International Youth Theater Network

Archive for November, 2007

In the world of theater, many superstitions are associated with “Macbeth”, the shortest of the tragedies written by William Shakespeare. In fact, theater performers do not say the name of this play aloud. Instead, they refer to it as “the Scottish play”, “MacBee” or “The Scottish King.” According to superstitions, the play was cursed because Shakespeare used real witches’ spells in the text. Interestingly, actors who uttered “Macbeth” inside a theatre allegedly figured into accidents, misfortunes, and even deaths. The spread of the idea that it is an “unlucky” play may have also stemmed from the fact that in the past, it was usually the last play staged before a theatre shuts down. Nonetheless, critics consider this play an anomaly due to its brevity. Compared to Shakespeare’s other tragedies like Othello and King Lear, “Macbeth” is more than a thousand lines shorter.The plot of this Shakespearean tragedy was loosely based on the life of King Macbeth of Scotland as accounted by Raphael Holinshed and Hector Boece, a Scottish philosopher. The scene highlights the start of the play where three witches, called the Weird Sisters, revealed to Macbeth, an army general of King Duncan of Scotland, the prophecy that he would soon become king. This prophecy cultivated the title character’s lust for power which led him to commit deception and murders.

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- The network would look to grants and sponsorship to fund both the general administration and specific projects.

- Membership to the network would be free to participating youth theatre companies. However some charges may need to be levied to cover the nominal costs of such things as publications and postage etc. (i.e. news letters and ‘How to’ literature for those without access to the internet.)

- Workshops, lectures and festivals may require fees from participating organisations.

- Groups requiring substantial support for specific projects may be required to cover the costs of the Networks involvement.

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- The network could either be set up as a none profit making organisation or a limited company with in built ethical working practices.

- Although the network would rely partly on voluntary input it would aim to provide a living wage to its general staff and any professionals brought in for specific projects.

- Staffing levels would depend on the success of the organisation but would consist of a core of planning, fund raising and administrative personnel. This initially would represent no more than 2 or 3 people. Additional staff would then be recruited for specific projects.

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- The set up and administration of a home page on the world wide web to include directories, forums and help pages.

- The compilation of a directory of Youth Theatre Companies and relevant organisations.

- The publishing of advice on the running of youth theatre companies and similar projects.

- Creating a data base of professional theatre practitioners with expertise in youth theatre.

- The commissioning of books and articles by professionals on specific subjects related to youth theatre in the community.

- To offer specific advice to youth theatre companies who are planning to take productions the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

- To run a drop in centre to provide advice and support for Youth theatre companies visiting the 2000 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

- The running of workshops and lectures by experienced individuals on related subjects.

- To organise an international festival of youth theatre in 2002.

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