Outspoken tour comes to an end

The cast of Outspoken, William Ruane, Mary Gapinski and Steven Rae performed for the last time today in Davey Anderson's brilliant play about stammering. Here are some photos taken by Tim Morozzo.







You can see the rest here.
..or read more about the project here.

Hx

Thanks to our project partners British Stammering Association Scotland and our sponsors ScottishPower.

"Stammering is no joke"

Jan at BSA Scotland has just given me a heads up about an interesting campaign on YouTube.

The campaign, which is called 'Stammering is no joke', exists as YouTube has featured clips of people stammering under 'comedy'. There is a video by one of BSA's UK’s Trustees below. Whatever you think of YouTube’s policy on content, this is a really interesting debate and one that’s close to our hearts because of Outspoken.



Hx

NB. Outspoken is supported by ScottishPower.

Outspoken photos

I was lucky enough to escape from my desk for a brief while today, to grab some snaps of the Outspoken team who are in all this week working with playwright Davey Anderson and drama/stammering expert (and all round cool guy) Taro Alexander, from New York.











Hx

P.S. Davey...you're cool too!

Free drama for young people who stammer

OUTSPOKEN

Since August we have been working with young people aged 16-30 who stammer on a FREE weekly drama project called Outspoken. During the October week this group (and any others who wish to join us) will be taking part in a week-long course working with Taro Alexander, an actor, director (and himself a person who stammers) from New York. Email Louise Brown if you’d like to join us for this week.



OUR TIME - new for 10-15 year olds

As part of the October week, Taro will be running a special FREE drama session for 10-15 year olds. If you’d like to come along, the session will run from 10am-4pm on Tues 14 October at the Citizens Theatre. Parents are invited to take part for the last hour of the workshop. Contact Jan Anderson, British Stammering Association Scotland for more info: 08453 303 800 or click Jan to email.

Hx

Renata's blog - stammering project

Continuing our series of blogs by participants of Outspoken, here’s what Renata Uznanska had to say about the project for young people who stammer:

"I found out about the project through BSA, directly from Jan Anderson.

Outspoken drama sounds very interesting within itself. It was a hunger for new challenges, new experiences and new people, that brought me to Glasgow Citizens.

I wanted to broaden my imagination, teach myself from new situations, generally challenge myself. I did enjoy all the activities apart form Romeo and Juliet (I must admit politely). I would be happy to try the mime which I missed.

The social side was very, very positive and inspiring at the same time. I am expanding my wings of confidence in stammering very slowly. After another session I know I’ll progress much more strongly.

I hope to have the chance to join you all in August!"

Find out more about how to get involved here.



Hx

Campbell's blog - stammering project

More from our "Outspoken" Bloggers...

I heard about the project from my friend theatre director Morna Burdon, who sent me an email about the initial TAG workshops in spring 2007, by getting in touch, I also got involved with The British Stammering Association Scotland on the same night.



I initially went along hoping to get work as the writer of the play, at least shadow the main writer of it, as I’m a qualified screenwriter, whose looking to break into writing for the stage and was hoping to get work as the writer of the show. Things didn’t quite go to plan, and I am now doing the acting part instead, which to my total surprise/shock – I am thoroughly enjoying doing it! That fact is still a bit of a shock to my system to be honest, as I’ve previously worked as a theatre and film technician, as well as a screenwriter.

I’ve particularly enjoyed the improvisations, as I am better at thinking on my feet and ad-libbing than I am at remembering dialogue (weirdly considering I’m a screenwriter!) – though I can’t wait to do my Duck Variations with Siobhan next Thursday night.

The social side has worked out very well; I’m working with a bunch of folk similar to myself, and friendships have formed. I unfortunately can’t socialise with them as much as I’d like to as I’ve been fairly skint lately, due to being unemployed and I fell more comfortable if I am able to buy my share of the rounds down the pub after class.



I’m considering doing some work as a movie and television extra (something I got real experience of last summer, when I worked on a feature film - more by default than anything else though, as I was officially a crew member on that production). Doing these workshops has given more the impetus to go ahead and do it again, I am in the process of researching various avenues (oh, yes and a thank you to Louise for passing on a few extras agency addresses to me!) into it and how to go about doing it. I haven’t noticed any effect on my stammer as such, but I do feel a lot more confident now, than I have been for quite some time. My communication skills have always been good anyway, but I reckon I’m maybe a little less shy than I was before starting the workshops.

Think you could benefit from this? Click Outspoken for more details.

Hx

Siobhan's blog - Stammering Project

We are starting a wee series of posts from participants of our pilot drama project for young people who stammer. The next stage of this project, Outspoken starts at the Citizens on 28 August. If you're aged 16-30, stammer and want to find out more, click Outspoken. In the mean time here's what Siobhan wrote:

I first heard about the workshops through BSA Scotland. I knew TAG had organised a few drama workshops for people who stammer. I hadn’t been able to make it to these but had heard from people I know that they’d been fun. I came along because the workshops sounded like fun and different to anything I’d done before to do with stammering, particularly as there was scope for creativity. I also thought it would be a good opportunity to speak (and stammer) in a safe environment and meet other young people who stammer. Everyone who came to the workshops was really enthusiastic. Most of us hadn’t met before but as we were working in groups it didn’t take long to get to know everyone. A few people have started coming to the stammering self-help group that I’m a member of.



I particularly enjoyed the workshop based on the prologue of Romeo and Juliet. We’d covered it in higher English and had really only read it, so it was fun to put a bit more life into it. We worked on different sections of it individually, in pairs and in larger groups and it ended up feeling far more like the League of Gentlemen than high school. The workshops have helped to boost my confidence. A few months ago I’d never have believed I could get up in front of a group of people and act out a scene without feeling self-conscious and I certainly wouldn’t have believed that I’d enjoy doing that kind of thing. On the way to the first session, as well as being really nervous, I got lost and was running late and seriously thought about just going home, and I’m really glad I didn’t let that stop me.

It’s great to think that through this project we could improve the amount of information on stammering available in schools and make school a bit easier for people who stammer help other young people who stammer to do everything they want to do in life.

Think you could benefit from this? Click Outspoken for more details.

Hx