The Magical Christmas Tree

Urban Voice performed The Magical Christmas Tree as a Christmas special at Butts primary School. The story tells the tale of the Christmas tree no one else wanted but is eventually brought by the Appleyby family. When the tree is decorated, it comes to life, and magically turns the dreams of children into reality. Using classic storytelling fused with original songs and unique poetry.

Devonshire School Tudor Project

Devonshire School contacted Urban Voice with a request for actors to help them with a project based on the Tudors. Working also with curators at the Oak House in West Bromwich, Urban voice provided an on-going project in which two actors worked 'in-role' with the young people, as and when they solved the different sections of the Tudor mystery. The children were encouraged to interact directly with the characters, ask them questions, send e-mails and telephone them as they solved various clues to the story. the piece was completed in December with a final production from the children.

"It's working very well so far, the children actually believe it's real and are getting quite caught up in the story!"
Mary Flitcroft Deavonshire School

Living on The Never Never

Following research done in February and a meeting with Jan Norton from the Theatre in Health Education Trust, urban Voice were contacted by Nick McCartney, co-ordinator of the 'Mind Your Head! Health and Well Being Festival' at the MAC in Birmingham. it was felt that our working piece, Living on the Never, Never which focuses on debt, would fit well into the ethos of the festival. A short experimental piece was created for the festival as a 'work in progress' to test audience responses.

The piece was well recieved and as a result was funded by West Midlands Arts for a six week tour of the Black Country.

"Really enjoyed seeing your work. This is an important issue, you must get it out there locally!"
Jan Norton, Theatre in Health Education Trust

Brinsford Young Offenders Prison "It's Only a Game"

Working in collaboration with the inmates from Brinsford Young Offenders Institute, Urban Voice devised a short piece of drama focusing on football culture. The performers in question were encouraged to produce their own work with Urban Voice as a guide. The inmates also had the opportunity to work with a professional musician to create an original sound track. The final piece was performed to their peers as a successful and unique work.

"I was amazed to find that lads were taking away scripts and poetry to their cells ready to learn for their next session. The boys are often wary of outside influences, and I think gave Urban Voice a run for their money on the first couple of sessions. To their credit, urban Voice managed to create a complete turn around, and got something from them that surprised us all."
Llinos Williams, Education Lecturer, Brinsford Prison

The Green Festival

Urban Voice were commissioned by Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council to perform a piece of street theatre focusing on green issues. Using slapstick comedy, poetry and song, the piece was promenaded through the town of Shrewsbury and was extremely well received.

Focus on Friendship

Working alongside Walsall Community Arts, Urban Voice developed workshops for year seven pupils at Frank F Harrison School using drama techniques to explore the strengths and weaknesses of friendships. Such was the success of the workshop, Urban Voice were invited back to administer the same workshops for teachers at the school.

"Some of the pupils in your workshop have never participated or taken part in any extra curricular sessions. To my amazement, certain pupils stood up, became involved and for the first time in this school had a voice. As a result, we felt it was important that these techniques should be taught to teachers in order to get the same level of enthusiasm from their pupils."
Amanda Jemett, Frank F Harrison School

Transition 2

Rachel Parker from Walsall Community Arts invited us to repeat or provide a similar Transition project as the previous year. This was to be a much longer project as a result of the success of the previous project.

"Urban Voice's facilitation in the 'Transition' projects fully supported young people to creatively explore their thoughts, feelings and experiences of school transition. Through the drama process year 6 pupils were able to broaden their awareness of the pending move whilst year 7 participants acquired further confidence and knowledge to use drama as a tool for passing on positive peer messages."
Rachel Parker Arts into PSHE co-ordinator, Walsall Community Arts Team