A night out at the theatre
OCC intern Grace Baker visited Creation Theatre's summer Shakespeare show on her latest mission: to find out what gets young people going to the theatre!
It’s not something young people usually do, the theatre. It’s expensive, posh, a lot of effort and not ‘cool’. Only posh kids and school trips grace private boxes or red velvet rows in fancy auditoriums, where actors mutter long-outdated Shakespeare quotes that no longer mean anything, and large operatic ladies belt out to the balconies. Or has theatre changed?
Not so scary
Nowadays, it's not so much about putting your glad rags on and trekking down to the city's poshest establishment, but more about experiencing something exciting and different. There are innovative and new views on old classics; Shakespeare has modernised language, setting and theatrics while keeping the same classic, dramatic story with sword fights and scandalous affairs. Popular musicals infiltrate our stages with such favourites as Mamma Mia, High School Musical and Chicago, that can also be seen on the big screen. New upcoming writers create masterpieces for our stages that hit closer to younger generations, from tales of celebrities and youths on the streets to tales of school life and aspiring young performers. Even the price is not so scary, with discounts available for students and young people, and the amount of local theatres means you just pop down the road or into town to get a more interactive view of entertainment.
Head and shoulders above cinema
A flat screen and a moving picture doesn’t compare to the feeling of being part of something, to engage with characters and have them engage back, to see actors as real people performing without the luxury of someone shouting ‘Cut’ or ‘Take Two’. There is something about a live performance that leaves the viewer feeling as if they have watched something truly special and unique.
The theatre is something every young person should experience and nowadays it is becoming a growing trend. Theatre companies like Creation target young people with holiday activities like sword fighting workshops, and modern, edgy versions of Shakespeare classics like Romeo and Juliet. With discounts offered to under 18s and full-time students, and schemes like Oxford Playhouse's A Night Less Ordinary, prices compare well with going to the cinema, too.
In the audience
This year, young people can enjoy Creation Theatre's performance of a modern Romeo and Juliet with a distinctly urban undertone. The play is presented at the Saïd Business School in a very modern way, from the dance moves to the industrial setting. The actors bring Romeo and Juliet to life with a more jovial twist on the classic tragedy, the performance is truly interactive and lets viewers walk among the actors. The crowd was filled with teenagers and young adults watching eagerly as everything unfolded before their eyes. Among the viewers was silver screen and voiceover legend Brain Blessed, who is perhaps better known to older generations, but nonetheless, celeb spotting is all part of the fun!
So forget the old days of posh uptight theatre goers, and head down to your local theatre and see what is on. It is an experience and one young people should not miss out on.
Grace Baker
