Youth Leadership Program

The Youth Leadership Program is an opportunity for participants to gain experience and practical skills in mentoring and supporting younger Players in the Chickenshed NYC community. 

Youth Leader participants are Players first and foremost. The Youth Leadership role provides an additional opportunity to deepen an understanding and practice of Inclusive Theatre while supporting younger Players in the My Little Adventure(MLA), Players 1 (P1) and Players 2 (P2) programs.

Through hands-on experience, observation, reflection and feedback, participants develop practical skills that can support their continued growth within Chickenshed NYC.

The program is rooted in Chickenshed’s values of inclusion, collaboration and creativity and encourages young people to become confident, thoughtful and responsible members of its theatrical community.

‍What does Youth Leadership involve?

Youth Leadership participants take on an additional supporting role within younger Players' sessions while continuing to develop their own skills as performers and members of the company.

Depending on the needs of the session, participants may:

• Assist Practitioners with activities and exercises
• Support individual Players or small groups
• Model positive participation and behavior
• Help younger Players engage with activities
• Observe how Practitioners create and maintain an inclusive environment
• Assist with setting up and packing away sessions
• Support the smooth running of dismissal
• Reflect on their experiences and receive feedback
• Develop their confidence communicating with both young Players and adults

The emphasis is on supporting, observing, learning and developing practice.

‍Qualifications

The following characteristics are given priority consideration:

• A history of strong participation in Chickenshed NYC programs
• Those who have demonstrated commitment to Chickenshed NYC's principles of inclusion, compassion, empathy, and fun—along with a sincerely expressed willingness to do the assigned work
• A desire to learn leadership skills, as well as to develop skills in theatre-making crafts

Summary

The Youth Leadership Program is an opportunity to develop an understanding of Inclusive Theatre by learning through experience. Their role is to support younger Players, learn from our Practitioners, reflect on their experiences and continue developing as a member of the Chickenshed community.

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Being a part of Chickenshed changed the way I perceived how theatre should be done. It opened my mind to the possibility of inclusivity and those who don’t get the opportunity to do the things I was grateful enough to experience. It taught me that theatre is an avenue for everybody no matter how old you are or whatever strength you have. Theatre is love, theatre is joy, theatre is creativity, and that is what you get here at Chickenshed.
_{Kellan, Alumni}