Stanley Mills

Illuminate UK, Historic Scotland and Stanley Mills
Education, site specific and an incredibly atmospheric space…

This project covered three of the most important elements to me as an artist therefore it was an easy job for me to say yes to. I started work on this project in November 2008 and spent nine months in collaboration with Illuminate UK and Historic Scotland. It was an exciting commission to assist specifically with developing an educational script for early years working on site at the stunning Stanley Mills in rural Perthshire.

We worked on creating a script that would take the form of a workshop and that linked in with the Scottish Governments Curriculum for Excellence. The workshop content was structured around the important role children played in the workforce in the Mills during the Victorian period, the jobs they did, the factory act of 1833 and what Stanley was like as a village during those times. It was then character led by myself as a one woman interactive show/workshop and piloted in 2009 with the view to it being available to any interested schools throughout the academic year.

During my time working on this project I was also invited by Historic Scotland to perform a series of one-woman shows in character as local Stanley lass Janet Scott for ‘the Festival of the River’ – the Festival was held in May 2009 on site at Stanley Mills and was enjoyed by families and all ages.

My experience when I graduated wasn’t to learn and develop my craft working in a traditional Repertory style theatre environment like some – I spent many of my first years out of college cutting my teeth working with children through theatre in education.

I find working with children and young people one of the most inspiring and rewarding things that I do and I have much respect for how their minds work. I continue to find them to be my most honest and challenging audiences yet forever pushing me to be better at what I do.

I have never overheard a child say ‘that was wonderful’ after a show or workshop if they really didn’t think so – quite the opposite.

Helping educate children and young people through theatre – be the topic English, Science, Drama, Music or History is quite a privilege and witnessing the spark in a child’s eye when the penny finally drops for them is quite something to behold. Working with children and young people is a vital part of my work and I love being a part of helping build their confidence and nurturing their individual talents and skills.