Five filmed performances about world events that happened in 1990: the birth of the internet; the fall of the Berlin Wall; the release of Nelson Mandela from prison after more than 27 years; the Poll Tax Riots and resignation of Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister; and the discovery of the hole in the ozone layer.
The creation of Happened 1990 was spread over 18 months due to COVID-19 restrictions, as sessions seamlessly switched between in-person and online delivery. Our five oldest Youth Theatre groups have spent three in-person terms, between January 2020 and June 2021, creating shows inspired by world events that took place in 1990, the year Half Moon became a young people’s theatre.
We hope you enjoy watching the filmed performances and that you delight in being transported back to 1990, either to re-live a moment in history, or to discover them for the first time.
Happened 1990 was part of Half Moon’s 1990 | 2020 project, celebrating 30 years as a young people’s theatre. The other activities were: Born 1990 and Snapped 1990 | 2020.
Happened 1990 was supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
As part of the Happened 1990 project, Eclipse wanted to take the ‘creation of the internet’ as the event they would like to explore and bring to life. The young people’s eyes have been opened to the technology of the 90s with lots of jaw-dropping moments as they learnt about items such as fax machines and floppy discs!
The performance explores the idea of connection. How did people in the 90s communicate with each other? How has it changed 30 years on?
Eclipse have worked hard in creating a fun and playful look at how and why they believe the internet was created. Imagine being a fly on the wall when the inventors finally plugged that last cable in! You may have bad memories of listening to the dial-up tone as it tries to connect, but during this performance you will experience that tone like never before.
“We may have started an Internet-themed project in a Zoom room, but nothing beats watching Eclipse as they play and create in the room – the connection is back.”
Simon Batchelor, Eclipse Lead Tutor
Lead Tutor: Simon Batchelor
Support Tutor: Katy Daghorn
Volunteer: Alice Brown
Youth Theatre members: Angelus, Astrid, Caoimhe, Eliza, Elsie, Joseph, Joshua, Kasper, Liza, Max, Rafael, Tom, Willow and Zahra
Before YouTube there was You’ve Been Framed. Before X Factor there was Stars in their Eyes.
Equinox is trading entertainment in 2020 for the year 1990. The young people have been exploring slapstick comedy by making hilarious videos and creating their own colourful and eccentric pop stars in sixty seconds.
However, does entertainment serve as a distraction for society acknowledging global issues? In the year 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from prison. The whole world tuned in to watch this monumental moment in history, or did they?
“Equinox were extremely creative when our sessions were online and we wanted to continue this trend in the film. Whether it is using items from their home to create pop stars or making funny home videos, it has been great to see them be creative outside of the theatre.”
Amari Harris, Equinox Lead Tutor
Lead Tutor: Amari Harris
Support Tutor: Megan Kohnhorst
Placement Student: Heather MacInnes
Youth Theatre members: Amelia, Bronte, Buddy, Damini, Fatima, Freddy, Giulia, Ibrahim, Indra, Isabelle, Jamie, Katherine, Leila, Matthew, Mikyas, Olivier, Saida, Sakura, Sarah, Siomha and Zahra
Lunar have been exploring the political events of 1990 as part of this project. Research and mature conversations have led to creative explorations. Lunar retell the true story of Margaret Thatcher and the events that led to her leaving Downing Street in November 1990.
The devising process involved the group being split into three groups and each given a part of the theme to explore through a variety of theatre techniques. Lunar share creative responses to the Thatcher Government, the Poll Tax Riots and the Prime Minister’s resignation, with the script featuring verbatim responses from local people who experienced it.
The group have enjoyed the challenge of taking their usual devised scenes and adapting them to film. They have learnt other ways to tell a story and the power that subtle movement can have on screen.
Watch as Lunar retell the political events of the UK in 1990 in the style of a creative abstract documentary.
“Lunar have really impressed me with their ability to take a theme and try multiple creative ways to tell that story to the audience.”
Simon Batchelor, Lunar Lead Tutor
Lead Tutor: Simon Batchelor
Support Tutor: Katy Daghorn
Access: Tom Simper and Mark Conway
Youth Theatre members: Alice, Arsema, Aurora, Avalon, Bezawit, Cal, Danny, Douglas, Ehan, Elizabeth, Hannah, Harper, Kevin, Laura, Lemonie, Lola, Matis, Miles, Nehan, Radhika, Sofia, William, Winta, Yahya, Zac, Zakaria and Zebedee
In the year 1990 the hole in the ozone layer was discovered. Three decades later, what has changed?
Using Brechtian techniques of performance, designed to make members of the audience take action on social issues, Orbit aims to educate their audience on issues that have been plaguing our planet for a long time.
This is not a piece you can watch to escape your life; this piece is about your life.
“Orbit wanted to create a piece exploring the issues they feel passionately about; to amplify their voice as a generation. They also wanted to focus on a different performance technique to expand their range of creativity.”
Amari Harris, Orbit Lead Tutor
Lead Tutor: Amari Harris
Support Tutor: Megan Kohnhorst
Placement Student: Heather MacInnes
Youth Theatre members: Alessandra, Alessandro, Alex, Amber, Anan, Brodie, Freya, Leela, Leyla, Lola-Grace, Lucas, Malachi, Martha, Maya, Nicole, Sonny, Taylor, Una and Yusaf
For their Happened 1990 piece, Solar have been drawing inspiration from the fall of the Berlin Wall, which led to the re-unification of Germany in 1990. They have been exploring how it would feel to wake up one day and find your home, your city, your life, completely changed.
Thinking about forced separation, they have considered the parallels of this in comparison to their recent experience of lockdown during the pandemic and have found ways to express this through their words and movement.
As we face barriers to our ‘normal’ life, how do we express the way it makes us feel? How do we find ways to cope, endure and ultimately overcome? And what does it look like when we are able to come together again, after surviving such an impactful event?
“After a year of only seeing each other online, getting back in a room together has been electric. As ever, Solar have brought their vibrant energy and relentless creativity to our sessions. And their resilience and commitment to this group have, more than ever, made Solar feel like an established theatre ensemble, as we work with excitement to produce our piece for this project.”
Madeleine Graham, Solar Lead Tutor
Lead Tutor: Madeleine Graham
Support Tutor: Daniel Mariño
Access: Molly Neylan, Rachael Hammond, Hayley Hill, Patrick Evans, Megan Khonhorst and Rosie Vincent
Volunteers: Alice Brown and Brianie Burrell
Youth Theatre members: Anthony, Dami, Dana, Desmond, Jack, Jamie, Nicolas, Saira, Soheli, Tahera, Temina and Younes
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