Festival aims to give young people a voice
WHEN LEEDS Playhouse reopened its doors with a new name and a new look, it also promised to expand its education offering.
As part of that pledge, today sees the launch of Be the Example, Be the Voice, a festival of original devised work made with, for and by young people.
The programme is a key part of the theatre’s youth programme and includes young people from the BUZZ project, which is designed to support 14 to 25-yearolds with learning disabilities, and the Breeze Arts Foundation, a creative arts partnership between the Playhouse and Leeds City College, as well as existing youth members.
Leeds Playhouse Youth Theatre’s director, Gemma Woffinden, said: “The dynamic and diverse work created for this festival gives young people the vital opportunity to explore, share and express their social and political thoughts.
“The creative process invites them to look beyond their frustrations and seek solutions. It also encourages collaboration – uniting young people who might have differing views but who understand the value of empathy in supporting resilience and accountability.
“They have spent months discussing, writing, improvising, drawing, singing and rehearsing and are now ready to share their thoughts and creative ideas.
“Be the Example, Be the Voice is about human rights, empathy, resilience and the power of standing up for what you believe in and I am sure that the work will resonate with our audiences.”
Against a backdrop of arts funding cuts, which has forced main theatres to scale back outreach work, the festival has been supported by The Emerald Foundation.
Based in Bingley, the foundation works with projects in West Yorkshire, which encourage young people to raise their aspirations through the arts.
■ Be the Example, Be the Voice runs at Leeds Playhouse from today until Saturday.