Associate Artists 2024

WE ARE SO EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THE NEW ASSOCIATE ARTISTS PROGRAMME 2024!

Our new Associate Artists Programme supports emerging artists on their journey as theatre makers and practitioners. Members of the programme work closely alongside our Artistic Director Nataliya Kharina, taking on projects that add to and embellish their collection of skills. We are thrilled to introduce Poppy Brian-Boys and Sammy Bacon - our first ever associate artists!

MEET THE ASSOCIATE ARTISTS - INTRODUCING POPPY & SAMMY

What has it been like directing your first show with Unique Community? 

POPPY: It’s been such a great experience; I can imagine that sounds quite cheesy, but it really has. Sometimes I forget I’m doing a job because I am genuinely just having a good time. It feels fulfilling to be back in a room where creativity is encouraged and getting to watch the Young People become more of a team as the process goes on is magical. 

SAMMY: It’s definitely been a challenge. It’s a whole other level of responsibilities and expectations. Trying to turn the young people’s ideas into a high quality and coherent script was a new challenge. But I’m lucky enough to be surrounded by an incredible team. Everyone has a unique skill set and has been there to offer advice and words of support. This show wouldn’t be happening without them. 

How have you found exploring the theme Age of Difference?

POPPY: This theme is so important, especially for teenagers. I don’t think there is ever a point in life where you aren’t questioning things about yourself but as a teenager everything feels so loud in your brain and it also feels like you’re the only one that is going through it. I am reminded that theatre is extremely cool constantly, to me the coolest part is that people get to explore and express heavy and challenging themes without feeling the extreme weight and pressure of those themes, because exploring heavy things through theatre means there is no pressure in getting it right or wrong because bluntly there is no such thing in the arts. 

SAMMY: It been interesting to see how young people perceive people older in comparison to themselves and their own experiences. 

What has been the biggest challenge about directing/writing your show so far?

POPPY: I think the biggest challenge was probably trying to delegate lines to make sure everything is even, and everyone is heard. Everything I have written in the past has been for around 5-6 actors at most and it has always been for small scale productions. To be given a project that is on such a large scale is such a compliment, but it also comes with pressure. The pressure to make sure the story is coherent and relevant for the audience and the young people but also there is a large pressure to make this process as enjoyable and as fulfilling as I possibly can. It is important to make sure the young people are developing as a team and that by the end of the process they feel safe and heard, not just by the staff but by each other. 

SAMMY: The writing was certainly a challenge and the thing I was most apprehensive about. I was also nervous about try to effectively turn all the young peoples’ ideas that were cooked up in sessions into a clear, coherent and fun script that reflected all the ideas they had given me. 

What have you learnt about directing/writing with children and young people?

POPPY: Funnily enough I have learnt that young people tend to be more open, when you become an adult the fear of embarrassment feels heavier, and so you tend to be more scared of trying and being more open to new things. Young people are inspiring to me because they are fearless, it’s nice to be in a room where you are reminded that trying new things and exploring unknowns isn’t going to break you, it only helps you grow. It’s nice to see that teaching young people how to play also teaches them life lessons that I wish were taught to everyone. It’s been fascinating to watch skills develop in young people without them even knowing. It’s nice to see that slowly they are all building a lovely sense of trust amongst each other, it just means that everyone in the room feels safe and supported. Everyone is empathetic towards each other, and at such a young age as well. It’s comforting to think that they will be taking these skills outside of these workshops and into their daily lives. 

SAMMY: Young people are so adaptable to change! The devising and writing process involves so much change and the young people have met every change and not let it phase them. They are simply amazing!

What can we expect from your show? 

POPPY: Our show is all about cancel culture and what that means nowadays. Told through the lens of heroes and villains in a fantasy world our characters are going through a journey of self-exploration. They have been set a goal to not change the past and to continue their elders’ legacy, but how long can you try and pretend to be someone else before things start to crack? 

SAMMY: Laughs! The young people are hilarious, and I hope this comes across in the show.

What are you most excited about in the coming months?

POPPY: I’m just excited to see the young people flourish, they have worked so hard to create a show that has meaning to them and now it’s all about rehearsing and making sure it’s ready for the stage.  

SAMMY: I’m excited to bring the script to life! It’s going to be interesting to see how the scripts translate into rehearsal space and I'm so excited to see how the young people react to their characters and make them their own. 

Next up: A sneak peek into what our Young Company are up to this term!