“!I did something I never thought I would be able to do. The people were amazing. I made so many new friends. I just didn’t want it to end”. Young participant in Tenderfoot
Tenderfoot is the Civic Theatre’s award winning apprentice theatre programme for transition year students in South County Dublin. The ethos of Tenderfoot is one of apprenticeship, so ‘Tenderfeet’ learn about theatre by making theatre. During the programme young people are introduced to all aspects of theatre – writing, set design/ film for theatre, music and sound design, costume design, stage management and acting – under the guidance of working theatre professionals. The original plays in this programme are all written by 15/16 year old playwrights and provide a unique glimpse into the world of our young people articulating their experience and their reality
In a new development supported by the Creative Ireland Programme, a research project, IMPACT – TENDERFOOT Going Forward, provided research that will enable this extraordinary programme of cultural empowerment to be expanded to include all schools in South Dublin County.
The findings of the research were presented in a public forum that explored professional theatre provision for young adult audiences at all levels including engagement, participation and performance at the Civic Theatre, Tallaght in September 2019.
