Tricycle Theatre today announces the return of Mapping Brent following the success of its inaugural year in 2017. This year the programme will see Tricycle Theatre join forces with four community venues across Brent to deliver six new plays during a two-week youth theatre festival.
Taking place in Neasden, South Kilburn, Stonebridge and Willesden, Mapping Brent is the product of weekly drama sessions with young people across the borough, aiming to build lasting relationships with communities and provide opportunities for local youth to engage in theatre; making work that is relevant to them.
The project will culminate in six new and original performance pieces performed at Stonebridge Hub, Willesden Green Library, St Catherine’s Church Hall and The OK Club.
Professionals from across the industry have been engaged to lead the project, including playwrights, Chris Finnegan, Yasmin Joseph and Catriona Kerridge; and directors,Justin Audibert, Aliyah Forde, David Gilbert, Natasha Marks, Natasha Nixon,Christopher Sivertsen and Dionne Reid.
Running alongside this Tricycle Theatre continue Storylab, its flagship project for primary schools, which uses drama techniques to increase attainment and enthusiasm for literacy. The project, now in its fourth year, culminates in a production at Willesden Green Library in April.
Indhu Rubasingham, Artistic Director of Tricycle Theatre, said today “I am thrilled to see Tricycle Theatre’s hugely important Creative Learning projects continuing this year. Mapping Brent connects young people with commissioned writers to develop their own stories as professional scripts and performances. StoryLab empowers primary school students to write their own stories and see them performed by a professional cast. With Brent now as the London Borough of Culture 2020 I am very proud of Tricycle Theatre’s work with the young people in Brent.”
Axa Hynes, Creative Learning Manager: Young People at Tricycle Theatre said today, “It is integral to the work we do here at the Tricycle that young people also get the opportunity to take part in making theatre. By working in 4 different areas of Brent we are engaging with a variety of young people from the borough to understand their experiences and what is important to them and their community. Mapping Brent youth theatre festival is a culmination and a celebration of this work.”
Jenny Batt, Creative Learning Manager: Schools at Tricycle Theatre, added, “We are proud to be working with fantastic students and teachers in Brent schools. Storylab is an important project for Tricycle Theatre as it demonstrates the positive impact of creative approaches in the classroom, and enables us to show local students just how amazing they are, by putting their ideas on stage.”
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