Just before the half term break, we interviewed the Weapon of Choice (WOC) team, to find out more about their residency at Beachcroft AP Academy in Westminster, which started in January and will continue until the summer term.
The team is composed of artists Bruno Correia, Ehireme Omoaka, Emmanuel Alisigwe and Project Manager Tom Mason (in the meantime, Tom has become Community Coordinator for Basildon Council!).
First of all, tell us a bit more about the Weapon of Choice residencies at Beachcroft AP Academy. When did you start working there and what is Alternative Provision?
Bruno: We have been working with Beachcroft Academy since 2017. We were already doing residencies in other schools, like the Camden Centre for Learning (CCfL). We started with single workshops and then introduced a 12 week residency project, with the aim of devising a short performance with the young people. The process involves using techniques from Forum Theatre: a story is devised by the young people, therefore it is based on their experiences and interests. Then we create a performance which sparks a process of reflection, and, sometimes with the help of a small audience, we discuss how the story could be changed, and what can be done differently to arrive at a better outcome for the young people.
The “AP” stands for “Alternative Provision”: when young people get excluded from mainstream schools, they can attend an alternative provision academy. They also have a chance of reintegration in mainstream schools, but most of them stay there. It means that a lot of the young people have complex needs, and we believe we can help them with building their confidence up and promoting a better attitude towards learning, Beachcroft AP Academy was very happy about the initial collaboration and they asked us to come back!
Has anything changed in the past two years?
Bruno: We are very happy to be back face to face, but even during the lockdown we kept meeting online, because we really wanted them to know that that space was still there for them. It is very important to work with consistency, because by leading as a good example we get the same attitude back. Now we are working during school time, to create a performance, but we are also providing an after school programme, which Beachfront wanted us to introduce and which started with a pilot project last year. For the after school programme, we decided to do something different: we know that, if the young people decide to stay longer at school to join a WOC session, it is because they are really interested and motivated. So we decided to start training them to become facilitators. By learning how to facilitate a session you learn a lot of transferable skills. It has a lot to do with confidence and communication. This is a way to give the young people more support, so when they leave school they are more ready for the challenges they will face. We are also looking into giving them an accreditation for the training.
At Beachcroft the young people can choose from a range of different activities. Why do they choose to come to a WOC session?
Bruno: It’s because of the people they meet there. We are relatable. We do not come in with authority. Initially they do not know how this can help, because they never thought about doing drama. When they start coming, we show them that they have potential, that we believe in them and they like it. It has a lot to do with the energy we give out. And the energy you give out, you get it back. We are normally very playful, but if needed we get more serious. When this happens, some young people get upset, and they tell us very clearly, but then, they come back. They also enjoy the fact that we bring them together, we have a diverse group of different ages, and they can make new friendships.
What kind of feedback do you receive from the young people?
Tom: One participant stopped us after the session to tell us how he felt about it. He said it is the one time of the week when no one is cursing each other out. There is no swearing, everyone gets along and works together. He added that normally certain groups feel segregated and people from similar backgrounds hang out with each other and do not interact with other groups. In a WOC session, people from different areas of London and from different countries and cultures join the session and it is the one place where none of that matters. He added he did not join initially because he did not feel that drama was for him, but then turned out and discovered he was getting a lot out of it and it was more than just drama. Now he comes for the energy and the good vibes. All of this just after two sessions!
What are the elements that make the WOC team so strong?
Bruno: We can’t tell you that!
Ehireme: Ok I will give you one: accountability. We met at school and then we started joining WOC sessions as participants together. We then started working as facilitators and we are still doing it. Therefore, we have a very strong relationship, but it has always been like that since the beginning. We always allow space for healthy and open communication. We really enjoy our work, but there are challenges. From the outside, it may seem like it is effortless, but we need to keep checking on each other, especially for our mental health. We are very honest and open with each other. Sometimes we discuss, but we all know it is because we want the best for each other. And after two minutes, we are laughing.
How do you develop your practice?
