Tacaíocht

Tacaíocht

INTRODUCTION 

Tacaíocht (pronounced Taca-ioct) is an Irish word that means “support / help.”

Tacaíocht was a 7-day training course that brought together 50 youth workers and 7 trainers from nine different countries. The Tacaíocht project aimed to train cultural youth workers in creative methods to effectively support young LGB and TQIA+ individuals.

CONTEXT   

The Tacaíocht project, organized by Crooked House Theatre Company, aimed to empower cultural youth workers by teaching them creative approaches like theatre, dance, and film to support LGB and TQIA+ youth. The project also emphasized building networks and encouraging inclusive, safe spaces where young people could explore and express their identities through art.

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT   

The word Tacaíocht was chosen for this project because it reflected the goal of providing a supportive and inclusive space for both cultural youth workers and LGB and TQIA+ youth. Crooked House Theatre Company, along with its international volunteers and partner organizations, projected this concept throughout the project. Tacaíocht brought together 50 cultural youth workers from countries like Azerbaijan, Spain, Greece, Ireland, Turkey, Kosovo, France, Belgium, and Hungary. Over seven days, participants were trained to create safe spaces where young LGB and TQIA+ individuals could express their identities freely. Through workshops on sensitive language, consent, and creative methods, the youth workers learned to use theatre, dance, and film as tools for empowerment. The project built connections among participants, allowing them to exchange best practices and improve their skills for future work. The week ended with a showcase of collaborative performances, highlighting how creative expression can help build inclusive environments.

PARTNERS, PEOPLE INVOLVED, CREATORS, AND ARTISTS

The Tacaíocht project brought together various partners and participants, Led by Crooked House Theatre Company, the project included organizations like Kinitiras Horotheama (Greece), FOCO (Spain), Novus Amke (Greece), Ritual Mobil Theater Laboratory (Azerbaijan), Tiyatro Salt (Turkey), Brasart (Belgium), Youth Center Drenas (Kosovo), Associació Escola de Teatre de La Seu (Catalonia), and Zabella Zine (Hungary).

Each partner contributed their unique skills and knowledge, enhancing the training experience. Participants collaborated to create theatrical and film pieces that expressed their cultures and highlighted the challenges faced by LGB and TQIA+ youth. These performances were showcased during the training days, allowing participants to share their creativity and learn from one another.

ACTIVITIES AND WORKSHOPS 

A blend of workshops and creative activities is designed to engage participants in meaningful ways.. Each day began with interactive workshops that allowed youth workers to explore critical topics such as inclusive language, consent, and innovative methods for connecting with LGB and TQIA+ youth. These sessions encouraged open dialogue and provided practical tools to enhance their work. In the afternoons, participants split into groups for devising sessions, where they collaborated on creating theatrical and film pieces. This hands-on work allowed them to express their cultural backgrounds and explore the challenges. As the week progressed, participants took time to reflect on their experiences, sharing insights and strategies.The project concluded with a showcase where participants presented their creative pieces, highlighting their learning experiences and the importance of artistic expression. Here’s a description of what the workshops were about.

Devising Forum Theatre

Artist: Joel Pla (he/him) – Associació Escola de Teatre de La Seu d’Urgell

Joel Pla Garriga is a theatre maker, actor, and filmmaker based in La Seu in Catalunya. He established Escola de Teatre there 5 years ago. Prior to that, he spent a year on Crooked House’s ESC programme for international artists in Newbridge, where he facilitated theatre workshops with young people in Kildare. He weaves social, political, and cultural concerns into his work with youth in Catalunya and trains young leaders in drama facilitation. He also coordinates large-scale community theatre projects in the region, works in children’s TV in Andorra, and runs successful theatre-based Erasmus+ programmes in Catalunya. This programme was based on creating small performances from the experiences, opinions, and ideas of the participants in the group. We used devising as a method: making theatre from sources that were not play scripts. The workshop employed several techniques from Theatre of the Oppressed (by Augusto Boal) including image and tableau making, short scenes that were discussed and changed by the people watching them, and movement in groups and solo. The theme emerged from the offerings, sharing, and focus of the participants. We most likely focused on the concept of identity, making identities, and maintaining identities (although we were very open to the group coming up with their own themes).

