Tavistock College Creative Arts Faculty were proud to work with Dr Cath Gristy of Plymouth University (Lecturer in Education Studies) and her colleague Dr Lee Miller (Lecturer in Theatre and Performance) who brought a group of four Plymouth University students (working at Undergraduate to Masters level) to meet with some of our Year 9 Performance Studies students.

Across a four hour exploratory workshop all the learners worked intensively around the thematic title of ‘Travel’ and specifically looked at their morning and afternoon journeys between home and their place of education. For the year 9s it was a fantastic experience allowing them to dedicate time to the thought processes connected with telling and creating stories. They shared the sights, sounds, physicalities, connections, distractions and interruptions of their journeys as well as recognising and analysing the emotional impact of them.  They also appreciated the opportunity to work with those working dramatically at a higher level and as their questioning showed they are keen to use their drama and performance as life long learners. They were highly commended for their focus and commitment to the workshop by the leaders.

The work will form part of the basis of Dr Gristy’s research around sustainable travel, inform some of the direction of the research and performance work for the University students and hopefully marks the start of a strong connection between the Creative Arts at Tavistock College and Theatre and Performance at Plymouth University.