FUTURE DIRECTIONS
The things that go unnoticed
We are proud to present the first Digital Opera - The Things That Go Unnoticed – created by the Music Theatre Wales Young Company during 2022.
We did it! The first Future Directions project activity has now been completed, and our Young Company have had a fantastic and creative time – and so have we!
“It’s been so much fun…let’s all stay in contact and do this again!!!”
MTW Young Person Company Member
“A meeting point of challenge and creativity…and a ton of laughing…what more do you need!?”
MTW Young Person Company Member
In the coming weeks we will be sharing the new digital opera that has been created by the Young company in collaboration with four professional artists. But right from the start we were clear that this was all about participation and creativity, developing new skills, new ways of working and new friends. Devising a story that came from the group and developing it into a operatic work. On a project like this, the journey to the end point is just as important as the result, so we thought we would share this with you now.
“Coming together over one thing and making it happen, I learned so many skills for example, acting, music, editing etc. And made many friends.”
MTW Young Person Company Member
We started by giving a taster of what the project was all about by visiting schools and young people’s groups with a workshop exploring how to tell stories in music. We also partnered with Hijinx – one of Europe’s leading inclusive theatre companies, creating performances with learning disabled and/or autistic artists, and with Mess Up The Mess – a young people’s theatre project in Ammanford.
Over two, 3-day residences, at Aberystwyth University in April and Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in August, linked by a series of creative zoom sessions and sharing ideas on Slack, the young people have created their own story: devising its dramatic representation, creating the visual language, creating, inspiring and performing in the music, and co-creating the filming. They have a story they all wanted to tell – about how easy it is not to notice the world around us and to miss how we can all make a difference. And here at MTW, we have a made a pledge: To be inspired and influenced by their work and by them as creative individuals. This is the basis of Future Directions.
“Feeling a part of a family, making strong friendships with people I had never met before and getting to experience something completely different and amazing.”
MTW Young Person Company Member
“I enjoyed it all!! I’ve found that FD has given me a chance to find my music”
MTW Young Person Company Member
Congratulations to MTW’s first Young Company. We know you had the most fantastic time, making new friends and exploring new ways of working and thinking. Thank you!
Music Theatre Wales will be running a Future Directions programme every year, so if you want to join in and work with us on making new opera – and making opera new – then please contact us.