WHAT IS THEATRE OF THE OPPRESSED? 

Theatre of Oppressed are all techniques, performances and tools developed by Augusto Boal to promote social and political change by inviting audience to become active participants of the piece and to explore, show, analyse and transform the reality of the performance. By doing so, spect-actors will be able to recognise, analyse and transform their realities.

“You can access the resource booklet prepared specifically for the [Devising Forum Theatre] workshop in the Reading Room. It includes detailed workshop information and exercise explanations. You can also access it by clicking here.”

QUEER THEATRE

 Artist? Ricard Gànim (he/him), Crooked House Theatre Company 

Ricard, originating from a rural village in Valencia, Spain, is deeply passionate about theatre, education, and psychology. With a background in psychology and diverse training in dramatic arts, including studies at Institut del Teatre Barcelona, he specializes in applied theatre techniques, notably Theatre of the Oppressed. Ricard’s roles encompass a wide spectrum, from psychologist and teacher to theatre facilitator for an inclusive group, creator of intergenerational projects, and co-creator of plays addressing LGB and TQIA+ themes. Through his interdisciplinary approach, he strives to foster inclusive and empowering spaces, harnessing the transformative.

What IS QUEER THATRE? 

Queer theatre is a form of performance art that centers around the lives, experiences, and issues of LGBTQ+ individuals. It often explores themes related to gender identity, sexual orientation, and the social challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community. This type of theatre can include plays, musicals, and performance art, aiming to reflect and celebrate the diversity and complexity of queer lives.

“You can access the resource booklet prepared specifically for the [QUEER THEATRE] workshop in the Reading Room. It includes detailed workshop information and exercise explanations. You can also access it by clicking here.”

INTRODUCTION TO MOMENT WORK

Artists: Emily Ditkovski (she/her) and Milen Ceday Kirculen (he/him) – Crooked House Theatre Company.

Emily is a social justice theatre educator, arts researcher, and arts administrator whose primary focus is using youth theatre to effect social change. Emily began teaching while still a drama student in university, which led to a 20+ year career facilitating theatre for social change workshops at community sites across New York City and working as an educator and theatre-maker in California and Massachusetts. Emily is a fervent believer in the power of theatre to transform lives and the necessity of equitable access to the arts for all. She centers reflective practice, collaboration, and discovery in her theatre-making and facilitation. In 2023, she relocated to Dublin, where she is the International Projects Manager at Crooked House Theatre Company, along with being a facilitator and theatre-maker.

Ceday is a professional actor who graduated from SDU acting college in Turkey and is working as a volunteer facilitator at Crooked House. He comes from a background of theatre. Ceday started performing at a very young age and has played roles in many productions. He loves to work with realism and unusual techniques to break realism, such as image theatre, slow motion, grotesque, rewind, etc.

WHAT IS MOMENT WORK? 

devising methodology created by New-York-based Tectonic Theatre Company, harnesses elements of the stage or performance area, such as lights, sound, movement, and image, to create powerful interwoven theatrical collages. Moment Work asks theatre-makers to take risks, not always have answers, and to listen to themselves, each other, and the work as its evolving on the stage.

“You can access the resource booklet prepared specifically for the [MOMENT WORK] workshop in the Reading Room. It includes detailed workshop information and exercise explanations. You can also access it by clicking here.”

SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY FOR TRANS YOUTH WITH TENI

Facilitator: Aimee Doyle (they/them), Training and Policy Coordinator, Transgender Equality Network of Ireland 

Aimée holds a first class honours BSocSc Community and Youth Work from Maynooth University and was awarded the Ronnie Fay Award for Excellence in Community Development. They are passionate about supporting and advocating for trans young people

WHAT IS THIS SESSION ABOUT?

