ICAN - International Center for Arts and Narrative

York Theatre Royal and York St John University are currently in the process of launching a new joint Centre for Arts and Narrative that would embed an innovative and rewarding academic/creative partnership. The new Centre will incorporate the delivery of activities, events, masterclasses, performances and exhibitions around the themes of narrative, storytelling, place and community accompanied by an integral focus on research, reflection and evaluation.

Through the academic/creative partnership audience and policy research can be conducted in a manner that is rigorous, reflective, sustainable and has immediate and direct pathways of dissemination and implementation. It will allow examples of best-practices to be identified, documented and disseminated both nationally and internationally (through conferences, publications, training programmes, teaching resources etc) and enhance YTR’s ability to be an informed and self-reflective producer and programmer.

The Centre will also explore opportunities to engage in pedagogical research into theatre and theatre education at primary, secondary and tertiary levels, through programmes for schools, international summer schools and other student enhancement opportunities. It will also engage in widening participation activities focusing on both theatre and higher education.

As part of our research into narrative, York Theatre Royal and York St John University are jointly hosting public talks on the theme of narrative, held in the York Theatre Royal Studio Theatre. These talks involve four guest speakers - artists and academics - from different disciplines and perspectives looking at how narrative informs their work. These talks have so far been very stimulating – indeed, so much so that it’s generally been difficult to draw the evenings to a close. On the left are the transcripts of four of the speakers:

Claire Hind, lecturer at York St John University
Emma Davie, film maker
Xanthe Gresham, storyteller
Kate Giles, lecturer in archaeology

More transcripts will be added over time, and please look out for the next series of talks on narrative, beginning this Autumn.

Research and Evaluation

Some of our projects are subject to a more in depth analysis and evaluation. These reports are available below:

> Hare and Tortoise Workshop
> Anne Frank Storytelling