Reflections on "The Play's The Thing" Nick Bilbrough's Keynote @ NATECLA National Conference

I admit it, my tank of motivation and ideas was running on empty, my engine was spluttering towards the summer holidays. I thought I needed a break, I was wrong. What I needed was Nick Bilbrough’s Key Note speech about the ‘Hands Up’ project, that he founded.He had us up on our feet, working in small groups using mime to act out little sketches, proving (to us, at least) that when you physicalise a text it’s easier to recall it. This project was about more than your standard role play, though. They take it that step further where the students are put in small groups, write their own plays, rehearse and then perform them via Zoom to an audience. We were shown short clips of performances from the ‘Hands Up’ Project. I got goosebumps when I watched those young children perform their plays with such heart; it was extremely moving. They are never going to forget the lines they’d learnt. I can only imagine the boost they got as they knew their plays were being appreciated by an audience in another country via Zoom.Nick explained that they had run a competition for young people in Palestine to write their own 5 minute plays and perform them. The winners have been published in a book: ‘Toothbrush and Other Plays, which you can find on this website: https://handsupproject.org/how-to-buy-toothbrush-and-other-plays/I can still remember my lines and the buzz of performing plays in my youth, I’m sold. My tank is now overflowing with inspiration and enthusiasm once more. Nick, I’ll be in touch!Laura Mackey, NATECLA NW