Learning Archive

The Crossover Community Theatre Project

The Crossover Community Theatre Project was a network of groups in the counties Louth, Monaghan and Fermanagh. Each group was facilitated by a professional practitioner who led weekly workshops for the group. These workshops investigated a variety of disciplines that were incorporated into the art of theatre making and included devising, scripting and performance skills.

During 2003-2004 the network embarked on specific training module as part of the annual programme. All groups successfully completed FETAC Drama Level 1 in 2004.

Dundalk Institute of Technology - Arts Module

One of the high points of Upstate Learning came in 2001 when the company was invited to design and deliver a module in Community Arts as part of the Diploma in Community Development Studies course at the Dundalk Institute of Technology. DKIT is the primary third level college in the North East. The students were drawn from a vast range of community and youth work backgrounds all over the North East. We have also advised the Institute in the final preparatory stages of the development of its proposed Actor Training Degree Course.

CAF Community Arts Forum (Drogheda) NCVA Training Programme

This community arts training programme evolved from the work of the Community Arts Forum which was initiated by Drogheda Partnership in 1997. While the forum was set up to bring together a cross section of arts organisations in Drogheda, individual community artists felt it was necessary to form a sub-group in order to address their particular needs, specifically with regard to training.

The group sourced appropriate partners to advise on the project, and to assist with funding and accreditation for the programme. These included (as well as Upstate Learning) The Arts Council of Ireland, Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda Partnership and the Open Education Network, Belfast. Training accredited at NCVA Level 2 in Community Arts ran for two years.

In 2001 the Community Arts Forum received funding from the Arts Council to initiate a new training project under the facilitation of Dermot Quinn of Waterford Spraoi. Upstate Learning facilitated and part-funded this exciting departure. At the same time the group of artists received a commission from St. Patrick's Festival. A series of workshops resulted in a well-received pageant for the Dublin parade. The training continued and concluded with the multi-coloured and multi-cultural Drogheda Samba Festival Parade in July 2002, widely regarded as the best street theatre event ever in the town.

Mentor Training Programme

'Mentor' has been run as a programme offering intensive three-month foundation training to a number of performers, designers and technicians on fully professional theatrical productions The training has included confidence development and career guidance components as well as technical and industry skills.

In all 12 aspiring actors have availed of the programme, as have 3 technicians and 1 designer (in a programme shared with Fishamble Theatre Company, Dublin). Many of these have gone on to full-time employment, advanced training or successful freelance work in the professional theatre.

Celebration of Youth, Clones, County Monaghan

Upstate provided training and advice in devising a series of street theatre spectacles, performed in August 2000. Project developed in association with Clones Youth Project.

Order of Malta, Drogheda

Upstate's drama development officer provided a series of workshops for people with a range of learning disabilities during the summer of 2000.

Stories to Tell

The Stories to Tell project was in partnership with the Drogheda Traveller Education and Training Committee and the Droichead Arts Centre. Upstate Theatre Project were commissioned to work with a young traveller, Christopher Maguire to create a video profile which was screened as part of an exhibition at the Droichead Arts Centre in 2001. The partnership between the arts centre and the Traveller Education Committee has continued into 2002.