In September 2021 I joined the Youth Theatre group at my local theatre, with twenty-two other young people aged between 13-15 meeting every week in order to devise and create drama pieces together. Over three years on and I still attend this acting group weekly, however the number of members has since dropped to just eight.
But what has caused this seemingly rapid decline in teenagers' involvement in the arts?
I believe I have identified two key factors that contribute strongly to driving young people away from drama groups.
The first, and I feel, the main reason, is that drama today is often considered as a hobby rather than a job prospect. Young people are aware of the difficulty of breaking into this industry, and therefore opt for something easier to achieve. During exams season, when students need more time to focus on their studies in order to obtain high grades, the drama groups are the first activities to be cut.
I truly think that there is a somewhat narrow-mindedness in society when it comes to the variety of job roles available in the entertainment and arts sector, with many people claiming the view of the actors that you see on stage are the 'successful' people.
However, there are so many opportunities available for working in the theatre industry – from performers on stage to directors, practitioners working with all ages to create scenes to drama teachers in schools, to working in an arts organisation that runs performing events and festivals, even to performing at a child's birthday party. The opportunities are everywhere, but it's something that a lot of people fail to spot.
Secondly, there is the issue of parents actively discouraging their children from participating in the arts. Adults see a brighter future for their children in STEM subjects, and from my personal experience of talking to my friends about this, unfortunately the reason that they no longer attend drama groups is the lack of support from their parents.
The truth is that yes, the arts and entertainment industry is one of the hardest to break into, but that doesn't mean it's impossible, and if you enjoy what you do, then it will be worth it.
Furthermore, drama groups and acting not only contribute to success in that specific career path, but they can lead to skills acquired in so many other areas that will be useful for a range of different jobs. Since beginning drama classes myself I have experienced such a rise in my confidence when public speaking and presenting. Plus there's the chance to enhance your creativity in so many ways, and building the ability to work and cooperate well in a team – something which many employers place at the top of their person specification.
In conclusion, I do believe that young people are moving away from the arts industry, yet not so quickly as to cause a drastic change, which means that there's more time available for us to reverse this trend. There will remain some faithful teens who will show up every week with a desire to learn and grow, but we need to make it our mission to ensure that whoever they are, everyone is actively encouraged to participate in the arts for themselves. And to parents, your support means everything, so be sure to give it plentifully. Acting gives young people not only the opportunity to grow as a performer, but perhaps much more importantly, the ability to grow as a person, and this impact should never be underestimated.
0 Comments