Niamh Meehan

Young Critics On The Edge Panel Discussion Photo Credit: Alan King

On Thursday July 7th, twelve Young Critics from all across the UK and Ireland met for the final time as part of Young Critics On The Edge.

During this session the Young Critics presented their findings to an audience of Symposium Delegates at BCU Birmingham. Here they discussed their process over the previous four days. They also provided critical responses to the four performances they attended as part of Young Critics On The Edge.

The session was chaired by Anna Galligan from Barnstorm Theatre Company with technical support by Alan King of the National Association for Youth Drama (Ireland)

You can listen to the Full Edited recording of the session here

Or you can listen to the session in smaller sections here

A big thank you to all the On The Edge Festival staff for all their kindness and goodwill over the five days in Birmingham.

Young Critics On The Edge is a collaboration between Barnstorm Theatre Company,NAYD (National Association for Youth Drama) Ireland and Mess Up The Mess, Get the Chance (Wales) in conjunction with the Symposium strand of theASSITEJ Artistic Gathering for 2016.

Boing!

The Mac Birmingham

Travelling Light present us with a tale touched by the magic of Christmas Eve, as brothers Joel and Wilkie battle to sleep in anticipation of Santa’s arrival. Boing is simplistic in concept and effectively minimalistic in design ensuring our focus is consistently immersed in the antics of the two brothers as they grapple with their bursts of energy. The spectacle of this multifaceted show is mesmerising and elevated by the meticulous and beautiful execution of movement and dance sequences on stage. This effervescent story narrates a universal experience and is littered with tender moments, which will resonate with warmth in children and adults alike. Boing is a dazzling, boisterous and inimitable production; an experience to be shared.

The Hamilton Complex

The Hamilton Complex is a beautifully experimental production, which narrates the tumultuous transition of adolescence in an unapologetically uncensored fashion. Thirteen girls on the threshold of their teenage years begin to deal with the death of their childhood selves and the painful birth of their adolescent identities. The girls’ evolution is marked by events which appear sporadic in nature; mimetic of the incoherence and energy the fluctuation of teenage life presents to its bewildered victims. Moments of elation, underpinned by the illusion of self-discovery, are annihilated by the challenging encounters the teenagers grapple with, as they mature. However the girls stake their individuality among their uncertainty ; a form of personal success on its own and a beautiful message in itself. The girls become victors of a change that nature decided for them, and they survive and prevail. The production shamelessly presents to us the good, the bad, and the ugly faces of change through a visually powerful performance, full of movement, colour and questions – the answers of which we decide for ourselves.

Both shows played as part of On The Edge 2016

Niamh Meehan

Come join Young Critics On The Edge on July 7th in the BCU Parkside Building, Lecture Theatre from 5-6.30 to hear the Young Critics critical responses to several productions from On The Edge .

Learn about more Young Critics that are On The Edge here

Young Critics On The Edge

Young Critics On The Edge- Panel Discussion – Full Audio

Boing! & The Hamilton Complex -Two Reviews by Young Critic On The Edge Niamh Meehan