New York Theatre Workshop works with LSBU for UK premiere of Mind the Gap
LSBU students have worked with the New York Theatre Workshop in its first ever UK Mind the Gap workshop - an intergenerational theatre workshopMind the Gap, an intergenerational theatre workshop devised in New York, has come to London for the first time, selecting London South Bank University (LSBU) as its UK home.
The New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) event brings young aspiring actors together with over-60s thespians to work in pairs and create plays inspired by their partner’s personal stories over the course of 10 sessions.
LSBU’s Drama and Performance students paired up with actors from the Southwark Playhouse Elders Company and with the guidance of the New York Theatre Workshop debuted their performances last week at the university’s Edric Theatre.
LSBU’s Head of Arts and Performance Division Gill Foster said the workshop was an opportunity for students to witness an excellent example of innovative, creative arts and community education.
“NYTW work with artists and communities in Manhattan’s East Village to create unforgettable theatre and for the first time ever they have travelled to London to pioneer their innovative community theatre project here at LSBU,” she said.
“High quality arts education projects create those invaluable networking opportunities which are so crucial to young performers beginning to make their way in this most competitive of industries.”
NYTW director Alexander Santiago-Jirau said the company had been immensely impressed with the commitment, generosity and professionalism of the Drama and Performance students.
He said they were going back to New York with a new model for an intergenerational theatre company inspired by the work of the project.
The second and final performance of Mind the Gap will take place this Saturday, 30 September during the University’s Open Day.