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

Brownhills Youth Community Project

Walsall Community Arts Team requested Urban Voice to create a platform for which disadvantaged children from the Brownhills community could develop their respective talents, be it acting, script writing, singing or dancing. This culminated in two final performances to adult in their local community.

"Urban Voice worked really well to motivate the young people and bring out the best in them. They introduced them to improvisation and script writing for the first time and allowed them to do things they never thought they were capable of."
Kim Fuller, Project C0-ordinator

Living Next Door to Malice

Urban Voice were approached by Gazebo Theatre in Education Company to collaborate on this project. The Piece was toured to primary schools in Walsall and Wolverhampton and was received with great enthusiasm. in addition to the schools tour, the piece was also taken to Warwick University by request of Jonathan Neelands (renowned drama author) as a learning tool for under graduates studying theatre in education.

"The children and myself thoroughly enjoyed the programme. All sections were very entertaining. The selection of music was particularly appropriate. Scenes where pupils were involved with the action were excellent. It was totally appropriate levels for year six pupils with excellent questioning techniques. The children have learned a lot about developing relationships and solving problems. A superb introduction into this area of the curriculum."
Julie Smith, Teacher at Moathouse primary School

Transition

This project saw Urban Voice working alongside Walsall's Community Arts Team, exploring with primary school pupils their tough ts, feeling, hopes, fears and aspirations regarding their pending move to secondary school.

Some of the themes covered were bullying, friendship, teamwork and peer pressure. A piece was then devised in collaboration with Manor farm secondary school pupils, who performed to their feeder primary schools.

The House That Saved A king

A site specific promenade piece set against the backdrop of Moseley Old Hall's rich history.

Following intensive research and a partnership with curators of Moseley Old Hall, Urban Voice told this compelling tale through the use of puppetry, song, masks, pyrotechnics, cookery, all culminating in a celebratory garden party!

"It was a marvellous experience seeing Moseley Old Hall brought to life in such a vibrant and joyous way."
Margaret Dean, Head Curator Moseley Old Hall