Sharon Costello of Free Range Youth Theatre, Kerry was a participant on the recent Leading On.. residential in Maynooth. She shares her experience with us now!

Travelling from Kerry to Maynooth for the annual ‘Leading On’ residential weekend over the last couple of years has proven itself to be an inspiring and memorable trip for me. And this year’s June 2011 weekend was no exception. Guaranteed to excite and ignite the creative flame within, NAYD’s ‘Leading On’ course in Maynooth does just what it says on the tin. Facilitators Alan King and Dave Kelly led the group from start to finish on a journey which allowed us to navigate and explore the many exciting and different ways ‘in’ to creating and devising drama.

The group was comprised of drama facilitators and teachers from all around the country who share a similar interest in their love for practicing and teaching drama.  Warm up sessions with Dave are memorable due to his love of ‘Brain Gym’. Dave’s exercises will test your right and left brain coordination skills to their limit. Future participants’ be warned! May leave you feeling slightly frustrated and confused! What was so amazing about the introductory workshop for me was the ‘Greeting Carousel’. Here, participants moved around the imaginary carousel meeting and greeting each other.Each person was given a brown paper bag with some very simple but cleverly placed items inside to use at various intervals as directed by the leaders. A great welcoming session which got us using our imaginations right away while having lots of fun getting to know each other.

We learned a lot from each other and from the work we completed in the workshops which was both challenging and stimulating. Dave and Alan opened our eyes up to new avenues and ways in to the ‘story’ of the drama. I really feel that I have come away from it with a well of valuable material to bring to and use with my own group in the coming year. ‘Leading On’ is also about making connections and forming new relationships which may impact the ways in which we move forward, collectively. I can honestly say it is a fantastic way to finish off the school year.

Sharon