Growing up in South London, Christopher Streeks is a self invented individual with an enormous burst of energy everywhere he goes, an energy which always appears to ‘infect’ everyone around him in the same way.
He has two subjects close to his heart - acting and assisting young people from ‘excluded’ backgrounds to achieve their aims in life; be it basic skills, assertiveness, anger management, poetry or even something as diverse as Set Designing; helping these young people into a more stable and fulfilling lifestyle, achieved by changing their attitudes towards society and themselves.
'It was one of the most amazing weeks I have ever had in my life!' Albert, 14 years
Chris has given workshops at many centres and school including:
- Anne Peaker Centre, Birmingham
- East Anglia University
- Hackney Empire
- Cambridge University
- Northampton School for Girls
- Greycoats School
- Pimlico School
- Brooke House Sixth Form College
- London Metropolitan University
- Kings College London
- Our Lady of the Covenant School
- Damilola Taylor Centre
- St Lukes Sixth Form College
- St Saviours Church, Knightsbridge
- Intermission Theatre
- Eco-Actif Sutton Tricycle Theatre Company
- Regents Vocational College
- Escape Artists
- Highbury Grove School
- Mercury Theatre Company
- Preston Manor City Learning Centre
- London Shakespeare Workout
- Minka Theatre Company
- Crime Concern
Having dedicated several years to his acting, which involved classical training (Shakespeare), Voice Technique, Movement, and Audition Techniques. He has also studied forum theatre (part running the Coldingley Crime Diversion scheme - an award winning project supported by the Rt. Hon. Jack Straw MP Home Secretary, Cees Schrauwers MD CGU Insurance and Nigel Whiskin MBE Chief Executive of Crime Concern) to divert young people away from crime and/or drug abuse. Chris has had to put himself through various physical training courses which include a Community Sports Leader Award, a Basketball Leaders Award as well as amateur boxing not only to maintain a healthy condition in a demanding acting profession, but also to be able to embody his physical prowess into all of his characters. It is these attributes that he not only imparts to his acting career, but also his teaching of aspiring young artists in workshops.
Chris has been regularly running workshops for the last four years. He has worked in many different venues and institutions including prisons, theatres, schools and pupil referral units. He is in constant demand from companies and charities such as National Youth Theatre, Smart Justice, Escape Artists, Comedy School and Mercury Theatre to assist in projects and run workshops.
The workshops cover subjects from violence, drug abuse and crime to shakespeare and poetry. They can include a performance of Chris' one-man show 'Trash' about a Cuban boxer on death row and work on the problems that occur in life. The problems are discussed and participants are encouraged to come up with a variety of solutions.
Chris brings all these skills and acting and life experiences together in the deliverance of his workshops for the benefit of young people from all ages and backgrounds. He is dedicated to improving the lives of excluded groups and through his inspiring nature is already achieving this.
All the workshops are designed individually to be most relevant to the participants but for an example workshop plan please contact Chris using the details on the contact page. Chris will also be running a series of workshops covering the issues addressed in his book Letters To A Young Person.