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In May M6 Theatre Company took the play ?Breathing Spaces? by Mary Cooper, a story of asylum and refuge created for the 14+ age group, to the Milk International Children?s Festival in Toronto.
The play was welcomed by Jeremy Stacey, the festival?s Artistic Director, as ?emotional, dynamic and honest?[there are] important issues, themes and scenarios? issues are played out through the drama without preaching or an imposed solution? it provides a fantastic foundation for discussion?.

This comment gives an insight into the working philosophy that underpins M6?s work since our formation in 1977, writes Dot Wood. Our primary aim is to help young people to understand themselves and the world around them through a quality theatrical experience. So far, we?ve avoided the ?living leaflet? tag, and instead, our work develops through a process similar to that which creates the very best of adult theatre. The majority of our output is commissioned, and includes a development period where we workshop the script with a designer and composer. We test our work during this R&D period with young people, soliciting their feedback and ideas.

An awareness of audience is paramount to us. We work with culturally diverse communities and those who have English as an additional language. Often form becomes just as important as content. Our Awaaz/Voice project integrated multi-lingual plays in Punjabi, Bengali and English, with workshops and showcase events, raising the profile of South Asian languages, empowering bilingual speakers and promoting positive role models in schools. Using believable positive role models, theatre can help equip children as young as three with a grasp of diversity.

We tour nationally to schools and venues, with the majority of work in schools and the balance in venues. Our work is researched and developed in the North West often in close collaboration with schools. M6 has developed a two-year project, Linked Communities, which uses David Holman?s ?Peacemaker?, one of Theatre-in-Education?s classic plays, as a starting point to explore cross-cultural understanding. M6 has worked with primary schools from Rochdale and Oldham, connecting schools with different ethnic intakes through a programme of Peacemaker performances and associated workshops.

Working with educationalists produces some of our most successful work. ?Forever?, a play about teenage parenthood (touring again this autumn) came through work with teenage pregnancy units. Schools have also come to us, seeking a solution to the perennial problem of delivering effective and ?real? sex education. We created an eight-minute monologue format, commissioning two stories, ?Amy?s Story? and ?Another Planet?, which explores the reactions of a teenage couple to an unplanned pregnancy. These stories gave space to young people, aged 13 to 16, to talk about their emotions and seek information. Through a range of discussions and drama activities, the stories reduced feelings of exposure for teachers and students alike. The monologue series is powerful, immediate and far simpler than taking a full-scale production in a school.

A checklist guides all M6?s work, whether we?re working with 15-year olds or three-year olds. Does the work speak to this age group? Will the audience see things with fresh eyes? Will they recognise themselves, their friends, their family and their world in our work? Can they connect with the story? We don?t provide solutions to social problems. M6 aims to be accessible but without over-simplification. Theatre is a powerful tool to improve lives. We want young people to go on an important and useful journey and that journey should continue far beyond the classroom door.

Dot Wood is Artistic Producer of M6 Theatre Company. t: 01706 355898;
e: dot@m6theatre.com.