Neverland Research and Development
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“The young people all thoroughly enjoyed the experience and it gave them plenty to think about, especially their use of social media and the effects it can have.” Youth Worker "I want all my students to see it! This work will stick with me for a very long time" Teacher "Loved every minute of it, clever, funny, fun props, lighting and story. Choreography and performance was incredible." Audience Participant "Loved It. Absolutely Amazing from start to finish" Audience Participant "I could see my life on stage. So true!" Audience, aged 16. "Neverland was an emotional experience, which as a parent highlighted digital life for youth today. It really does make you think." Parent "Powerful, clever, sends a strong message and thought provoking." Audience Participant "This work needs to tour and work with schools." Audience Participant After a successful research and development process, Lauren is interested in developing the work to create a visually spectacular, immersive installation piece that lives on social media, with narrative fed through social media channels before, during and after the show. Lauren wants to use phase two, to reach more young people through her research and to give audiences more control of the outcomes of the performance, using digital media. Audiences are invited to capture the work and share their own perspectives of the work online and Lauren will eventually create a digital exhibition that celebrates community engagement and digital culture' #makingneverland' |
Tuckshop Dance Theatre welcomes you to Neverland. An interactive dance and digital story telling experience for young people and families. Neverland is a world of possibility shaped by the voices and minds of young people growing up online. This visually striking, highly physical and entertaining show presents honest, emotional and uplifting stories that reveal the tensions between reality and virtual existence. How can what we post online twist our fate in real life? What do we share, hide and reveal?
In Neverland you will find Dance, Augmented Reality, Social Media and Visual Projections to reveal young people's views around what they love and hate about social media.
"I feel that there is a need for more dialogue concerning young people and their digital identity, online behaviour and interests. As an artist sharing multiple perspectives of young people living online, it is my role to do the work of the dialogue." Lauren Tucker
In Neverland you will find Dance, Augmented Reality, Social Media and Visual Projections to reveal young people's views around what they love and hate about social media.
"I feel that there is a need for more dialogue concerning young people and their digital identity, online behaviour and interests. As an artist sharing multiple perspectives of young people living online, it is my role to do the work of the dialogue." Lauren Tucker
Lauren Tucker has been working with young people to find out what life is like for young people in our digital world, to explore digital identity, to allow young people to reflect on how they present themselves, develop relationships. The work aims to celebrate individuality in young people, to empower them to make positive choices, to amplify youth voice and use digital technology in a meaningful and effective way.
In the Make Your Mark Youth Consultation carried out by Youth Parliament, the Northwest outlined Mental Health as a top priority issue for young people. Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East, Liverpool and Wirral believed that Mental Health Services should be improved with young people’s help and should be available in schools. http://www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk/makeyourmark/
Tuckshop Dance Theatre consulted with hundreds of young people from the Northwest to find that 100% of the young people involved in the research, believe that social media can have a negative impact on mental health and well-being of young people. Neverland looks at young people’s digital identity what role social media is playing on developing healthy and active global citizens both on and offline.
Within the show there is references to sexting, online grooming, cyber bullying, relationships. The story of Peter Pan, The Happiness Effect by Donna Freitas, interactive narratives in online gaming, a range of articles and years of experience working with young people have also played a role in shaping the show.
It must be said that a lot of positive stories were shared about young people and their relationship with Social Media, and Neverland opts for celebrating the positives over the negatives but questions were raised about how the adult population support young people as they explore, curate and present their digital identity.
In a recent BBC documentary ‘Dancing For Happiness’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0btt5n1/darcey-bussell-dancing-to-happiness Dance- the outcome rich art form was viewed as an effective way to support young people in their development, to empower young people to thrive. As I reflect on my own dancing journey, I can see how cultural learning fosters resilience in young people. My practice is driven by a desire for social change, and a passion to use movement and dance as a way of developing young people. I want to create a dance and digital interactive experience that cultivates curiosity, dialogue, that sticks in people’s minds as a show that made me rethink how I was living my life, to celebrate who they are, and to empower them to be active citizens that can live authentically.
