Somerset Ignites: Generate

As part of the 2025 Somerset Ignites Festival, the Performing Arts department launched the Generate Project.

The goal: To demonstrate the competencies of curiosity and creativity in action, through a collaborative project with a professional theatre company. An ensemble of MYP students will work through a devising process, developing an original piece of theatre which is formed and performed within the time parameters of the festival.

We were fortunate to engage Helen Stephens, the Director of Youth and Engagement from Internationally recognised, ground-breaking Visual Theatre company, Dead Puppet Society, to guide our ensemble through their creative journey. The ensemble worked with Helen across two evening sessions to develop technique in the principles of puppet manipulation and construction, alongside experiential workshops required to infuse an understanding of Visual Theatre conventions and applying them when devising new work.

Day 1 of Ignites Festival: Starting with our conceptual statement, the curiosity to capture and work creatively with an idea, our ensemble used brainstorming techniques to hone their storytelling. Trialling their ideas, rehearsing and refining their concept.

Day 2 of Ignites Festival: The ensemble continued to refine their work in the morning through the layering of technical production elements, lighting and sound. One final rehearsal followed by the culmination of the process, performing their creation to a packed Roberts Theatre, as one of the final sessions of Ignites.

The Generate project was designed to inspire Somerset College students to embrace the possibilities of exploring passions within the realm of Performing Arts. The Ignites session offered insight into the evolution of Dead Puppet Society as a thriving professional production house, followed by the presentation of a digital diary of devising, cataloguing the creative process. Lastly, our ensemble shared their performance. This original piece of theatre successfully positioned the young audience to understand the importance of curiosity and bravery when exploring the possibilities of where an idea can lead you.