The Fourth Wall Theatre Network

I'm 21. I'm a massive nerd about my course, work part time in a rather nice student job, do a lot of extracurricular and voluntary activities and have met a wide range of prestigious leaders from a variety of fields. I thought this was pretty impressive. Then I heard about what a friend of mine, Dan Bridgewater, has been up to.

I know Dan through the UpRising Leadership programme, he's in his first year at uni and I've known for a while that he's working on a social enterprise aimed at making theatre companies in schools called the Fourth Wall Theatre Network. He's a pretty motivated, entrepreneurial guy so I figured it'd be pretty good but I've got to admit, after attending the launch of The Fourth Wall Theatre Network at the Custard Factory on Thursday, I was really impressed.

The Fourth Wall Theatre Network is a group of young people, lead by Dan, who aim to create a network of sustainable theatre companies within schools. The team offer a variety of competitive packages which involve them coming into schools, offering 24 weeks of a couple of hours of drama and business workshops per week and offering a small group of interested 'leaders' within the school 4 weeks of mentoring and leadership training to enable them to set up their own theatre company. At the end of the programme the kids put on a showcase of whatever drama they decided to create and, depending on which package the school selects and pays for, even get to keep a portion of the ticket sales. And on the subject of fees The Fourth Wall Theatre Network's top package costs just a minuscule £500, not bad for 28 weeks of stuff!

To me, it's a really great idea. It teaches kids invaluable skills at every level, whether they are interested in performing, lighting, set design, costume, producing, directing, setting up a business or anything in between it provides opportunities for young people to take initiative and learn how to lead. It's not just about a nice bit of drama, it's about creating leaders and giving kids the skills they need to make it in this tough economic climate, whilst having a lot of fun in the process.

What Dan and his team have put together isn't just good for a group of young people, it's good full stop. The business plan makes sense on every level and what they've come up with is both original and good value for money. There's no one doing exactly what they are in Birmingham and the equivalent cost per hour of drama workshops offered by their nearest competitor would be close to £4000 where The Fourth Wall Theatre Network's top package is a mere £500.

It's pretty awesome stuff! And if you fancy finding out a bit more about who these guys are and what they can offer for schools check out their website http://www.fourthwalltheatre.co.uk

H.B.

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UpRising meet BAP

So I didn't win the women's officer election...and I've decided that in between my job, extra curricular stuff and desperately attempting to end my final year on a first (could happen?) I maybe don't have time to organise a week of women's rights events from scratch, figure out the non guild officer/council member paperwork protocol and recruit a team of helpers to organise and run it on the day just before my dissertation is due in. So, sadly, International Women's Week is off...unless someone else wants to do it?

On the plus side I very much intend to continue campaigning for women's rights by joining in with some lovely external projects. But more on that later, this post is about the BAP.

Ok. What's the BAP?

Well it's the British American Project, a gathering of rather successful individuals aged under 40 picked from both sides of the Atlantic for their already impressive achievements and potential to accomplish a heck of a lot more.

So, as I'm sure you can imagine, after being told that the wonderful UpRising programme had joined forces with the BAP to offer specially selected UpRisers (including myself) an opportunity to meet these fabulous people in a day of networking and 'speed mentoring' I was just a little bit intimidated...but mostly quite excited. Particularly after being sent the 92 page document containing their rather impressive biographies.

Last Saturday myself and a group of other Birmingham UpRisers made our way up to London to meet the BAP. Our journey was full of delays (thanks network rail) but the event was brilliant.

The vast majority of the event consisted of 'speed mentoring', where one UpRiser was assigned two or three members of the BAP and asked a series of questions about their experience, interests and ambitions. After fifteen minuets a whistle was blown and the UpRiser had to move to the side of the room for a couple of minutes while the BAP'ers filled in a feedback form about how the UpRiser presented him or herself. Then the UpRiser had to pick another group of BAP'ers and the process started all over again.

For me, it was a really worthwhile experience. Members of the BAP come from so many different professional backgrounds and their own personal journeys are so diverse that each grouping had different advice to offer and new perspectives on my ambitions, goals and potential.

Stand out conversations for me include:

- Discussing the ridiculous nature of policy creation in Westminster with Murphey Cobbing (BBC radio producer), Tim Nuthall (Media Manager of the European Climate Foundation) and Robert Wilton (diplomat and writer of short stories and essays on politics and history)

- Hearing amusing tales of entrepreneur Paige Davis's family conferences and feedback sessions experienced as a small child, in her words 'looking back it was kind of controlling but it bred entrepreneurial spirit into me'

- And last but certainly not least, chatting to former apprentice Tim Campbell and International Director of CBI Rhian Chilcott. I'm very interested in potentially getting into lobbying on behalf of business groups one day so to talk to someone with Rhian's great mass of experience was just brilliant. Especially once Rhian explained that she didn't start off working for business groups but in fact a feminist pressure group, lobbying for more women in parliament. Her advice was that, wherever I think I want to end up, I should start by trying to work on things that I care passionately about because I'll try harder, work longer and build up more experience, expertise and contacts then if I just do something I'm not so fussed about. It's pretty good advice! And has certainly got me thinking about some more specific organisations and areas I'm going to apply to work in after uni.

There was of course lots more great advice received, interesting people met and stories recounted but what impressed me the most about the BAP was their approachable sense of enjoyment. They were having fun. They bantered with the 'master of ceremonies' Olly Barrett, joked between themselves and confessed to going out the night before and intending to again that night. They provided serious advice, without appearing too serious and unapproachable themselves.

So in short I really enjoyed the UpRising - BAP event and hope that if I'm ever successful enough to get invited to join a similar network, I'll be able to offer other young people as much good advice as the BAP'ers offered me...at least I hope I'll still be saying that when I receive my feed back forms later this week :s

Thanks BAP!

H.B.
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