“Lapping….” is an Awards4All and Copeland Borough Council funded pilot project. A ‘work in progress’ which will be long running bringing various Artistes to Millom and exploring the youth culture and social issues faced and experienced by the young people of the town.

This project has actively engaged with young people who have not always teken part in previous Theatre projects. It has been structured around a series of exploritory workshops to express the conditions of youth in an ‘isolated and deprived’ community. These workshops have had a strong skills focus whilst exploring the participant’s own creativity. The project has increased opportunities for young people to engage with the arts in a possitive and creative manner.

“Lapping…” was an outdoor performance piece, working with Dancers, a Musician and myself, the Director, the young people have looked at their social settings and their place within society. Together with their own influences of music and dance we developed a universal yet personal narrative through dance, drums poetry and Rap.

Lapping is something that we all have in common with no age, race or crede barrier. We all get up in the morning and come full circle back to bed again at night, we are all born only to then die and these young people have taken this process as their own by ‘lapping’ the town each night! They all have their own ‘depots’ their ‘patch’ where they hang out and entertain themselves in their own way.

Each person likes to think that they are individual, the different groups or gangs are formed in belief that they are not followers…. they create their own rules, dress code and activities but are we all sheep in the end and who are the leaders? Who is in charge and what do we want? These issues have been explored through these art forms and a performance piece has been created for you today. This specific performance is our final piece for you today but it may never ever be final.

So, through dance and drumming, we would like to give you an insight into our lives in Millom whilst taking this opportunity to learn and develop our techniques and performance skills.

This project will continue with the young people of Millom and surrounding areas to develop and further influencing other performances whilst developing confidance and skills.

Thanks to our funders: Copeland Borough Council, Lottery Awards4All and ACE.

Cast and Crew:
Director - Jakki Moore
Choreographers - Louise Walton; Emma Rowbotham
Drums - Neil Armstrong

Performers
Rebecca Sharp; Gavin Stewart; Carolyn Stewart; Eli Mullholland; Georgia Hughes; Sam Clark; Steffi Wilson; Stacey Giles; Pamela Buzzard; Emma Savage; Laura Millar; Ellie Crowther; Danielle Day; Sophie Berry; Rebecca O’Brien; Vanessa O’Brien; Samantha Brockbank; Gabrielle; Lydia Waddington; Amy Bradley; Josh Sanders; Josh Goodrum; Liam Ball; Bradley Gardner; Adam Swales; Carly Giles; Lindsey Hill.