Got a child 11-17yrs old? Could they (and you) fill in my survey, pretty please?

[Adair]

MN regular here. Am trying to set up a youth theatre in my local area and would really, really, really appreciate if you and/or your children would fill in my survey
here. It's only ten questions so hopefully shouldn't take too long.

Thank you so much!

Thank you those who have responded so far! V helpful

Ahhhhh, thanks. i thought it was Q6 that was the sticking point...
will amend. Hold fire!

ah, have deleted one so that might be why, cat64.
Have amended now I think...

Thanks for your responses. Much appreciated.

Done

oh no! Don't worry, I can see the survey questions that have been answered - is all really useful, thanks. You can always put burning comments on this thread.

Gosh though, this marketing/research/business stuff is harder than it looks (won't be so scathing re Apprentice candidates next time )

Children come in all flavours! Agree with you re boosting confidence - I think lots of teenagers do youth theatre because they want to be in the industry too though.... Does your ds enjoy doing scripts or making up shows?

Hmmm, have added another question about benefits of youth theatre- feel free to comment!

It won't finish, it keeps going round in circles. But DD (11) answered up to when it got stuck.

Oh dear. Might be cos I was fiddling, you could try again now and i will leave it alone...

But Musicposy, all answers are really helpful, say THANK YOU to her for me!

working again now

thanks

Hi, I've filled in the survey. My DD has loved drama since she was 7[now 15]. We have tried various dance/drama schools but the one she is at now is fantastic. She has done drama there since she was 9 and recently changed dance schools to dance there.

It is great because the classes are high quality-the teachers there all trained at top London drama schools. It is excellent value for money-they try to keep costs down. There is no pressure to attend all the classes. They do all types of dance, drama, lamda exam preparation, singing etc. There is no pressure to take exams and all abilities are welcomed.

The more classes you attend the cheaper it is and 2 siblings count as one child. They have links with our local theatre so children can audition for professional productions[if the child is small enough!]. They don't hire out a lavish theatre for their shows to keep costs to parents down yet the quality of the performances is always excellent.

One other thing I've noticed is that the straight drama classes seem to attract a lot of older teenage boys whereas they might not be attracted to singing/dance.

Hope this is helpful to you.

Very good points re boys - will think about how to target. Thanks again everyone. I see now why they say you need to research... this has been astoundingly useful at focusing what I plan to do...
Thanks.

Yeah, can do some stage combat - always goes down very well.

I do appreciate that lots of children enjoy performing musicals, big shows etc but we have lots of that here, so am hoping to introduce an 'arts centre'/devised approach. There would be a performance but it would be devised -(though guided by facilitators to teach this process and 'direct' to an entertaining show - agree with the person who said she has sat through lots of baffling shows!!).

Devising is used by lots of theatre companies - you can do study the genre and do an MA in it, and it is a legitimate and 'real' way of being in the industry. I hugely appreciate (though maybe didn't before) that children and adults may not 'get' how it works, or realise that lots of theatre companies use this approach. This is very useful feedback as I now know I need to include more information on devising on my website/marketing - so thank you.

Some companies using devising to create theatre:
Kneehigh Theatre at the Lyric hammersmith in September.
Theatre de Complicite
Told by an Idiot

My youth theatre will be an alternative choice to the Stagecoach type 'academies' - where children can create the theatre as well as perform it. Not that there is anything wrong in the musicals/exams/auditions - just for me (and hopefully other parents, and teenagers - if I can convince them ), I think there are other ways to be creative.

PS Agree with you that the 3 boys in a group of 25 girls always seem very popular!

Thank you for everyone who is filling this out (and their kids).
It really is very helpful, thanks.

Done

Hi Adair, I tried to fill it in, but my answer to Q2 was "no", then Q3 says, "If yes....", so I ignored, but then I am told I need to put an answer in. It wont let me get any further.
What I am trying to say is that you will only get answers from people who can say "yes" to Q2.

Brigit and Positiveattitude, thanks.. I have been making changes as we go along! and have added 'n/a, don't know, does not attend' answers but yes, i think the survey design isn't great...