Southbank Centre's WHY? Festival to Feature Olivia Colman, Brigitte Aphrodite and Complicite Theatre Company

Southbank Centre's WHY?: What's Happening for the Young? explores the rights of children and young people. The annual festival, supported by Mishcon de Reya, returns in October for a third year and takes over Southbank Centre's 21-acre site for five days of talks, debates, workshops, performances and free participatory events, and this year features actor Olivia Colman, vlogger Grace Victory, poet Brigitte Aphrodite and Complicite theatre company.

Highlights from this year's festival include:

Daily keynote talks from prominent artists including British actor Olivia Colman (Peep Show, The Night Manager, Broadchurch, Flowers) and vlogger Grace Victory asking 'What Makes a Good Childhood?' (19-23 October)

Seen and Not Heard - a new immersive performance installation from acclaimed theatre company Complicite, produced by 11-16 year olds (22 - 23 October)

Punk-poet Brigitte Aphrodite leads workshops inspired by her play My Beautiful Black Dog (19 October)

An interactive workshop on how to get into politics featuring MP Stella Creasy (22 October)

BBC Concert Orchestra - WHY? young programmers takeover - a diverse evening of entertainment curated by the WHY? Festival Makers (22 October)

Layla's Room - a play by award-winning writer Sabrina Mahfouz and Theatre Centre (22 October)

Virgin Territory - a participatory digital installation from Vincent Dance Theatre that explores what it's like for young people to live in a digitally captured world (22 - 23 October)

Hidden - a compelling portrait exhibition that tells the story of Britain's young carers, captured by photographer and former young carer Max Alexander (19 - 22 October)

A playful performance piece by artist Mamoru Iriguchi (19 & 20 October)

A forum for professionals featuring speakers from from The Children's Society, Children's Rights Alliance of England and poet LionHeart (20 October)

Inspired by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the festival is an opportunity for policy makers, social workers, families, children of all ages and their schools to immerse themselves in fundamental questions about childhood today. Alongside artists, thinkers and social activists, WHY? will explore the right to freedom of expression, play, care, safety and access to the arts and culture. The festival programme is divided into three parts: a weekend of workshops, performances and talks for families; a forum for professionals; and two days for schools to bring students to the festival.

WEEKEND FOR FAMILIES - SATURDAY 22 - SUNDAY 23 OCTOBER

One of the central questions at WHY? festival is 'What Makes a Good Childhood?' Over the weekend, public figures will give keynote talks drawing on their own experiences of childhood and personal views to inspire and empower audiences of all ages. A range of other talks and debates take place throughout the weekend including a workshop inspiring young people to get into politics featuring MP Stella Creasy; a journey through moral philosophy led by Philosophy Squared and a series of interactive workshops that explore children's right to education, safety and leisure, as well as the rights of refugee children.

Families can also take part in a range of free activities for all ages including creative dance workshops exploring children's right to freedom of thought and expression; outdoor games including a mass game of 'it' hosted by game design studio Antidote, free performances from the Future Talent orchestra and a 'Big Sing' workshop.

Over the weekend, a range of thought-provoking performances explore the realities of life for young people today. The award-winning playwright and writer Sabrina Mahfouz and Theatre Centre's play Layla's Room explores the realities and absurdities of teenage life. Bringing together the voices of 1000 UK teens collected from a bespoke national survey, Layla's Room offers an insightful look at issues facing young women today. Seen and Not Heard from Complicite theatre company is a new immersive performance installation that explores young people and selfie culture. Created and performed by 11-16 year olds, the installation explores whether the the rise of the selfie is narcissistic or empowering. For WHY? Vincent Dance Theatre have created a free participatory digital installation Virgin Territory that explores what it's like for young people to live in an over-stimulating, over-sexualised, digitally captured world.

The WHY? Festival Makers, group of 12 young people aged 15-21, have curated a unique afternoon of music chosen to celebrate young people's rights and inspire social change. The evening will featuring the BBC Concert Orchestra, as well as performances from the BBC Young Musician of the Year Jess Gillam and dance troupe Zoonation, with further special guests to be announced.

FORUM FOR PROFESSIONALS: WHY? I CARE
Thursday 20 October 2016, 10.30am - 6pm, Level 5 Function Room, £45
This day for professionals explores a range of topics affecting children and young people today. Hear from expert speakers who work with children and young people, highlighting examples of best practice from across a broad range of initiatives within in the sector, with time for conversation and networking. Featuring speakers from Tender, The Children's Society, Children's Rights Alliance of England, Shared Vision, dance artist Jo Rhodes, poet LionHeart and mindfulness expert Dr Tamara Russell. More information here.

SCHOOL STUDENTS AT WHY? FESTIVAL
Wednesday 19 October - Thursday 20 October 2016
On Thursday and Friday from 10am-3pm, schools are invited to bring students to WHY? Festival for workshops and talks. Children can explore ideas relating to identity with Three Faiths Forum; healthy relationships with Tender; learn about the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child with UNICEF; and take part in poetry and mindfulness workshops.

Tamsin Ace, Head of Festival Programme, Southbank Centre, said:
"The rights of children are often overlooked in our society and we at Southbank Centre believe this needs to change. At WHY? festival we seek to provide an open platform for urgent conversations about how the needs and ideas of children and young people can be properly included in the world, through creativity, talks, workshops and performances. With many events programmed or led by young people, the festival provides an empowering platform for children and young people to recognise their rights and get their voices heard."

Barbara Reeves, Partner in Mishcon de Reya's Family Practice, said:
"Inclusive and creative, the WHY? festival provides a forum in which young people and adults are encouraged to speak up and share their views, facilitating much needed debate around topical issues. This is an opportunity to really listen to children and for them to express themselves - something we feel is very important. At Mishcon de Reya we have long since sought to promote children's rights. As a nation, we rarely consult children on issues that impact their lives, and our objective is to put their wishes, needs and wellbeing at the forefront during parental disputes and separation. We believe it's necessary to lead a national debate on this issue."

WHY?: What's Happening for the Young is the third in a series of major culturally activist festivals that Southbank Centre organises yearly including: WOW: Women of the World and BAM: Being a Man.

Visit www.southbankcentre.co.uk/why for more info

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