Overview

Inside every adolescent brain, 86 billion neurons connect and collide to produce the most frustrating, chaotic and exhilarating changes that will ever happen to us. Brainstorm is a unique theatrical investigation into how teenagers' brains work, and why they're designed by evolution to be the way they are. Created by Ned Glasier and Emily Lim with Company Three (formerly Islington Community Theatre), in collaboration with neuroscientists Professor Sarah-Jayne Blakemore and Dr Kate Mills, the play is designed to be created and performed by a company of teenagers, drawing directly on their personal experiences. This edition contains a series of exercises, resources and activities to help schools, youth-theatre groups and young companies create and perform their own Brainstorm. It also features the complete script of the original production which played at Park Theatre and the National Theatre, London, in 2015. 'Sharply contemporary… gives a voice to a portion of society all too often overlooked' — WhatsOnStage 'This is everything youth theatre could hope to be… deep honesty matched by artistry' — The Times 'A fantastic piece of community theatre… Brainstorm has the ability to transcend generational barriers. Whilst truly celebrating what it means to be young in today’s social climate, it asks the audience to see individuals, regardless of their age' — A Younger Theatre 'A theatrical MRI scan, which offers as much of the why as the what… witty, considered and vital… this is fresh work, important work, built with honesty and, above all, a willingness to listen' — The Stage 'This is a very cunningly put-together piece, drawing with unflinching honesty on material excavated from the young people's own lives... and capturing the hormonal rush and wild mood swings of teenage existence... The real beauty of this memorable show is that it's not just all about them – it's definitely about us too' — Guardian

Full Product Details

9781848425873

Table of Contents

Reviews

'Sharply contemporary… gives a voice to a portion of society all too often overlooked' WhatsOnStage; 'This is everything youth theatre could hope to be… deep honesty matched by artistry' The Times; 'A fantastic piece of community theatre… Brainstorm has the ability to transcend generational barriers. Whilst truly celebrating what it means to be young in today’s social climate, it asks the audience to see individuals, regardless of their age' A Younger Theatre; 'A theatrical MRI scan, which offers as much of the why as the what… witty, considered and vital… this is fresh work, important work, built with honesty and, above all, a willingness to listen' The Stage; 'This is a very cunningly put-together piece, drawing with unflinching honesty on material excavated from the young people's own lives... and capturing the hormonal rush and wild mood swings of teenage existence... The real beauty of this memorable show is that it's not just all about them – it's definitely about us too'

'Sharply contemporary... gives a voice to a portion of society all too often overlooked' WhatsOnStage; 'This is everything youth theatre could hope to be... deep honesty matched by artistry' The Times; 'A fantastic piece of community theatre... Brainstorm has the ability to transcend generational barriers. Whilst truly celebrating what it means to be young in today's social climate, it asks the audience to see individuals, regardless of their age' A Younger Theatre; 'A theatrical MRI scan, which offers as much of the why as the what... witty, considered and vital... this is fresh work, important work, built with honesty and, above all, a willingness to listen' The Stage; 'This is a very cunningly put-together piece, drawing with unflinching honesty on material excavated from the young people's own lives... and capturing the hormonal rush and wild mood swings of teenage existence... The real beauty of this memorable show is that it's not just all about them - it's definitely about us too'

Author Information

Ned Glasier is one of the UK's leading theatre practitioners dedicated to working with young people. He founded Company Three, a London-based theatre company working with young people, and was the company's Artistic Director until 2024. At Company Three he created more than forty plays with young people, including Brainstorm at the Park Theatre, National Theatre and BBC iPlayer, Boat at Battersea Arts Centre and two major international projects during the COVID pandemic: The Coronavirus Time Capsule and When This Is Over. Alongside his work making plays with young people, Ned leads training in the practice of co-creation, teaches on university courses, and works as a consultant supporting organisations to listen to, support and enable young people. Author photograph by Camilla Greenwell Emily Lim is a theatre director who specialises in creating community work and working with non-professional performers. Recent directing credits include: Brainstorm (National Theatre and Park Theatre, as co-director for Islington Community Theatre); Wuthering Heights (Ambassadors Theatre, for National Youth Theatre); A Declaration from the People (National Theatre); Things Will Never Be The Same Again, The Kilburn Passion, The Wardrobe (Tricycle Theatre); Another Fine Mess (Bristol Old Vic Studio) and Henry V (Southwark Playhouse). She was the recipient of the inaugural Peter Hall Award in 2016. Company Three is a theatre company that aims to create a space in which young people can speak to adults, and in which adults will really listen. Originally formed as Islington Community Theatre in 2008, the company works with an ensemble of young people aged 11–19, all referred or nominated by teachers and youth workers as those most likely to benefit from the company's work. Its plays are part of an ongoing exploration about what it means to be a teenager, created through long-term collaboration between the company's members and professional theatremakers. The company also runs regular training courses in devising theatre with young people for teachers, directors, playwrights and practitioners.

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