Emmanuel: First of all, by working hard! We do a lot of workshops and I also work within other projects at Pan. Therefore I work with different groups of young people, in different scenarios and circumstances. We also have moments of sharing, like the debrief after the session, where we analyse and discuss what happened. We have an arts background and creative background and we like coming up with new games and acting exercises. Then obviously there is training. And in WOC we have the Creative Reflections. These are really important moments for us, facilitated by another professional, where we reflect on our practice, create new games, and we get a lot of support for our mental health.
How would you like to develop the WOC Residencies programme?
Bruno: I would like to visit more schools and I would like the sessions to be more than once a week, to give consistency to the project. Our sessions provide the young people with skills that they do not get during the lessons. Skills that prepare them for the future. If a group like the WOC team had come to my school when I was young, it would have helped me a lot to grow and I would have avoided some mistakes.
How do you see your future as an artist?
Ehireme: I love WOC and I would like to keep working with them and to add creative writing and spoken word to my practice (editor’s note: Ehireme is a published poet!). I also think it is important and healthy for me to reach out to other companies in order to challenge myself and grow in my practice.
Bruno: I would like to keep working as I am doing now and I would like to explore the possibility of creating my own project.
Emmanuel: I think I can still grow more creatively, and be more forward thinking. I have a lot of experience but I can immerse myself even more and try to come up with more creative ideas that will make the work richer. It will be beneficial for the young people and for me.
Tom: I would like to go back to writing, I used to write a lot before the lockdown. I am certainly taking a lot from what I learnt with WOC to where I am going next. For example, some of incredibles games they have created, and also the fact of not being afraid to go off plan. Sometimes you go to the session with a plan and realise it is not the right thing for the young people at that particular time. You just can’t force something on them, otherwise you lose them. Instead, WOC works FOR the young people: we come to you and we do for you what you need.
One last question! You mentioned before that one participant was reluctant to join the sessions because he did not like the idea of doing drama. However, he then realised that WOC is a lot more than a drama session. So, is there any other word that can better describe your work, other than drama?
Ehireme: I would say “all inclusive”! It is not just drama, it is not just having fun, it is not just social interaction, it is not just teaching, and there is a mentoring type of atmosphere. Everyday is different!
Bruno: There are a lot of invisible qualities and elements into a WOC session. It is definitely not just a drama session. Sometimes we don’t even do any acting, sometimes we do not even play games, sometimes it is just about having a conversation.
Tom: I would say WOC is “Arts meet Youth Centre”. We have the vibes of a youth centre, where young people feel supported, but we are also an arts centre, we bring a lot of creativity and energy into the room. And, very important, we are portable. We can take that energy and atmosphere in any building. At Beachcroft, we run the sessions in the canteen.
Emmanuel: Connections and being relatable.
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Alison has over 30 years’ experience of working as a fundraiser - mostly for arts organisations. She’s been part of large teams working on major capital campaigns for national organisations as well as the sole fundraiser for small, community-based charities. She's a keen believer in the role that art in all its forms can play in health and wellbeing, and enjoys working with funders to enable great ideas to grow into projects that change lives.
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Once a troubled young person searching for direction, I found a sense of purpose through a drama workshop that changed my life. That experience opened my eyes to the power of creativity, expression, and community.
Inspired by how theatre helped me find my voice, I went on to train and develop as a drama facilitator, using performance and storytelling to help others explore their own potential and confidence.
Taku Mukiwa works for the Terrence Higgins Trust's delivery of national HIV prevention social marketing campaigns. His responsibilities include managing the delivery of England's National HIV Prevention Programme, and HIV Prevention England.
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Sophie Froment is, and has been, a Human Resources/People Manager for many years. She has worked across a range of industries and has lived in France, Switzerland, Iceland and is now in the UK.
Sophie is delighted to join Pan as a Trustee because she is deeply inspired by Pan's mission. She is very impressed by the range and depth of Pan's activities because she firmly believes that the performing arts can truly change peoples' lives.
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Melanie Hargreaves has held media and public relations roles in the charity sector for 15 years, most recently leading the global media function for the Freedom Fund, which invests in frontline communities and movements to drive progress towards a world free of slavery. She previously worked at international development organisation, Christian Aid, where she covered on-the-ground humanitarian emergency response, as well as campaigns addressing global displacement and violence against women and girls. Melanie also led media relations at UK domestic charity, Hospice UK and prior to entering the charity sector, Melanie worked as a journalist for The Press Association (PA Media).
