National Theatre Round-up!

Written By Niamh Milligan

Our time at the National Theatre flew by quicker than we could say ESSA ESSA, but the beautiful memories from that crazy month will live on with us forever. Three months on, we wanted to reflect on our time at the National Theatre and the wrap-around engagement work that took place alongside our run of Kin.

We performed Kin to 16,034 people (95% of the total capacity) in just three short weeks - 21% of whom were under 35, 18% were from the global majority, and 13% were first time visitors to the National Theatre, all of which significantly exceeded the theatre’s yearly averages.

We hosted 800+ students at our student conference (and thousands more across the run), we welcomed hundreds of migrants and refugees to the National Theatre, many for the first time, and received countless gorgeous messages and emails from audience members telling us how moved they were by the piece.

The Gecko cast and creative team stand on stage smiling and cheering with their hands in the air.

Photo Credit: Malachy Luckie

 

Student Conference

Helen and Vivian from the Gecko team stand with their back to the camera as they are on stage facing an audience of 800+ young people in the Lyttelton Theatre. The students are copying their movements on stage. Their hands are out to the side.

We were thrilled to work with the National theatre to develop a Live Theatre Review Student Conference during our run. This one-day event was designed for GCSE and A-Level students to support them with the component of their exams that looked specifically at theatre criticism. The day featured a masterclass from leading theatre critic Lyn Gardner, as well as talks and interactive workshops from our very own Gecko company members, exploring our unique devising methodology and creative process. We had a fantastic time with 886 students from 37 schools!

Lyn Gardner and a member of the National Theatre team are sat on stage facing an audience of students.

Session 1: Masterclass with Lyn Gardner

The day began with a masterclass from Lyn Gardner sharing her 10 top tips for crafting a live theatre review, preparing students to watch and review Kin later that day.

Helen and Miguel from the Gecko team stand with their back to the camera as they are on stage facing an audience of 800+ young people in the Lyttelton Theatre. Their hands are up in the air. The students are copying their movements on stage.

Session 2: Gecko’s Style and Methodology

This session started in the same way that all Gecko workshops do, with a group physical preparation! This was our largest group preparation yet with our Associate Director, Helen Baggett leading and all 886 students taking part from their seats.

Next, Helen guided the students through the elements that make up the unique Gecko style and methodology. This was physically demonstrated live on stage by our devising performers Vivian Luk and Miguel Torres Umba.

Five people from the Gecko Creative team are sat on stage discussing their roles at Gecko to the students in the audience.

Session 3: Total Theatre: Meet the Creative and Technical Team

In conversation with Paul Smethurst, the Gecko Creative Team discussed their route into the industry, with questions directly from the students.

 

Drama Teacher’s Conference

After the huge success of last year’s conference, Gecko were invited back to lead 3 CPD workshops with 71 teachers for the National Theatre’s 2024 Drama Teacher’s Conference. Led by our Associate Director, Helen Baggett, and Devising Performer and Practitioner, Dan Watson, our sessions delved into the Gecko methodology and how this can be transferred into the classroom.

1 person is sat on a chair and surrounded by 6 people holding props at different levels around them. They are in a dance studio.
 

NT In Focus Workshops

The NT’s In Focus workshops gave free access for young people to explore the creative process of Kin as well as a free ticket to see the show. We delivered an Open Access workshop led by Helen Baggett and a targeted workshop for a local group, Indoamerican Refugee and Migrant Organisation led by Dan and Lucia.

 

Suffolk Refugee Support Theatre Trip

We invited 27 asylum seekers and refugees, who are engaged with Suffolk Refugee Support, to the National Theatre to see Kin, providing them with free tickets, travel and food. This follows on from a series of workshops locally which have been facilitated by our Associate Director, Helen Baggett and Creative Engagement Producer, Paul Smethurst.

A group of young refugees and staff sitting in the Lyttelton Theatre before the show, smiling at the camera.

Photo Credit: Malachy Luckie

We spoke to several of the young people who attended the theatre trip to The National to watch Kin on 20th January. Here are some of their comments:

‘It was mind-blowing!’

‘It talked to my heart and made me feel proud of what I had achieved around a lot of suffering.’

‘I listened to the actors and they made me realise I must never give up.’

Suffolk UASC boys aged 16-18. Suffolk Refugee Support.

 

Lamda/MimeLondon Weekend Intensive

To celebrate our run at the National Theatre we collaborated with MimeLondon and Lamda to lead a weekend intensive for recent graduates. This weekend was led by practitioners Kenny Ho and Vivian Luk and explored Gecko’s methodology and themes from Kin.

Kenny Ho, Gecko Practitioner, stands within a group of artists smiling and holding his hands out infront of him.

Photo Credit: Malachy Luckie

 

Thank you to everyone who came to see Kin and to those who took part in our wrap-around engagement work!

 

Photo Credits

National Theatre Images: Emma Hare - Instagram & X: @emmathare, Facebook: @EmmaHarePhotography / www.emmahare.com


Niamh Milligan
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