A few weeks ago, the community of the #ycwchat twitter chat spontaneously designed the possibly very first Youthwork the musical, and boy did it have drama, tears (not tiers) , suspense, character development and it showed resilience, determination and true grit (and just from me hosting) So here in all its glory, its the write up from this spectacular event, for your Christmas enjoyment:
Act 1:
Set in an open Youth Club
or a local skate park characters: young people – Karl, Mak, Katie, Steph, Aisha, Jared; youth workers – Harry and Char (maybe more?)
Youthworker on first day of new job
some ‘unruly’ young people
Act 2:
There has been a fight between Jared and Aisha….
Joseph’s coat of many colours is now “Jared’s face of many colours’ as the bruising appears….
Song ; Any dream will do, with Jareds multi bloodshot face of many colours.
Act 3; (a scene change)
Scene change could bring a new character who is a villain – a Head giving out detentions having heard about the fight the night b4? Our young people band together in the face of such unfairness. Aisha could sing a solo – but can’t quite figure out which song? #ycwchat
or
The fight was over a love interest
They sit on a swing on an empty playground, litter strewn everywhere, crisp packets blowing in the wind
Spine tingling moment
Songs include:
Summer days by Grease
‘On my own’ from Les Mis’
‘I think we’re alone now’ – an acoustic slow version of the classic 1980s Tiffany song. (good for the retro feel, and upcoming sales)
Cut to new youthworker on the job, meeting with the manager and asking about the detached work that he’s now doing in the park. Asks about conflict management.
Act 4:
We need the Police to make an appearance, they heard about the fight
Is it more young people from their year group who divide into either Jared or Aisha’s team??
‘Could we shift to a school based setting? Our fighters have to work together to achieve/win something. Sport related?’
A football cage was taken onto the streets as a diversionary tactic so that the young people dont have to pick sides
How do the youthworkers respond to all this – the pain, the emotion what might they sing?
Their dilemma encapsulated by this comment: ‘the torment of trust being lost and then wanting to pastorally support the young person who may well be angry with them…am I on the right lines???’
Songs:
I predict a riot: Kaiser Chiefs
Anything by The Police
Land of confusion (in the youthworkers mind) by Genesis
‘Ill be there for you’ (as the youthworkers sing to the camera, hearts on their sleeves, emotional, drained) a slow version of the Rembrandts ?
Act 5:
Aisha and Jared are friends again, helped by the youth workers and some of their friends who were plugging away in the background. The heroes need to be the young people – to try and avoid ‘superhero’ tendencies… #ycwchat
Song:
We’re better together by Jack Johnson?
And finally act 6…
Its all rather resolving too well… until the final moment when..
Ooh….is this where the youth worker declares they only have a week left in the building….the crisis the young people have no clue about…..
(it is)
so..
Yes! Maybe it’s the manager who announces it to the youth worker AND the young people together , It’s terrible management as well as jeopardy… Then the youth worker and the young people together raise money by busking/putting on a show!!
Final Song
‘Were all in this together’ from High School Musical, sang by all the cast, the grand finale.
Cue: Applause. tears…relief…joy….
And no there wasn’t an Encor.
We all needed a lie down. Thanks to Jenni Osborn, Jane Barrett and Mike Rutt for their stellar creativity on the night and a few additional cameos by others.
That was it, the end of the inaugural improvised youthwork the musical, do join in to #ycwchat each week to discuss themes, ideas and situations in youth and community work, and maybe next year itll be Youthwork the Panto…
A little bit of festive youthwork fun.
Merry Christmas!
Learning from the Streets 
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