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Maya has worked in the corporate sector for many years, mainly in finance and financial communications. She has lived in Brussels, Leiden, Paris and London. Eight years ago, she moved to the charity sector, where she has been charge of building and growing Corporate Partnerships.
She is passionate about generating positive social impact and championing projects to help make a tangible difference. and is very impressed by Pan’s extensive work and ethos, and by how performing arts really can change people’s lives.
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Lloyd is the Global Property Director at Aesop. Prior to Aesop, Lloyd has held numerous senior roles in the Fashion and Real Estate sector, always having a clear focus on growing brands and reaching new global audiences.
In his spare time he enjoys gardening, long country walks and the theatre.
During the coming year, Lloyd's key focus will be to support Pan in securing a new permanent home within London.
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Jumoké Fashola is a radio broadcaster for BBC London, currently presenting 'Inspirit with Jumoké Fashola', on BBC Radio London. As such she brings knowledge of the media world. She is a professional singer, media trainer and keen supporter of youth issues.
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Heather Fokerd is the director/owner of Lordship Consultancy Ltd, which provides financial services to schools. She became a chartered accountant after studying Business Management. Heather brings both financial and business acumen to the Board.
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Hatice is an award-winning broadcast professional at NBC News who has covered major global events for over a decade. She has extensive experience in helping to produce long-form projects, breaking news and large-scale events, with her work spanning topics from war zones, terrorist attacks, and political elections to the Olympics, Royal Milestones, and Thanksgiving Parades.
Prior to her career in news, Hatice worked with NGOs, cultivating a passion for social justice and humanitarianism. Her advocacy for meaningful change aligns closely with Pan’s mission to empower marginalized communities through the arts. Hatice’s Turkish-Cypriot heritage gives her a her a deep understanding of Pan’s work and its importance in supporting those affected by hardship.
Hatice holds both BA and MA degrees from SOAS University and is proud to contribute to Pan’s remarkable mission and values.
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Hannah Wengård is a multidisciplinary artist, fundraiser, and project coordinator working across the arts and charity sectors. She leads on safeguarding and learning & development for one of MSF UK’s fundraising teams while freelancing in theatre, both on stage and screen. Passionate about creating trauma-informed spaces, she explores theatre, movement, and music in participatory arts. Hannah holds a BA in World Performance from East 15 Acting School (2022) and an MA in Global Creative and Cultural Industries from SOAS (2023).
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Brian is delighted to be the Chair of Pan's Board of Trustees after being a member of the board for over 14 years. He is a practising Barrister specialising in Criminal Law.
He regularly attends the theatre, live music venues and film events. "My love of the arts, coupled with my knowledge of people gained through my work, led me to join Pan"
Brian is convinced that the Arts can change lives. He hopes, along with all the Pan family, to continue the great work of his predecessors in championing the power of live performance, to explore cultural diversity and tolerance.
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Alice is the UK MD for Icepay, an Amsterdam based payments fintech. Alice was previously at the British Business Bank, where she led strategy, economic analysis, product and business development from just after its founding in 2015 to 2021. She was involved there in supporting the UK life sciences, fintech, and creative sectors, as well as broader diversity and inclusion work. The BBB is the UK Government’s delivery arm for SME finance and the largest domestic institutional investor in UK venture capital.
Alice also spent 5 years at Barclays plc and Barclaycard, in corporate and data-driven strategy roles. Prior to that, she worked for Lloyds Banking Group in Cards and Prophet, a strategic marketing and brand consultancy. She began her career at McKinsey, latterly specialising in corporate finance and strategy.
Alice earned her undergraduate degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and her MBA from INSEAD in France. She is a dual US and UK citizen and a fluent Mandarin Chinese speaker.
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Adam is a Director at Savills. He heads up the Place-Shaping team within London, helping deliver programmes of cultural activity at sites across the UK.
He is particularly active in areas of diversity & inclusion and community engagement with an interest in the ways in which the arts can be used as a means through which to connect audiences from diverse backgrounds. He enjoys helping shape environments which foster collaboration between people and communities and in understanding the ways in which people interact with the built environment in new, unexpected and creative ways.
