The workshop took place in Risedale’s school hall and was led by Max Ferguson and Steve Salt from ‘No Eye Deer’, a London based theatre company.

Through a series of improvised activities and creative tasks, Max and Steve encouraged the pupils to explore and develop skills to be able to devise their own original theatre performances in the future.

Head of Drama, Mrs Southworth-Gedye, said,

“I was really impressed with the way our pupils engaged with the workshop leaders. They explored new ways of working with enthusiasm and skill. The energy in the room was infectious!”

Mrs Southworth-Gedye went on to say,

“Devising is an essential skill for all Drama pupils to develop. It forms 40% of the GCSE course, but more than that, anyone who wants to go on and become a performer will need these skills to create their own original work. Those who don’t go on to perform still learn about divergent thinking and how to respond creatively to a stimulus; skills that are vital across many career paths.”

“Max and Steve really helped the group to bond and showed them that by letting go and getting past any feelings of embarrassment it would allow them to trust one another and perform in a more creative and confident way.”

Reflecting on the day, Max and Steve said,

“We were met with a real appetite to learn and unending energy in equal measure at Risedale. The pupils were engaged, enthusiastic and focused on the work. As workshop leaders, we crave this kind of attitude from the students we work with and the Year 10 Drama group went above and beyond our expectations producing some very thoughtful and mature work.”

One pupil said,

“I really enjoyed the workshop. I am looking forward to starting our devising coursework in class and trying out some of the techniques we learned.”

No Eye Deer Collective is currently raising funds to rehearse and perform ‘Render’,  a production highlighting the blurry loopholes of dyslexia rooted within the education system. To find out more and to support this venture please visit: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/render