You can take part in a song-writing master class, paint a giant mural and design a video game during a month-long arts festival in Brentford.
Those are just some of the activities lined up for young people aged eight to 18 during Watermans' Urban Ambush, which is back for a second year.
Young people from across the borough can take part in a variety of workshops, which culminate each week with the chance to show off their new-found skills and enjoy a barbecue on the riverside terrace of the arts centre.
They will also be able to enjoy film screenings and DJ sets at the venue, in Brentford High Street, during the arts jamboree, running from July 28 to August 22.
An exhibition of photos from the festival will be displayed at Watermans later in the year, with a private view scheduled for September 19.
The festival is part of efforts by Watermans, in conjuction with Hounslow Council, GlaxoSmithKline and Heathrow Community Fund, to help young people in the borough unleash their creativity.
As well as teaching them new skills in a relaxed environment, the workshops can help youngsters build their self-esteem and social skills, and could open up new career paths for them.
* Urban Ambush runs from July 28 to August 22 at Watermans, 40 High Street, Brentford, TW8 0DS. Workshops and film screenings take place Monday-Friday, from 9.30am to 6.15pm. Prices start at £120 for a full week, with a 20 per cent discount when booking more than one week. For more information, call the box office on 020 8232 1010 or visit www.watermans.org.uk
WEEK 1 (July 28-August 1)
Film Animation led by Chocolate Films www.chocolatefilms.com
Watermans Studio 2, Age 8-12 Places: 10
Develop your own creative ideas inspired by the theme of the ‘River’. Work on a scrip and storyboard, design and create the characters, record sound and voice-over as well as animating the story, then learn editing skills to make these scenes into a film. Great for young people who are creative and like making things.
Musical Theatre led by Music house www.musichouseforchildren.co.uk
Watermans Theatre, Age 8-12 Places: 12
Musicals will be brought to life with singing, movement, dance and composition. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Lion King and Mamma Mia are just a small selection that will be explored. Musical Theatre is high energy, great fun and extremely creative.
Street Art led by Paint my Panda www.facebook.com/PaintMyPanda
Watermans Car Park, Age 8-12 Places: 15
Help to create a large scale group mural at Watermans which will stay for a year. Learn to design and paint the mural in a group. You will also get the opportunity to design and create your own shirts and hats to take home. This course is ideal for young people who like drawing and painting, who want to improve their skills and try something new.
Light Stories led by Tine Bech www.tinebech.com
Watermans Gallery, Age 13-18 Places: 10
The project is connected to the graffiti culture, but instead of tagging and spray-painting on the walls of public buildings we will use light. The images created will be uploaded to a dedicated light stories Facebook page, where participants can tag themselves as well as download their images.
Ariel Circus led by Upswing www.upswing.org.uk
Watermans Studio 1, Age 13-18 Places: 15
Want to learn to Fly & Tumble in Style? You will cover a range of techniques and basic skills on an Aerial Silk Cocoon and Aerial Hoop. Progress from basic moves to building towards a short choreographed sequence, and finish with a presentation at the end of the week. We promise tons of fun and the discovery of muscles you never knew you had!
WEEK 2 (August 4-8)
Digital Game Design led by Codasign www.codasign.com (SOLD OUT)
Watermans Gallery, Age 8-12 Places: 10
Create your own stories and then turn these into a computer game. Working in Scratch, you will be taught to transform the world you’ve made into gaming levels. Working with MaKey MaKey you will learn how to make game controllers. By the end you have your very own working game!
Recycled Sculpture led by Michelle Reader www.michelle-reader.co.uk
Watermans Studio 1, Age 8-12 Places: 15
Use a mix of waste materials to create sculptures inspired by the river. We might use old furniture, plastic bags, bottles and cans, old tents, broken umbrellas, cutlery and anything else we can find. We’ll try out building sculptures from scrap wood, wire sculpture papier mậché and construction using everyday waste such as cans and bottles.
Music Video led by Chocolate Films www.chocolatefilms.com (SOLD OUT)
Watermans Studio 2, Age 13-18 Places: 10
This workshop will enable participants to think visually and creatively in order to design and produce their own music video using a readymade track. You will brainstorm ideas round the theme of ‘River’ Participants will be trained to use DSLR camera kits and have the opportunity to shoot visual elements and add ‘visual effects’ in the final stages of post-production.
Comedy, Stand Up and Improvisation led by Ashley J & Teej
Watermans Theatre, Age 13-18 Places: 15
This is a fun week to learn improvised comedy and devised comedy sketch techniques ending in a performance at the end of the week.
Street Art led by Paint my Panda www.facebook.com/PaintMyPanda
Watermans Car Park, Ages 13-18 Places: 15
Help to create a large scale group mural at Watermans which will stay for a year. Learn to design and paint the mural in a group. You will also get the opportunity to design and create your own shirts and hats to take home. This course is ideal for young people who like drawing and painting, who want to improve their skills and try something new.
WEEK 3 (August 11-15)
Albert & Friends Instant Circus www.albertandfriendsinstantcircus.co.uk
Watermans Gallery, Ages 8-12 (AM) & 13-18 (PM) Places: 15
Join Albert & Friends Instant Circus and come and learn everything from spinning a plate to walking the tight rope. You could even ride a unicycle while juggling or hula-hoop on stilts! Whether you have the experience or not the workshops will introduce a range of circus and performing skills with fun activities and games.
Parkour & Freerunning www.parkourdance.co.uk
Watermans Car Park & Studio 1, Age 8-12 Places: 25
Parkour encourages exploration, insight, strength and self-expression through movement in relation to the environment body and mind. The workshops will develop skills in facing fears; overcoming obstacles; measuring and taking risks; discovering and adapting to the environment and building courage through and group and self-challenges.
Pop Attack led by Music House www.musichouseforchildren.co.uk
Watermans Studio 2, Ages 8-12 Places: 15
In this workshop you will learn to write and perform your own songs, compose, perform and learn new skills with musical instruments and play musical games that are great fun and extremely high energy!
Play in a Week led by Sarah Hunt thehuntacademy.co.uk
Watermans Theatre, Ages 13-18 Places: 20
Are you creative? Do you enjoy performing? Using the skills you will acquire over the week, you will create a completely new piece of dynamic theatre exploring ideas and issues that affect young people to be performed on stage.
WEEK 4 (August 18-22)
Junk4funk www.junk4funk.co.uk
Watermans Gallery, Ages 8-12 Places: 15
Junk4funk encourages the next generation to think about issues of waste and disposability in a fun, exciting and accessible manner. In these workshops young people will make a variety of musical instruments from waste materials and then devise/rehearse a performance.
Play in a Week led by Angela Michaels
Watermans Theatre, Age 8-12 Places: 20
This course will build theatre-based skills such as: devising, character, use of voice, physical theatre, movement, staging, and use of props, confidence, team work and use of the imagination. On the last day you will perform your show in the theatre.
Pop Attack
Watermans Studio 2, Age 13-18 Places: 15
Workshops include beat-boxing, rapping, vocal, song writing and working with a band.
Parkour & Free Running www.parkourdance.co.uk
Watermans Car Park & Studio 1, Age 13-18 Places: 25
Parkour encourages exploration, insight, strength and self-expression through movement in relation to the environment body and mind. The workshops will develop skills in facing fears; overcoming obstacles; measuring and taking risks; discovering and adapting to the environment and building courage through and group and self-challenges.
