?Borderlines? is a programme established by the New Vic Theatre with an initial three-year Arts for Everyone grant in 1999, writes John Morton.
The programme is now a central part of the theatre?s work and attracts core funding.
The theatre stands on the boundary between Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme at the heart of the North Staffordshire conurbation. From the 18th century the area?s economy has been based on iron and steel, coal mining and ceramics. But most of the steel jobs went in the 1970s and the last shift at the area?s last deep mine was worked on Christmas Eve 1998.Today, in common with many other former industrial areas, the North Staffordshire economy is the usual post-modern mix of manufacturing, service industries and under-employment.
?Borderlines? works with individuals and communities at the edges of the economy and in areas experiencing severe economic difficulties and all the consequent social problems. Helping to overcome barriers of low income and low aspiration, there is a particular emphasis on work with young people at risk of offending, people with learning disabilities, and children under seven and their families.
In the three years since its launch we have worked directly with more than 15,000 individuals, have run 85 projects, mounted eight major tours of schools and community venues, presented 20 productions in the New Vic itself, and performed to audiences of more than 30,000. From the moment we began, we knew there was a massive need for this work and that the key task was to develop credibility with local agencies. Without their support, we wouldn?t be able to do the work we needed to do. We needed to demonstrate the practical value of our approach ? to show that it really works! Sue Moffat, the Project Director, launched high profile projects involving the Police, victim organisations, Youth Offending Teams, magistrates and others and ensured that performances were heavily attended by local politicians and senior figures from partner organisations and funders. The response was overwhelming ? it would be difficult to overstate the powerful impact young people in performance had on the professionals in the audiences. It was revelatory, and in an immediate and highly emotional way, they were offered insights into attitudes and lives that had been unavailable to them.
We have now developed our credibility with key agencies to the point where an individual police constable felt able to contact us recently to ask for our help in an area where the British National Party had been leafleting local schools. He wanted us to work with local children to bring issues of race out into the open for public discussion. For a theatre to be seen as the place to go in these situations is inspiring.
John Morton is Head of Marketing and Business Development at the New Vic Theatre. t: 01782 717539 e: newvicmarketing@aol.com