This session aims to give an introduction to transgender identities, experiences and inclusion for youth workers who may be working with transgender young people.

“You can access the resource booklet prepared specifically for the [SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY FOR TRANS YOUTH WITH TENI] workshop in the Reading Room. It includes detailed workshop information and exercise explanations. You can also access it by clicking here.”

QUEERING BORDERS

Facilitators: Michael McKeever (he/him) and Thabiso Magazi (he/him) Crooked House Theatre Company

Michael is a 19 year-old Law Student with a keen interest in the creative arts. He sees creative expression as a vital element of society in exploring all issues, personal and interpersonal.

Thabiso is a second generation South African living In Ireland. He and Michael recently attended a training programme in Italy focusing on LGBTQ+ sensitivity and 

WHAT IS THIS WORKSHOP ABOUT?

This workshop that centers around a role play exercise set in a town facing a social crisis.

“You can access the resource booklet prepared specifically for the [QUEERING BORDERS] workshop in the Reading Room. It includes detailed workshop information and exercise explanations. You can also access it by clicking here.”

Amplifying Voices: A Spoken Word Workshop for Queer Youth

Facilitator: Sam Stewart (they/them), Founder and Director, Sam’s Collective 

Sam is a passionate queer spoken word poet dedicated to amplifying queer voices. With a focus on creating inclusive and empowering spaces, Sam has spent the past two years facilitating spaces that encourage queer individuals to express themselves authentically. Their work centres on helping others find their unique voice through the transformative power of performance. Known for their dynamic approach and deep commitment to community building, Sam inspires participants to explore their identities and share their stories in a supportive and creative environment.

WHAT IS THIS WORKSHOP ABOUT?

This workshop designed to empower queer youth to express their unique identities and experiences. Through engaging writing prompts, dynamic performance exercises, and a supportive environment.

“You can access the resource booklet prepared specifically for the [Amplifying Voices: A Spoken Word Workshop for Queer Youth] workshop in the Reading Room. It includes detailed workshop information and exercise explanations. You can also access it by clicking here.”

Close-Up 

Artist:  Sancar Çalışkan, Crooked House Theatre Company

Sancar is a filmmaker from Istanbul. He had been working on documentary and commercial films before he arrived in Ireland. He facilitates weekly filmmaking workshops for young people. As Crooked House’s resident filmmaker, he creates, organises, and executes the film projects by Crooked House and Kildare Youth Theatre.

WHAT IS THIS WORKSHOP ABOUT?

This  filmmaking workshop designed to train cultural youth workers in supporting young LGB and TQIA+ people through creative methodologies. At the end of the this workshop Participants  crafted your own short films and gained techniques to help youth express their identities through film.

“You can access the resource booklet prepared specifically for the [Close-Up ] workshop in the Reading Room. It includes detailed workshop information and exercise explanations. You can also access it by clicking here.”

Pride in Practice: Creative Pedagogies for the Support of LGB and TQIA+ Youth.

Facilitator:  Niall Farrel (he/him), Dublin City University 

Niall is a Teacher Fellow in Dublin City University. He has worked as a post-primary teacher, holding a B.Ed. in Home Economics and Biology from St. Angela’s College and an M.Ed (Social Justice) from Maynooth University. Niall facilitates LGBTQ+ awareness workshops across various educational settings and is currently pursuing a PhD.

WHAT IS THIS WORKSHOP ABOUT?

This workshop aimed to educate and empower those working with young people on LGB and TQIA+ issues through creative pedagogies and a collaborative approach, to best support the needs of LGB and TQIA+ young people.

“You can access the resource booklet prepared specifically for the [Workshop Name] workshop in the Reading Room. It includes detailed workshop information and exercise explanations. You can also access it by clicking here.”

FUNDERS

The project is funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union