such as physical contact with the public, the public ignoring your approach or being aggressive, and saying yes to teenagers.

So mission accomplished. The students came up with many workable ideas for Red Nose Day, and Colin and Susan got back to Guildford safely.