claytoncast

Even before we start this week, we have dated ourselves with the titular reference to the Buggles 1979 hit. It's all part of the feeling old process. Having had an injection of youth for the last few weeks at the NYT, I headed off to Devon this week for a media date with the thrusting world of internet broadcasting. Richard's nephew Marcus, whom regular readers will remember visited us in London a few weeks ago, is co-presenter of the youth programme on Bay FM, the internet radio station that serves Exmouth, but indeed can be heard all over the country if you care to log on. While he was with us he asked me if I would be their guest on the Saturday morning programme when I was down in Devon. To help him out I agreed and so on Thursday Richard and I headed down to the West Country to visit his parents, see his family, and take part in the interview. Bay FM is based in a compact little studio above a builders merchants on the Salterton Rd just out of Exmouth. The Youth programme...

Sitting at my desk on a Monday morning on my first S_warm free day and it’s wonderful. The past eight days have taken us to Hell and back. Organisationally a nightmare, creatively stifled, and yet it contained moments of such beauty and focus that I am more convinced than ever that this sort of event is a positive step for the National Youth Theatre and for the public at large. To watch the concentration of my cast as they took forty five minutes to cross Jubilee Bridge at Charing Cross using a series of numbers and yellow umbrellas was a joy. To see members of the public engaging with them spontaneously, little girls grabbing mum’s umbrella and joining in – a delight. And to stand with my partner and watch 500 white suits cross the Millennium Bridge at Sunset was just breathtaking. After all this I need a holiday. We are heading to Valencia at the end of September, but that’s nearly a month away. First we have the joys of that great British institution the Bank Holida...

I’m currently swarming! For those of you who haven’t been able to follow me on here or on Facebook, S’Warm is a huge cast happening being created by The National Youth Theatre and which takes place over five days starting this Wednesday at Battersea Power Station and ending next Sunday in Canada Square. It has five directors, one overall director and god knows how many people working on it. It is rehearsing open air in Battersea Park and at times it’s hell. I arrive home exhausted, drained and quite often demoralised. It’s frustrating and infuriating. Without going into the why and wherefore, it’s the sort of thing that brings out the dark side of my heart. I have twice thought of leaving And yet.....in my core cast are the 74 young people for whom I am responsible. They listen to me, they work hard for me and they show me what is possible. They have helped me learn new street slang. They give of themselves without question, and they show me the way. Education is so often a two w...

I like lists. I feel I am on top of things if I have a list of things to do. It doesn't matter if it’s a long list and nothing on it has been done. As long as there is a list I feel there is a sense of order in my life. This week has been a week for lists and order. It’s been the first week of “Swarm” in Battersea Park. 500 National Youth Theatre members, six marquees and a a toilet wagon. Regular readers will be thrilled to know that it was only two days in when an additional row of ten portaloos were deposited on site. The toilets are at least more in number if not cleaner. With marquees, a large parade ground and more lists and checks than one would think possible, it’s hardly surprising that the nickname “Swarmwitz’ has started to stick. I have 78 young people who in the main are great. Keen, fun to be with and committed. We've lost a few during the week who decided the project (or perhaps my handling of it?) were not for them. but the ones who have made it to Saturda...

End of Term There’s been a real end of term feeling this week. Wednesday saw the last of the CPS role play programmes. Conducted in a deserted office building overlooking the Thames it really felt very end of term indeed. Rows of deserted desks with deserted work stations and printers, monitors and scanners just left lying around. I’m hoping in this age of new Government frugality that they are all going to find new homes in a new building rather than just be left there and thrown out, but things looked pretty desolate in there. Friday evening saw a picnic in Green Park with Richard’s team from work and what a pleasant evening it was. While resisting the temptation to join in heavy duty frisbee throwing session, I lounged in a deck chair feasting myself on the very best that £60 of Marks and Spencer food vouchers could buy. I’m always so thrilled by Central Park in our time in New York, and yet we have fabulous parks here in London. the big parks more than match the majesty of Ce...