Prior to Savills, Adam held leadership positions at property companies including WeWork and The Crown Estate. He also worked at English Heritage helping deliver major investment projects at historic visitor destinations including Dover Castle and Charles Darwin's home, Down House, in Kent.
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Emmeline has worked in the administration and hospitality sectors for a decade, using her meticulous eye for detail and financial acumen to improve company processes and help places run more efficiently. She joined Pan as Administration Officer and swiftly became a centre of support for both our projects and office team, always on hand for the variety of tasks thrown her way, offering solutions and ideas to move forward with. She is thoroughly passionate about Pan providing the best possible experience for our participants.
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Joanna brings over 14 years of experience in arts management, with previous roles at Somerset House, a regional theatre, and a puppetry festival. She currently serves as a trustee for Outside Edge Theatre Company.
Throughout her career, Joanna has driven impactful growth for the organisations she’s worked with. Notably, she built a network of 150+ volunteers for a regional theatre, enhanced large-scale public events with supplementary programming, and supported Pan to expand its activities by over 60%, doubling its turnover within three years.
Joanna is deeply passionate about the transformative power of creativity to connect, heal, and empower communities. Her work is rooted in a deep commitment to equity, disrupting power dynamics, and centering the voices of those the work is for.
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John is a founding member of Pan and has been the Artistic Director throughout its history. He is an actor, director, playwright, drama facilitator, writer and a university professor.
Originally a dancer and actor, he trained at Bristol University and the Ecole Jacques Lecoq in Paris. International work has taken him across the globe and he has led training sessions and directed plays in more than a dozen countries.
Founding Pan led him to concentrate on using the Arts for Social Change in a multi ethnic society and the success of this led to invitations by various NGOs to deliver programmes to aid the rehabilitation of people affected by war, natural disaster, social injustice and poverty in many countries.
“I regularly write and teach on issues around interculturalism, creativity, playfulness and theatre for development both in the UK and abroad. Luckily I have an eclectic bunch of inspired colleagues who all make Pan the special place that it is today.
The Arts can Change Lives!”
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Zephryn Taitte, A gold arts award attainee and one of the co founders of Weapon of Choice now takes a back seat and marvels at the great work produced by the team. He looks forward to rejoining the team in a new capacity as a WOC trainee mentor.
In his early years he was selected by the British Council and Oval House theatre on a sponsored international trip for potential young leaders in the arts. Shortly after, in 2008, he worked with Pan as a participant and Young Leader in 'There Aint No Black In The Union Jack' at Hackney Empire.
He is a believer in performing arts being able to educate and inspire young people. There is a need in the community for greater opportunities for young people to express themselves in meaningful and creative ways, and so provide an alternative to some of the more negative behaviours teenagers can otherwise engage in.
You may also recognise him as Cyril Robinson from the BBC's Call the Midwife.
Sheyda is a facilitator and the camera woman behind a lot of Pan's films and photos over the years. Joining Fortune she immediately felt at home and eagerly acted and wrote for the group in many productions. She rose to be a Project Director with Fortune and founded our project - Papillon - for newly arrived young Afghan Women who had been brought to the UK after the fall of Kabul.
"I have seen the beauty of my work through different lenses. Like my camera, I like to focus on making changes in our participants' lives and hopefully make their blurry vision of the new place that they have to call home a little more focused and clear I know in Pan this can be achieved."
She herself is an example of such an achievement and this was recognised by Visa when they awarded her as one of the twenty most important refugee women working for communities in Europe.
She is sometimes called "Hedgehog". It's just a Pan nickname with a long story behind it, but others know her as Sheyda or the participant that never left!
Email Sheyda: [email protected]
Laura is a pianist and an Artist Facilitator and Accompanist for the Amies Freedom Choirs.
One of the things she loves the most about Amies is how the sessions enable a unique space for connection, creativity, and mutual learning, where everyone can be equally valued and heard. From her first day , she has felt part of a very welcoming, safe, supportive, kind and empowering family - it’s truly special.
Her role not only involves music-making, but also contributing to growing as a group, building self-confidence, promoting connection and a sense of belonging, facilitating the space for everyone’s self-expression and supporting their path in exploring their own creativity - always so exciting and inspiring!
