Breaking Barriers

A creative arts Training course specialising in:

Augusto Boal techniques
Improvisation
Devising
Performance
Facilitation
Youth Arts
Exploring issues;
Arts within Criminal Justice Settings

This highly practical hands-on course is particularly suited to people who want to experience and practice a variety of creative action methods in group work to explore issues, make theatre or work within challenging contexts. Download booking forms here.

Breaking Barriers Workshop from Tony Cealy

Who is this for?
People interested in using drama and theatre as a tool to explore personal and social issues, and for people who want to gain new skills to fulfill their obligation and commitment to the people they serve. The course covers exercises with explanations, instructions and suggestions to help you develop your own style and approach. The creative action methods can be readily adapted to a wide range of settings with adults and young people.

The course is a resource for: performers, youth workers, social/health workers, PSHE specialists, drama graduates, project managers, community workers, artists, workshop leaders, teachers, theatre practitioners, creative art therapists, counselors, mental health workers, team builders and special needs workers.

No previous drama experience is necessary however a willingness to actively explore new methods of working is an essential requirement. This will also be an opportunity for professional development, networking and skill sharing so as to enable continued high standards of good practice.

For myself, I always find these training courses a great shot in the arm, as I have the privilege of watching another cohort of people discover the incredible possibilities of my practice. Usually I have people from all walks of life – activists, social workers, teachers, actors, youth workers, directors, you name it – and the diversity of the group often becomes a great networking resource in itself.

Courses running this year (2012)

Home

London UK 1^st – 3^rd June
London UK 5^th – 7^th October
London UK 16^th – 18^th November
London UK 30^th November – 2^nd December

Away

23^rd – 27^th April South Africa
7^th – 11^th May New York
18^th – 22^nd June China
20^th – 24^th August Cambodia
25^th – 29^th September New Zealand
22^nd – 26^th October Slovenia
10^th – 14^th December Pakistan

London courses cost £80.00
(£65.00 if booked 3 months before course starts)

All Participants receive a free TRAINING MANUAL on completion. Limited amount of reduced rates available. Fees can be paid in installments. Deposits welcome.

Download Booking Forms here: September November and December

Beyond Resistance

A training course for Facilitators in dealing with Resistance

This highly practical hands-on course is particularly suited to (drama) facilitators who want to acquaint themselves with the challenges involved in working with ‘hard’ groups within prisons, hospitals, probation centre’s, youth clubs, pupil referral units and holiday schemes. You will be able to experience, practise and learn a variety of techniques in managing and dealing with resistance and disengagement in challenging settings.

The facilitator has to perform radical and innovative functions. It’s different from a theatre director, drama teacher, youth leader, a shaman, cultural activist, therapist or a joker, yet it borrows aspects of these roles.

The facilitator needs to select the most appropriate games, exercises and techniques to bring out the best of the group, which means looking at the geographical, social and cultural context of the workshop session.

The facilitator needs to know enough about participants’ situations to reasonably assess how they’re likely to respond to different stimuli.

How does the facilitator deal with the challenges involved in working with ‘hard’ groups behind closed doors? What does a drama facilitator do? What are the nuts and bolts of drama facilitation?

Who is this for?
People who are in related professions such arts practitioners, social care, therapy, mental health, education, community arts or personal development as well as students and trainees in such professions.

Applications are also encouraged from social inclusion partners who are interested in understanding the role and value of arts-based practice to the groups they work with. It is also for Facilitators, artists, teachers, directors, workshop leaders and activists and anyone who works with difficult groups.

The training covers techniques with explanations, instructions and suggestions to help you develop your own style and approach. The techniques can be readily adapted to a wide range of difficult settings with adults and young people.

Courses running this year (2012)

London UK 27^thMay
London UK 1^st July
London UK 15^th September
London UK 13^th October
London UK 24^th November

Training cost £40.00

All Participants receive a free TRAINING MANUAL on completion.

