Day One

Just back from Islington Arts and Media School, where we're running the Darwin workshops this week.  Today was the first day of the project and it was a brilliant way to start - the young people we've recruited were unbelievably receptive, engaged and thoughtful and I felt that we really got to grips with the basics of evolution.

Two things in particular stood out for me - firstly a great half hour where we set up a scale of 1-10 on the floor and moved up and down according to how much we disagreed or agreed with statements relevant to Darwin's work.  The discussion that it generated showed how broadly Darwin's discovery affects our lives, opinions, relationships and futures - everyone was passionate, hungry to talk but excited to hear how others felt.

Secondly, working through the key aspects of Darwin's theories this afternoon, trying desperately to root it theatrically as much as possible, was a real revelation.  I felt in leading the session that I finally felt confident articulating his ideas and was delighted at how easily and readily the group were able to digest and re-articulate the theory. 

As we finished, one of the participants, Naomi said "I have a lot more respect for evolution now" and, even though I've always accepted evolution and tried to understand it, I found myself agreeing.

Ned
Director