Young people with dyslexia invited to Lyric stage

Forget pen, paper or a computer keyboard – an arts charity based at the Lyric Hammersmith is calling for young people who can put live action drama into playwriting.

A free playwriting project for 11 to 14 year olds with dyslexia or other challenges with writing is set to run at the theatre this spring.

Arts charity Turtle Key Arts is on the hunt for young people with a passion for storytelling to bring their tales to life during a series of eight after school workshops.

Working with professional writers, directors and actors, the Key Words project will end with a bang, with a live performance of each student’s play at the Lyric Hammersmith, in King Street.

Turtle Key Arts producer Holly Cameron-Jennings said the project was focused on providing greater opportunities in the arts.

“It is very empowering, especially for young people who may think they will be no good at writing,” she said. “It is all about finding different techniques and ways of getting ideas down.”

The first six sessions focus on improvisation techniques, as well as learning about story development and character through dramatic activities, explained Holly.

Meanwhile, the final two sessions see the students work directly with a scribe, who will collaborate on writing the script.

“Previous sessions have always been full of wonderful stories, and we have had everything from Spiderman going on some amazing adventures, to the Royal Family,” added Holly.

Up to 16 youngsters will take part in the weekly sessions, which kick off on 1 March and run each Thursday from 4.15-6pm until 10 May, except during the Easter holidays.

Actors from the Lyric Young Company will rehearse each student’s play, before they perform live for friends and family on the Lyric main stage on 23 June.

Meanwhile, all the plays will be collected together and printed as a paperback, for each of the young playwrights to keep.

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