Email Laura: [email protected]
E is an actor and musician, releasing songs under the name “ Ezae”. He is the Project Director for Fortune, Pan's project working with young adult refugees and migrants and Project Director for Weapon of Choice's work in Bradby Youth Club. E was a participant in early Weapon of Choice days and has grown through the organisation be a great facilitator, leading workshops with young refugees and asylum seekers as well as for the Weapon of Choice programmes. He is also also a facilitator for Greenwich & Lewisham Young Peoples’ Theatre.
Email Emmanuel 'E' : [email protected]
Ehireme is the Project Director of the Weapon of Choice Theatre Project, a facilitator of the school residencies projects and the producer of the 'Pan Talks: Poetry Night' event.
He says :"I do this type of work because I want to give to the Pan participants what I never received when I was a young person. There are so many gaps that young people fall through and I'm doing my part to fill the voids that I can see in society. It's a passion!"
The WoC Theatre Projects and the WoC School Residencies projects do a plethora of things that improve the young peoples' lives. At the end of our projects young people notice an increase in their confidence. In addition, building their stage presence is a transferable skill that can be used with peers and adults. And finally, they start to believe that they can achieve whatever they want to! (Cliché, but true).
Ehireme is a performance poet and a published author of 'Points Of Contact' - a collection of poems highlighting experiences of young people and some of his own from adolescence to adulthood. The themes are; family dynamics, fatherhood, nature, the black experience and the relationship between the police and young black men.
"I like to use my skills of story telling and creative writing to support the work I do with the young people I work with."
Email Ehireme : [email protected]
Bruno is an actor, musician and facilitator. He is the leading artist and Project Director for all Weapon of Choice’s work in alternative provision.
He is an experienced practitioner with a passion for making sure young people are heard. He’s deeply committed to working with young people that have been excluded from mainstream education. Bruno has led residencies in pupil referral units such as Beachcroft AP Academy and Camden Centre for Learning for over 5 years.
He was at the forefront of WoC’s first venture into school residencies and has delivered projects in Haverstock School, Hampstead School, Acland Burghley, Saint Gabriel’s College and several workshops in The UCL Academy, Highbury Grove School, Sacred Heart School and City Heights.
Bruno never gives up on young people and believes that they all have potential to be successful leaders. He combines youth work values and principles, artistic excellence and a belief in all young people in his practice. Young people and colleagues love working with him.
He has experience training young people to facilitate support groups and believes in giving meaningful responsibility and experience to young leaders.
Email Bruno : [email protected]
Brie has a long association with Pan, having started as a work placement in our office. She then joined our WoC Theatre Group as a performer and also gained performance experience in other youth companies. Before long she was asking if she could learn facilitation skills and became a peer facilitator in WoC Theatre Project. And now she brings her skills to the WoC Residencies and to the Fortune Group.
Adwoa joined Pan as an actor/story-teller in its early days and has been linked with it ever since. She was instrumental in the growth of the Fortune group of young adult refugees and this led to her involvement in our work with female Survivors of Human Trafficking, co-founding the Amies group. As this developed, her training as a singer came into play and she became the Project Director of the Amies Choir (now the Amies Freedom Choir) for female survivors of trafficking which has had great success both as a means to empower the women and as a joyous performing group. Adwoa is also the Project Director for Amies London, a drama group for female survivors of trafficking.
Adwoa also works as a professional singer, having sung with the Royal Opera House, Sadlers Wells, Pegasus Opera, Chineke Orchestra, Grand Union Orchestra amongst others. She is also a session singer for Voquality Singers and often does solo work exploring Jamaican/Caribbean music.
Of her work with the Amies Project Adwoa says:
“I like to help the participants I work with recognise and strive to fulfil their potential. In Pan's Amies programme participants grow in confidence and realise they don't have to "settle" for a life that has been prescribed by the adversity they have faced in their lives. They feel that they can move beyond expectations, and make friendships in a supportive environment that last for years. The Amies choirs, as well as performing already written repertoire, work together to create their own music and have recently been involved in composing vocal music strands for an installation at the Freedom Festival in Hull based around the "Sirens" from Greek mythology which had a fantastic response from the audience."
Email Adwoa: [email protected]