At the University of Derby, we have created a unique practice within The Learning Theatre to facilitate research and create strong relationships between practitioners, students, schools, young people and academics. Students will present their participatory methods with young people contributing to the development of critical thinking skills, creativity and wellbeing. With 63% of young people reporting that games are their favourite pastime*, how can technologies contribute to young people’s lives? How can theatre and drama support young people to explore the future of technologies pedagogically for both the benefits and challenges to wellbeing?
We invite you to join us for our third Symposium to share our practice, and research findings. Last year our Applied Theatre Symposium focused on co-creation, and the diversification of the curriculum in Higher Education. We will be reflecting on what has been achieved towards furthering our vision to engage and empower young people, contribute to organisational cultural change, and performance pedagogy.
Keynote Speaker: Bhavik Parmar
Bhavik Parmar is Head of Education at Birmingham REP Theatre. Bhavik currently leads on the Rep’s schools programme, managing 15 school partnerships which are a mix of primary, secondary and FE institutions. He also directs the Adult Drama Company at the REP and leads on the delivery of BTEC Performing Arts at Braidwood School for the Deaf.
Bhavik will share his experiences as a South Asian theatre practitioner, reflect on the challenges that drama teacher’s face, especially coming out of covid, and the need for arts provision/activity for young people in schools.