'If you think you'rethe next Simon Amstell or Mikita Oliver; Chris Brown or Beyonce; Ms Dynamite orLethal B; you reckon you could put Kyla Pratt...or Parminda Nagra...toshame...then read on.'
This is how thisyears ADP6 was promoted. Run by theEast Endpopular entertainment venue, the Hackney Empire, The Artist DevelopmentProgramme, (ADP), aims to give young people between the ages of 13 to 17 theopportunity to create new work to a professional level. This then ends with aperformance of the work being professionally presented on the Hackney Empire'sMain stage.
The programme started with a weekend of open auditions looking for 40 budding singers, MC's,rappers, poets, songwriters, musicians, dancers, comperes,actors and comedians who believe they have a talent for creating and performingart in their chosen field. The applicants were not required to have any formalprevious training or be a member of a dance or drama school, but what was neededwas a raw, yet evident talent, a team player mentality and an intense passion toproduce and perform a high standard of creative and original work.
The stimulus for theADP6 production centred around the world of film, and the group decided to usethe famous award ceremony as the hook for their show, which was subsequentlycalled 'A Night at the Oscars'. The entire show was created and performed usingthe ideas, skills and talents from both the applicants involved in the project.There were no adults on the stage during the performance. The philosophy behindthis is to facilitate the work of the young people who take part in theeducation projects which take place at the Hackney Empire; the facilitators arethere to support and make suggestions based on the experience and knowledge thatthey have developed during the course of their careers in their particularfield.
The applicants whodid not make the final 40 were sent written feedback as to why they were notselected and also given positive and encouraging advice as to how they couldfurther increase and master their skills and talent. Several were also remindedthat they could audition for ADP7, next year, in 2007.
The ADP is now in itssixth year, and because of its increased popularity, the project has beenextended and moved to the summer holidays. This year thecreation period ran for seven days and the rehearsals ran for six days. Thisallowed the participants more time in which to further refine and develop their work than inprevious years, and ensured the success of the project and therefore of the people taking part which is a fundamentalphilosophy behind the work of the Hackney Empire's Education Department.
From previous ADPproductions, both the participants and the teachers involved have seen this as agreat way of young people discovering skills that can be used both on and offstage, maximising their full potential and developing their talent whilst makinga positive contribution to both their local communities and the live performance industry.
ADP is one of severalprojects from 'Real Life: Real Theatre' the education programme which takesplace at the Hackney Empire throughout the year. Aimed at nurturing anddeveloping the talent of future artists, some of the projects are open access,entry level activities, and others like ADP aim to work with more committedyoung artists. In all the projects, the applicants are given the opportunity to work and collaboratewith other young people like themselves and professional artists from theentertainment industry, including actors, singers, dancers and choreographers.
In spring 2006, wedid our first education project integrated into a professional show in the mainhouse. 'Peter and the wolf: The Epilogue' involved thirteen young people agedbetween 11 and 15 years from Homerton College of Technology, five girls fromStreet Soul youth dance, and six peer mentors from ADP5, who created andperformed a new piece of work based on the Peter and the Wolf story. The finalpiece followed directly on from the professional show on the main stage, leadingthe audience outside intoTown Hall Squareto watch the group tell their own personal and original ending to the Peter andthe Wolf story.