Belfast
Telegraph, Friday, April 27th, 2001.
These Kids could teach something to all of us.Nerve Storm
Kids today, eh? You couldn't watch them.
Well, you could, actually. Particularly if they're Kids in Control,
whose Minifest has been running at The Old Museum Arts Centre
this week.
Last night saw the first performance of Nerve Storm. Performed
by 6 young people, it used physical theatre to tell their stories.
Against an image of the human brain, Susanna grooved and twirled,
what a dancer!-before telling the audience how she danced her
way into herself. She found her centre; she knew who she was and
where she'd come from. And she had a fair idea of where she was
headed.
Her 5 friends felt the same. Each gave a brief outline of the
events that had shaped them -politicians would do well to listen
to these pleas for peace before creating their own space where
they could be themselves.
Among the references to murders and atrocities during the Troubles
were snippets of how life seems to teenagers today. One girl remarked
that she had red paint under her fingernails because she'd been
painting a field of poppies. Then she added that she'd painted
cauliflowers and broccoli too, because her parents used to own
a greengrocer's shop.
Using impressive dancing skills and astonishing self-assurance,
these six young ambassadors showed a clarity of thought and purpose
that the rest of us could only envy. Artistic Director David Calvert
has guided the participants of Kids in Control to a very special
place. By teaching them skills and techniques he has given them
the confidence of knowing that they can perform, and take pride
in their endeavours.
Nerve Storm is an organic piece, constantly eveolving, and developing
into something different. Its all about personal discovery,
and these performers have unearthed a lot about themselves. We've
got a lot to learn from them.
Grania McFadden.
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