The Blog for Penryn (UK) -based Kernow Youth Society for the Performing Arts. Our society is open to young people aged 9 upwards from the Falmouth and Penryn area. Our aim is to allow members to explore their interest in the performing arts through drama and film activities. KYSPA has a strong citizenship theme with activities aiming to promote self confidence, teamwork and communication skills.

Thursday 27 September 2007

New Facilities

I spoke to Vincent yesterday and he's told me about plans to create a stage in the youth space. This will be used by bands who perform in there and... you guessed, right? US!

We'll have a proper stage area on which to perform, to astound audiences with your dance moves, your wit and your drama skills!

PS. Anyone want a grey male dwarf rabbit? I've one that needs a home!

Tuesday 25 September 2007

Tuesday 25th September

NO KYSPA AGAIN!!

Sorry, still lurgy smitten and Stef's away for two weeks. KYSPA will resume on Tuesday 9th October.

KEEP SAFE

In light of the reports of incidents in Plymouth involving young people, Please keep yourself safe when you're out and about! Make sure you have your mobile etc, that your parents know where you are, and when you'll be back and NEVER get in a car with someone you don't know OR someone you do know but who you have not arranged to meet.

You lot drive me nuts, but do look after yourself!

Tuesday 18 September 2007

NO KYSPA TONIGHT! (Sorry)

Sorry folks, but I've been struck down by lurgy! We'll have to give it a miss tonight. normal service will be resumed next week!

Sunday 16 September 2007

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

This has not been posted for a while, so I thought it should go on again to keep everyone informed! We're hoping to have some new members soon.

WEEKLY PRICE: This is currently £1 for the first child in a family and 50p for each subsequent child from that family.

Sessions run WEEKLY during TERM TIME at the Youth Space at Penryn Rugby Club between 6.30pm and 8.30pm on TUESDAY EVENINGS.

KYSPA is open to all aged between 9yrs and 18 yrs old. If we have space, we will accept members aged 8 yrs old.

Successful meeting!

The meeting between CRASAC and KYSPA's members and parents was very positive. For those of you who weren't there, this is a main summary of the points discussed and the decisions taken.

1. The content of the educational video will focus on the issue of grooming and keeping safe. Many shots will not reveal the identity of the actors at all, but all footage will be sensitively handled and there is no content which will be uncomfortable for our young people to act.

2. The script will be developed in partnership with the actors. Parents will have the opportunity to look at the script before shooting and raise any concerns.

3. Parents are welcome to attend shoots if they wish.

4. Parents will preview the finished film before general release. The views and wishes of parents and actors are paramount and permission can be withdrawn even at a late stage if either are uncomfortable with the films content. However, we hope that through discussion and involvement throughout the project this will be avoided.

5. Parents and actors need to be aware, though, that this film will be a high profile, national resource. images will be distributed around the UK to schools and youth organisations.

6. Given the subject matter, it was agreed that KYSPA's name will not appear in the credits - to avoid any chance of actors being widely recognised in terms of where they live.

7. The DVD is being produced in a format which means it cannot be copied. This ensures that copies will go to authorised organisations only.

8. There was support for this project, subject to these safeguards, from parents and our members.

CRASAC are happy to discuss this project and any concerns at any time. They can be contacted on: help@crasac.co.uk or on : Kim Lyall Cornwall Rape And Sexual Abuse Centre 01872 262100

Monday 10 September 2007

Tues 11th Sept

MEETING FOR PARENTS
Tuesday 11th September 6.30pm

As you will be aware, KYSPA obtained a significant grant from the Cornwall Community Foundation this year. Another organisation which benefited from this charity was the Cornwall Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre. They received money to make an educational DVD for use in schools and education projects around the county on issues relating to young people, sexual abuse and rape.

This DVD will be produced by a professional media company who have won a tendering process to be awarded the contract. The DVD WILL NOT feature any kind of graphic scenes of abuse taking place. However, it will be fairly hard-hitting and aims to make young people aware of situations in which they may find themselves at increased risk – and thereby avoid those situations.

KYSPA’s members have the option of taking small acting parts in this DVD along with older actors from another Falmouth theatre company (Tir Na, I think).

Obviously, this is a very sensitive subject matter and so two members of CRASAC will be coming to our evening session on Tuesday 11th September to discuss the project, meet our young actors and their parents. They will outline the scenarios that actors are needed for and can answer any questions from parents our members and KYSPA’s own Trustees who will no doubt want to learn more about this project.

This project may not be suitable for all our members. Parents may feel uncomfortable with it, and this is also quite understandable. Our members themselves have expressed a desire to tackle important issues, and this is about as important as it gets. I do foresee some key advantages to our participation.

Our members will, themselves, gain a great deal of knowledge about how to keep themselves safe from partaking in this project.

Actors will be working in a semi-professional capacity with professional film makers.

Participating in this project may make a real difference to a key aspect of youth education in Cornwall.

I would urge parents to keep an open mind and to attend the Tuesday 11th meeting where we will all learn more about what is involved. CRASAC is a professional organisation working with vulnerable people. This project will be handled in an appropriate and sensitive way. KYSPA’s leaders will attend shoots with our actors, if the project goes ahead, for supervision.

Wednesday 5 September 2007

Plans for a show move ahead

Since we were unable to perform The Motormalgamation at the Penryn Town Fair, we have decided to incorporate it into a show for young families. In addition to The Motormalgamation, we will perform a version of The Lay of Thrym and a couple of other short drama and dance pieces.

We've started on the props for Motormalgamation and it seems that we can add painting to the artistic talents of our members!


For The Lay of Thrym, Thor's magic hammer needed creating & Sam volunteered for the job!

We're beyond just prop making though! The three MM narrators and "Carl" read through the script together in a first rehearsal.


This week, the first cast members for The Lay of Thrym read through an initial draft of the script. This will be reworked (the original dates from 1991 when I was still studying "A" Levels) and lengthened for next week.




From the left, "Loki", "Thor" and "Freja" with "Thrym" and his servant.

Unfortunately for Thrym, Freja is not the least bit interested in marriage!


Success for KYSPA at BBC Auditions!

KYSPA was approached by BBC Scotland to find some 5 & 6 year olds to audition for the popular Cbeebies show "Nina and the Neurons". Obviously, KYSPA's normal membership is a bit older than that, so some quick phone calls were required to locate some younger actors!

In the event, five youngsters auditioned and two from Falmouth were successful. The programme on waves was filmed earlier this week. This is not the first occasion that KYSPA has been asked to find young actors for extra parts in films and we will be looking at how we can develop this service over the next year.

The opportunity to get involved in working on professional products is really exciting and we hope there will be more such opportunities for our members soon.

Tuesday 4 September 2007

Tuesday 4th September

Meeting as usual this evening.