An uplifting new exhibition that explores and celebrates creative expression through the eyes of young people will be unveiled at Mull Youth Theatre in June.

We are all people in the room will document a collaboration between the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Mull Youth Theatre, where the performing arts were used to connect youth theatre participants with care experienced and estranged artists.

Two care experienced and estranged artists, RCS graduate and filmmaker Colleen Bell and RCS Transitions alumni, actor and director Genna Allen, led a workshop earlier this year with four members of Mull Youth Theatre, which concentrated on movement, writing and performance.

They were joined by Jesse Paul, RCS Head of Fair Access, producer and director Abbie Wallace, Andi Stevens, Head of Creative Learning at Mull Theatre, and Mull-based photographer Sarah Darling.

The young people – teenagers Emily Fenwick, Eilidh MacDonald, Edie Thorne and Flora Thorne – also co-developed a manifesto with the artists that was designed to encourage all people, especially those who are care experienced or estranged, to access creative expression in a safe and supportive environment.

We are all just people in the room will be showcased in an exhibition at An Tobar, on Tuesday June 18, where visitors can view the manifesto in photographic form.

The project is part of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s Let’s Talk About… series that works with care experienced and estranged young people and artists in Aberdeenshire, Ayrshire, Glasgow and Mull, where arts educators and local participants join forces to explore good practice and new ways of working.

Sharing their experiences and insights from the workshop, Flora Thorne said: “I really enjoyed the movement exercises, like weight distribution and lifting, because the point was that everyone can be lifted, and everyone can lift.”

Emily Fenwick added: “The whole day for me was very much about doing my own thing but with other people. It was the first time in a while that I did something that felt really in the moment – moving my body and writing my thoughts just as they were.”

Edie Thorne said: “I really enjoyed the workshop and I’ve found myself using what I learned there. I write poetry but I’ve also started writing little stories. I’ve been moving and running more too.”

Colleen Bell, an award-winning graduate of RCS’s BA Filmmaking degree programme, who led the writing workshop, said: “I loved meeting such amazing, intelligent creative practitioners.

“I have a very strong belief and understanding that creative expression is a right that everyone should have access to, regardless of their background or their personal situation, and I want to do what I can to facilitate that happening, whether it’s an inner city, small communities like Mull, and for people of all ages.”

As a student, Colleen was a key member of the Fair Access care experienced and estranged student collective.

“Giving people a space to play and find out who they are and what they like to do, is so important,” she added.

“Unless someone gives you that chance, you’ll never really know, and it’s really hard to make yourself do it on your own, without any resources and without anyone to tell you how that can happen.”

Andi Stevens, Head of Creative Learning at Mull Theatre, underscored the importance of ensuring access to creative experiences: “It was a joy to see the students that we work with, so geographically challenged, be amongst people who really wanted to share and be a part of an ensemble, be part of a group, that felt safe and comfortable.

“It’s so important that our students, who will be going out into the wider mainland world, have these kinds of amazing opportunities before they go. And to work with people like this team, who have given so much.”

Actor and director Genna Allen, who led the movement element of the workshop, said: “It has been a joy – I’ve loved watching every single one of these young people just jump in. They gave it everything that they had and I’m just so happy to hear that some of them are continuing that movement now.

“I’ve always wanted to make movement accessible for everybody and anybody who would like to take part in it. One of the phrases that has come out of this project is that you can lift anyone, and anyone can be lifted. And I think we really proved that. I’m so happy to hear that everybody has had such a positive experience.”

Jesse Paul, Head of Fair Access at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, highlighted the importance of connections through the Let’s Talk About… series.

“These projects have transformed our understanding of what creative projects with care experienced and estranged people can be.

“Fair Access at RCS has taken positive action to connect, listen and respond to communities working and participating in this field. We have come away from the series with an affirmative action to develop more opportunities that encourage creative growth through learning.”

Images: Sarah Darling