Project Profile
Touring throughout the UK, and with a company of over 30 actors and facilitators, Ten Ten Theatre works with 80,000 children and young people each year. Set up in 2007, the company was established with – and took its name from - one central aim: to enable people to ‘live life to the full’ (John chapter ten verse ten).
Ten Ten seeks to: • Produce high quality productions with a Christian message • Enable and inspire all participants to live life to the full • Encourage and facilitate discussions with children and young people about faith
RACHEL’S STORY
Three years ago I moved to London to study my degree in Theatre Arts (Directing). Through my director’s training I realised that my main area of interest was finding a way to bring together my two life passions: faith and theatre. Most Christian organisations I had come across seemed to either miss the point of the Christian message, or lack quality in the level of performance.
I had heard of Ten Ten Theatre before I saw any of their work and I knew that their reputation for outreach and professionalism was impeccable. So I was excited to get a ticket to one of their West End productions, ‘The Jeweller’, a modern adaptation of the original 1960s play ‘The Jeweller’s Shop’, written by Pope John Paul II. It had been adapted by Ten Ten Theatre’s artistic director, Martin O’Brien. The story involved three couples in different stages of their relationship, all connected by a mystical figure. Each story was real, and through rich characterisation I was struck by how relevant their situations were to mine. An undertone of spirituality ran throughout the whole play that was subtly and tastefully entwined. I was inspired as I witnessed the audience leave with such an uplifted response. Excited by the achievements in proving that faith and theatre can successfully and seamlessly be combined, I was eager to get involved.
I found it reasonably easy to get involved with Ten Ten Theatre; they are very welcoming to new people. Last year, I worked on their weekend project with teenagers in churches. Part of a team of three, I would travel to different churches around the country and spend a day with a group of young people who were preparing to make their confirmation (one of the sacraments within the Catholic Church). The programme consists of team-building exercises, a play to open up the theme of love and relationships, small groups and male or female groups for sharing, age-appropriate material which explores the influences of today, teaching, testimony, prayer and meditation. All of these were carried out with the aim of helping the young people to deepen their faith, develop healthy relationships and understand the beauty of the Christian view of love, marriage and family life.
I remember one particular retreat day with 64 young people. The ages ranged from 13 to 15 and the room was filled with vibrant personalities. Part of the afternoon session involved getting into gender groups. This was to enable more in-depth discussions between the boys and girls, encouraging them to speak freely about concerns and influences related to their respective gender. One girl kick started the conversation by sharing that she liked the idea of being chaste as she thought it was a better way to protect herself from being hurt by uncommitted relationships. She then went on to say, ‘But it will never happen, will it? Everyone has sex. It’s just what happens, how else are we going to get a guy interested?’
I was so taken aback firstly by her honesty; I really admired and appreciated her desire to discuss this point so openly. Secondly, I was astounded by the agreeing nods and comments from the girls in the group. This is what they all thought to be true. I felt so saddened by this matter-of-fact assumption; being only 21 years old, it reminded me of only a few years earlier when I was convinced of the same point. I realised that these girls needed to know how valuable they were and how their bodies should be cherished. Ten Ten’s well-crafted discussion guidelines helped me facilitate this part of the session; matters such as the media, boys, friends and the Church came up. Interestingly, when they talked about what God said about them, they realised that they were unique in his eyes, and that they didn’t need to buy his love because his love was unconditional. It wasn’t long before they realised the split of opinion between the world and God.
Experiences like this demonstrate that Ten Ten truly connects with young people on a practical and spiritual level. I am proud to be continuing my working relationship with them.
RACHEL MURRAY is an actor and facilitator with Ten Ten Theatre, and is currently on tour throughout the UK working in primary schools.
FIVE POINTERS
Be authentic – even the youngest children know when an action or an emotion is not rooted. Keep it real – don’t shy away from tackling the issues that really matter to young people. Don’t hang about – young people’s minds wander if nothing is happening on stage, even for a split second. Be counter-cultural – use cultural references, but also celebrate characters who don’t follow the norm. Have a professional attitude – rehearse and prepare everything in detail.
