Original plays, written by 15/16 year old playwrights, provide a unique glimpse into the world of our young people articulating their experience and their reality.
TENDERFOOT, meaning neophyte, newbie, greenhorn, is The Civic’s apprentice theatre programme for transition year students. Now in its eleventh year the programme provides students from eight different schools in the South County Dublin region the opportunity to create and perform original work for the stage. During the programme our young people are introduced to all aspects of theatre – writing, set design/film for theatre, music & sound design, costume design, stage management and acting – under the guidance of working theatre professionals. From January 25th to 27th this work can be seen in The Civic. Plays written by young people, telling their stories, presenting the world as they see it. These diverse and exciting plays, the work of young theatre makers, include –
The End of the Beginning by Tadhg Slye, an exploration of male friendship in a world of exams and first girlfriends and exploding toasters.
Plastic by Jordan Lee, a supernatural chiller guaranteed to make you jump out of your seat.
Seaside Story by Aidan Kelly, a comedy about families, holidays and global warming.
And
Just for the Cracked by Chloe O’Flaherty which takes a fly on the wall look at a group of young people who find their friend unconscious and unresponsive at a party.
Tenderfoot is unique in providing a professional support system within which young people are empowered to make their own theatre. Tenderfoot also provides the space for that work to be encountered by a peer audience. Tenderfoot is a model of excellence of an arts in education programme and is an ideal model for Arts Practice under Pillar 1 Creative Ireland ‘Enabling the Creative Potential of Every Child’. https://creative.ireland.ie/en/pillars/children-and-youth . A volume of Tenderfoot plays, Tenderfoot – Plays By & For Young People was published 2014 in association with South County Dublin Library.
Thus far approximately five hundred students from eleven different schools have had the opportunity to be part of a Tenderfoot theatre ensemble. Many of those students had never been to the theatre or taken part in any drama activity before Tenderfoot. Our graduates, our Tenderfeet have gone on to join other ensembles – youth theatres, film and visual art collectives, and music groups. Past Tenderfeet are also encouraged to maintain a relationship with The Civic by attending plays/events at much reduced prices.
Tenderfoot operates in tandem with but outside the education system. By operating alongside the system access is ensured. Student participation in Tenderfoot does not carry a financial cost to ensure the widest possible access. By operating outside of that system the artistic integrity of the work is ensured.
Tenderfoot Performances 2018
Schools Performances Thursday 25th at 12 pm
& Friday 26th January at 10am and 2pm
Public Performances Saturday 27th January at 2pm & 7pm
Admission €10 / €5 concession
