Calm before the Brainstorm

DRAMA Gonzo Youth Theatre hit the stage this weekend

The impact of brain development on teenage behaviour is the crux of the new production by Gonzo Youth Theatre that takes place this weekend. While that may sound a little cerebral a more enticing description is how the play Brainstorm is actually billed: “a thrilling exploration of the most frustrating, chaotic and exhilarating changes that will ever happen to us”.

The drama was devised in 2016 by renowned English youth arts group ‘Company Three’ in collaboration with cognitive neuroscientist Professor Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, and by drawing upon the real life experiences of the cast.

“Of the play that they [Company Three] have written, we are probably using about 20%,” estimates Kevin O’Connor, artistic director with Gonzo Youth Theatre. “The rest we will be devising ourselves.

“The bit that we are using is all the science bit, which sounds boring, but is actually really interesting.

“It’s talking about how the teenage brain is not yet fully developed and how we as adults view teenagers as little troublesome people. But there is science behind what they do and why they do it,” assures Kevin.

He explains the prefrontal cortex part of the brain plays a key role in shaping teenagers’ inclination towards taking risks.

“They are doing it because it’s part of what’s happening with the physicality within their body at this moment in time. It’s not that they don’t have control over it, but they have less control over it than we would have.

“So when they are given an awkward situation, they will not manouevre through it as well as we could as adults. That’s why they get in trouble. It’s not for badness, it’s more the science of where their brain development is at this moment in time.”

This sounds like a fabulous excuse, suggests a suspicious Celt.

“Yeah it is, but it’s one that hasn’t been used before,” Kevin jokes before insisting that it has merit.

“This is new thinking,” he says noting the accompanying material attached to the Company Three website.

“She [Prof Blakemore] is looking at the teenage brain - what we need to learn about it, what understanding we can have that will help us interact with young people – because if we can understand their brains, we understand them as well.”

Remember, that’s just the 20% of the drama. The 80% created by the Gonzo Youth is where the “thrilling exploration” comes in. Kevin says the play provides an opportunity to delve into parental/guardian relationships.

“We are doing parent duologues – which is from the perspective of their parent - they are playing their own parent, which is going to be an interesting moment for the parents to see.

“Then, towards the end, we have statements to the parent from the young people. That’s going to be a ‘not a dry eye in the house’ moment,” he predicts.

Nurtured

Alongside their prefrontal cortex, the Gonzo Youths’ acting muscles are under development. The theatre group has nurtured the talents of scores of Cavan teenagers over the last decade, from Gonzo’s infancy in the Imperial Bar’s loft, through a function room at the Orchard Bar in Drumalee, and now at their base in Killygarry Community Centre.

They provide a practical education in drama for three age groups: eight-10s, 11-13 (whose show will take place in June in Townhall Cavan); and the 14-plus group. It is the latter group who will perform Brainstorm, and they couldn’t be better prepared for this moment under the spotlight. Kevin is vigilant against putting any youth on stage who is not ready for it.

“I didn’t want to give any young person a scary moment of pure terror – which can happen with anybody who walks on stage,” he says, explaining why in the early years the plays were only performed in front of invited audiences of families and friends. However by 2016 he decided the actors were “fluid enough in their movements” and had the confidence to stage a public performance.

‘The Caucasian Chalk Circle’ by Bertolt Brecht was their first production, which he admits “was a bit of an undertaking for your first play”. It was reflective of Kevin’s insistence to stage classics alongside staple teen angst dramas and devised plays.

This recipe has worked with the theatre group’s reputation growing over the years with the biggest problem, that of over subscription. Unfortunately this often sees youths having to join a waiting list for an opportunity to get in on the fun. It can be a long wait. Kevin’s hopeful however that they may soon find a permanent base for the group, which would offer the young people a safe, nurturing environment to share with like-minded people. It could also enable Gonzo Youth Theatre to expand their offering and take in more aspiring actors.

“There’s very few of them now who haven’t come up through the system,” he says of the 18 teenagers enthusiastically rehearsing on the floor before us.

“The first part of our year is all about building up skills. In the second term we will start rehearsing, and then in the third term is all about production – that’s where we are at at the moment.”

Express myself

Meadbh Campbell from Cavan Town has been treading the Gonzo boards since the very first day it opened.

“It means so much – I’ve grown through Gonzo, I’ve found myself through Gonzo,” says the 17 year old Loreto student. “To be able to express myself through the stage, I can’t describe it in words what it means to me.”

Meadbh says that Kevin and Gonzo have imbued her with confidence.

“I was told when I was younger, ‘Don’t aim too high. Aim for what you’re good at’. This place has taught me that I can aim for whatever I want.”

Callum Kelly joined Gonzo as a 12 year old and agrees that the theatre has provided that opportunity for self discovery.

“You get to figure out who you are, and to really be yourself and express yourself.”

Support from peers is another important benefit as far as Callum is concerned.

“I understand it’s not for everybody but even if you don’t like the plays, the whole social aspect of it is important – you get to meet people in the same boat as you, going through the same things – and you get to figure things out together. You can talk through your problems,” he says.

The Celt notes that with Philip Doherty now living in Galway, there’s no theatrical outlet for the youths who come through the Gonzo system to progress onto as adults. Kevin anticipates that most of these young actors will head off to Dublin or other cities to attend university and will join drama societies there.

“A few of them ultimately will come back, but the vast majority of young people we are sitting looking at will end up anywhere all over the world.”

Passionate about drama education Kevin gets massive satisfaction from watching his actors progress.

“The skills we give these young people will stand to them for the rest of their lives, in numerous facets - going for interviews and in work situations and all of that – it’s invaluable stuff. But for those involved in and interested in the theatre, this will provide a really seriously good backdrop if they do go on.”

Gonzo Youth Theatre perform Brainstorm at Townhall Cavan on Friday and Saturday, April 22 and 23 at 8pm. Book through /townhallcavan.com