Youth theatre programme on hunt for young north-east talent

AN exciting youth theatre programme, Positive Stories for Negative Times: Season Three, is encouraging schools and youth groups across the north-east to get involved.

The programme is run by critically acclaimed Glasgow-based theatre company, Wonder Fools, who have seen over 7000 young people from 16 countries take part since 2020.

Applications are open to young people worldwide with current sign-ups including groups from Scotland to Cape Town in South Africa and Valencia, Spain.

Young people (aged 10-25) can sign-up to perform a play for free or submit an alternative creative response inspired by the six plays on offer. The plays include new work from renowned British playwrights Bryony Kimmings and Tim Crouch.

Also available are plays from award-winning theatre makers Robert Softley Gale and Sara Shaarawi: And the Name for That Is…?, a riotously funny take on disability and stereotyping, and The Day the Stampers United, about collective action in a community.

Ms Kimmings said: “Young people are the key to saving this planet – if I can inspire them to take a stand and change things that aren’t right, then my job as an activist writer is working!”

Robbie Gordon and Jack Nurse of Wonder Fools addedd: “We couldn’t be happier to be working with such a brilliant selection of artists including some of our favourite voices in the UK today on the next season of Positive Stories for Negative Times. All six of the works featured are all really different, but speak to a huge range of issues that young people are trying to navigate today.

“We have been blown away by the success of the project so far and we’re all excited to see what comes of it a third time around. This season is the most ambitious yet and we are thrilled to be working with four brilliant partner venues to bring young people together in person to celebrate their work and meet each other at the four new festivals taking place next summer. We can’t wait to see the community of people involved in the project grow, but more importantly we hope it continues to provide a platform for young people to connect, create, inspire and celebrate each other.”

Following two online-only programmes, Season Three encourages groups to perform live with a festival celebration of Positive Stories. The festival, featuring local groups who have already signed up, comes to Eden Court on Saturday and Sunday, July 8-9. Ticket details to be announced soon. Further festivals will take place across Scotland at the Traverse Theatre (Edinburgh), Gaiety Theatre (Ayr) and Perth Theatre and Concert Hall.

Groups can sign up until Friday, May 26, with applications from schools and local theatre groups particularly welcomed. To sign-up or find out more visit https://positivestories.scot/

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