Fees can be paid in instalments, deposits welcome

Participants from previous courses

“Having attended many courses, programmes and seminars over my twenty years of employment within various facets of the Criminal Justice System I must say that the course was the most informative, creative and enjoyable event I have ever attended.”

Steve Simpson – Haringey Youth Offending Team

“The course was both inspiring and an eye-opener. Working with other professionals gave us a rare insight into working in this field. I feel more confident and aware of the realities and opportunities available in working with challenging groups, or other groups of vulnerable young people.”

Rachel Headman – Outreach Manager, The Prince’s Trust

“Well worth the journey, a fantastic course. Meeting a brilliant group of people and building a pretty awesome network of contacts.”

Janet Campbell – Education Feltham Young Offenders Institute

“I got an in depth insight into the work of the drama facilitator in relation to the theatre work with awkward groups and a fantastic wealth of skills.” Mandy Harman – Multi-Arts practitioner, Haringey Youth Service

“A valuable opportunity to share practices and approach between arts and youth offending professionals.”

Homed Husain – Arts and Community Development Officer, London Borough of Merton

“It was a fantastic opportunity for me, as an arts coordinator, to reflect on how ‘I do’ workshops with awkward groups and individuals – a rare and valuable chance to explore and discuss the dynamics of working with young people and the arts. Go!”

Tricia Fairey – Team Leader Nacro Lambeth

“This training was well focused throughout each day. Tony brings something fresh and unique to the course. Working with him created a powerful experience and allowed me to refine many ideas for dealing with resistance in the future. The training was well thought out, comprehensive and A LOT OF FUN!”

John Ephelin – Musician, Barrier Breakers

“The course was engaging, informative and has motivated me to want to deal with resistance and awkward groups in more confident ways. Tony was approachable and inspiring.

Sarah Bakerline – Community Projects Director, Refugee Youth London

INVISIBLE THEATRE WORKSHOP

An intensive fun-packed charged weekend workshop suited to people who want skills experience & knowledge in creating issue-based scenes that are performed in public without the public knowing the scenes have been staged.

Come and lose yourself within the mysteries of invisible theatre and learn techniques of the Theatre of the Oppressed and those pioneered by Augusto Boal, Keith Johnston, Clive Barker and many others.

Taking place in 2012 London UK

6^th – 8^th July & 21^st – 23^rd September Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10.30am – 6.00pm

The workshop costs £60.00 Spaces are limited.

Education 4 Liberation WORKSHOP

I have developed a series of popular education techniques for exploring experiences of Oppression.

This intensive hands-on one-day workshop uses complementary approaches based on concepts of the organizing practices of Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed (TOO).

This workshop will be of particular relevance for educationalists, therapists and arts practitioners.

We will actively explore how to use Augusto Boal’s techniques to empower ourselves or others who are marginalised in society.

Taking place in London UK 10.00am – 6.00pm on Saturday 31^st March & 10^th November 2012

The workshop costs £30.00 Spaces are limited.

Robust Games & Exercises for difficult groups & individuals

This exhaustive hot-peppered One Day workshop uses harmonizing techniques for teachers, facilitators and others who work with groups that might be labelled as awkward, resistant, rebellious and problematic.

The techniques are both fun to play and engaging. They hook in participants using activities that are exciting and challenging.

How do you use social learning, cognitive and behavioural theories in active exercises that provide engaging, challenging and memorable experiences for difficult groups and individuals?

What kinds of games and exercises can illicit skills, tactics and approaches to identify new ways of dealing with old problems and helps people ‘see the point’ of an exercise?

Taking place in London UK 2012 10.00am – 6.00pm on:

Saturday 26th May

Saturday 30th June

Sunday 16th September

Sunday 14th October

Sunday 25th November

2012

The workshop costs £25.00 Spaces are limited.

Examples of training courses are shown below by clicking on these links:

Training