BLADE PROJECT

Commissioned by Bedfordshire Police Partnership, Blade was a project that tackled the issue of teenage knife crime.  Working with a group of young people from Bedford and Ampthill, Alias Theatre wrote and directed a hard-hitting original play that toured around schools and performed at the University of                       Bedfordshire Theatre.

PHOENIX CENTRE PROJECT

The Phoenix Centre is a specialist service for the treatment of teenagers (aged 12-17 years) with eating disorders, mostly Anorexia Nervosa. Young people are referred by their local mental health services if they have been unable to make progress whilst remaining at home with the support of local outpatient                              treatment. 

Commissioned and funded by The Friends of the Phoenix Centre, Alias Theatre delivered a

6-week summer arts projects at the centre during 2009-2011, encouraging those resident at the centre to participate in arts activities.  These included theatre skills workshops, mask-making, dance and art activities culminating in a performance to staff and invited parents at the end of the project. Participants also produced personal portfolios that provided opportunities to gain an Arts Award qualification at Bronze or Silver level.

The specific needs of participants in terms of physical capabilities, aiding in positive body image, self-confidence and communication skills required a unique way of working and Alias Theatre is very proud of the successes achieved by all concerned in this very special 3 year project.

To protect patient confidentiality, the faces of participants have been covered in photographs.

SMASH PROJECT

Again commissioned by Bedfordshire Police Partnership, Alias Theatre was invited to produce a performance on teenage domestic abuse for the BedFringe Festival in 2009.  1 in 4 teenagers have experienced abuse from boyfriends or girlfriends and it is an increasing problem amongst young people.  

Smash mixed choreography, physical theatre, music and powerful dramatic script to highlight what constitutes domestic abuse, signs to look for, how it can escalate and what to do if you are in that situation.  This was a vitally important play in bringing the subject to a wider audience as part of the festival programme.

BOYS ONLY ARTS PROJECT

Alias Theatre was commissioned and funded by Bedfordshire Extended Services to deliver an arts project specially targeted at boys aged 11-13 who would not usually engage in arts activities.  The 7 month project was based at Alameda Middle School in Ampthill and participants were nominated by the school.

The boys attended weekly after-school sessions, exploring a range of art forms from portrait photography, collage art, physical theatre workshops and african drumming to a theatre piece on the dangers of smoking, alcohol and cannabis performed at the University of Bedfordshire Theatre.  

The boys also worked towards a Bronze Arts Award qualification by producing a portfolio showing their participation in arts activities, leading session warm ups, researching an arts professional and writing about a visit to London's South Bank Centre and Tate Modern to look at a variety of public art.

This was a great project that, for many, significantly changed the way they behaved within school, how they were seen by their peers and their willingness to engage in the creative arts.