WATCH: Jersey teens record pandemic time capsule

Saturday 02 May 2020

A local youth group is joining a global movement to document the pandemic through the eyes of young people, creating a digital time capsule of what lockdown is like for them.

It’s hoped that the week-by-week videos will combat the negative impact of isolation on young people’s mental health by giving them a platform to express how they’re feeling during the corona virus outbreak.

Unable to start rehearsals for their production of Grease due to the current health crisis, members of the Jersey Youth Performing Arts (JYPA) will be contributing to the time capsule as an outlet for their thoughts and feelings on lockdown. 

The movement to record the views of the world’s teens during the pandemic was initiated by a London-based youth group Company Three.

Video: JYPA members have started recording their time capsule contributions (Facebook/JYPA).

The project will see youth theatres in the UK, Kenya, Brazil, Australia, Croatia, the Netherlands, America and now Jersey create new videos weekly, responding to different topics linked to the lockdown.

JYPA are publishing new videos every week, exploring topics like home life, school, exercise and friendship. Each video is a window into the worlds of the participants in the project, showing them at home, with their families and in their rooms.

By the end of the lockdown, the group will have created a cumulative time capsule for anyone to watch – and for the participants to look back on and remember what they went through. 

JYPA company leader, Rhona Richards said: “Before the lockdown, JYPA had been due to begin rehearsals for the musical Grease but the current situation means that this isn’t possible. We have a group of wonderfully talented young people and we wanted to find a way for them to continue to express their creativity during lockdown. Importantly, we also wanted to provide a point of connection so that our members can continue the close friendships they’ve established.

She added: “It’s hugely disappointing that Grease might not go ahead this year but already our members are coming up with ideas for a smaller production we can stage with a far reduced rehearsal period.”

Video: The young people document their feelings in response to a series of themes relating to lockdown (Facebook/JYPA).

Commenting on the JYPA’s participation in his project, Company Three Artistic Director Ned Glasier said: “We are so excited that JYPA has joined with this huge network of youth theatres, schools and other youth groups to create their own Coronavirus Time Capsule. We know that the shutdown is particularly difficult for young people, living with all that the pandemic has brought and missing out on key rites of passage in their education and emotional development.

“So, we wanted to provide something to provide support, connection and a space to be heard – and a chance to connect with teenagers in similar situations all over the world.”