Wedunnit: How About Face Youth Theatre Solved the Mystery of Online Ensemble Devising and Learning

Abstract

In March 2021, About Face Youth Ensemble faced the task of creating a show online with both performers and teaching artists stuck in their homes, separated from each other. At the end of the youth ensemble's three-month long devising process, the virtual production of Whodunnit? A Groovy Queer Murder Mystery at Camp Forest Woods! was released online. In this paper, members of the education staff share their reflections on how they designed for and engaged in a learning environment that facilitated a particularly connected ensemble. Key aspects of instructional design addressed in the article include the motivation behind the show, the theatre company's growing commitment to youth mental health, traditional "in-the-room" devising practices, and the utilization of online technology. Recommendations for applied theatre programs and their practitioners that work with teens, as well as arts researchers, are as follows: 1) Investigate the potential of hiring a certified mental health professional 2) Commit to spending significant time together for emotional connection 3) Design devising activities that support more equitable power dynamics and access 4) Explore the promising possibilities of computer-supported collaborative learning especially when returning to in-person creation.