INTERMISSION YOUTH
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Mission Statement
Intermission Youth helps young people to make positive choices to become the best version of themselves and create a community of greater equality and opportunity. Using drama, theatre and film, we work with 11-30 year olds from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds who lack opportunity, are surrounded by negative environments, experience high levels of anti-social behaviour, family breakdown, dependency, mental health issues and criminality. Our work helps them develop their life skills and talents, increasing their opportunities into further education and employment. We believe that constant support, nurture and mentoring in a young person's life can give them the confidence and belief to make positive choices and change the course of their lives.
About This Cause
Intermission was originally established in 2000 by Rob and Janine Gillion in a theatre church in central London as a safe, reflective and space for arts. Since then, Intermission Youth has developed 3 core programmes: INTERMISSION YOUTH THEATRE (IYT): a unique 10-month programme for 16-25 year olds who are predominantly (but not exclusively) from the BAME community and socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. IYT helps them develop creativity, builds confidence, increases life skills and encourages self-expression in a safe environment, which leads to new opportunities and a wider perspective of the world. The programme is based on reimagining Shakespeare text in today’s culture, because the issues he wrote about more than four hundred years ago (jealousy, love, racism, exclusion, identity, revenge, knife crime) are still so relevant today. Set up in 2008 and starting with just four young people, IYT has since seen around one hundred and fifty young people from different nationalities, faiths and London boroughs take part in the programme over the past twelve years. The Youth Theatre has helped them raise their aspirations, enabling them to apply to further education, set up their own business and seek new job opportunities. Many graduates have gone on to study at leading drama schools and performed with major national theatre companies including Shakespeare’s Globe, the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), as well as in TV, commercials and films. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: taking our work into schools, pupil referral units, youth offending institutions and adult prisons. The programme is co-facilitated by graduates of our Youth Theatre who are trained in drama facilitation. Using theatre games, improvisation, workshops and peer-to-peer conversations, they explore key issues facing young people today. Established in 2013, we have engaged with well over 7,000 young people across the UK and delivered bespoke weekly drama courses to learners at Feltham Young Offenders Institution, in schools and with young people who have been excluded from mainstream education. GRADUATE PROGRAMME: offering professional and continuing personal development opportunities for graduates of the Youth Theatre programme to develop their performance, production and life skills, as well as providing a forum for exploring the transformative power of theatre, and challenging representation of the BAME community within the theatre, TV and film industries. Intermission Youth is a member of the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance, a theatre partner of the RSC’s Associate Schools programme, a partner in LAMDA Pathways Partnership, and a partner with RADA. Due to the expansion of the programme and to enable Intermission to enter a new chapter as an independent organisation for the benefit of its future operational and development needs, the project has been transferred to a new entity 'Intermission Youth', a charitable company limited by guarantee. Currently operating from its new base in Victoria, London, we are looking to grow our programme and expand our work into other areas of the country. Intermission Youth is governed by a Board of Directors: Alexander Hoare (Partner & Director of C Hoare & Co); Oscar-winning actor Sir Mark Rylance; actor Danny Sapani; IYT graduate Esther Odejimi (investment analyst and social enterprise founder); Amanda Parker (communications and business development specialist). The Patrons of Intermission Youth are: award-winning actor Naomie Harris OBE; founder Bishop Rob Gillion. Our Ambassador is actor Sylvia Syms OBE. We are a small, busy team comprising: Darren Raymond (Artistic Director), Sue Radford (Executive Director), Nana Antwi-Nyanin (Deputy to Artistic Director), Claire Chappell-Meade (Community Engagement Manager), Cecilia Shaw (Producer), Lila Razakandisa (Administrator) and a Finance Administrator. "Arts and creativity can support improved wellbeing, awaken an interest in learning and can help people build new positive identities. Engaging in the arts can also lead to new skills and employment opportunities, as well as equipping participants with a desire to actively engage in their community and culture." [National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance]