Tricycle Theatre Announces Third Annual 'Takeover' Programming

The Tricycle Theatre has announced full programme details for its biggest ever Tricycle Takeover which will host more than 50 events, screenings, performances and masterclasses across a two week period.

During the Tricycle Takeover, 500 young people aged 11 - 25 from across London will play pivotal roles, working backstage, in producing, marketing and performing, to deliver events across the building. All of the work produced by the Tricycle Young Company is set to respond to the theme of 'paradise'.

Headlining Takeover 2016 is Bred, a new play running from 17-19 March created by the 15-18s Tricycle Young Company. Working closely with Brook Sexual Health Services and Sussex University, the Young Company have devised a play exploring how teenagers talk about sex, the history of the perception of sex and interviews with their parents.

The 19-25s Tricycle Young Company present Switch, a promenade performance taking place throughout the theatre with audiences recast as citizens of a broken future.

The Tricycle once again hosts National Theatre Connections, celebrating its 20th year in 2016. To mark the anniversary, the Tricycle in partnership with StageText will be increasing access to the plays by captioning every single NT Connections performance, to enable deaf or hard of hearing audiences to access the plays - a first in NT Connections' history.

Takeover 2016 also features a range of cinema, DJ sets and debates, including a discussion entitled Diverse Decision Makers on 17 March in which a panel of young backstage staff, creatives and office staff will discuss underrepresentation in the arts and their experiences working in the industry. Takeover will also feature masterclasses from a number of industry professionals including: David Ajala, James Graham, Gbolahan Obisesan and Simon Mole.

As a celebration of 10 years of the Tricycle Theatre's Minding The Gap project, 180 young migrants and refugees will be performing on stage as part of the Takeover festival. This term's participants have been working with theatre practitioners to explore themes and characters from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland to develop their own short plays. The participants, all of whom have recently arrived to the UK are drawn from three Brent secondary schools and attend weekly drama sessions at the Tricycle to support their English language studies.

Another Tricycle first will be the introduction of Ticket to Paradise. For just £20 the Ticket to Paradise is an unlimited access pass to the huge array of amazing theatre, events and masterclasses on offer in Takeover 2016. The Ticket to Paradise can be used throughout the two weeks of Takeover and is valid on all events (see terms and conditions).

Indhu Rubasingham, Artistic Director of the Tricycle Theatre said: "Over the last three years, Takeover has established itself as one of the Tricycle's annual theatrical highlights. It's an integral part of our artistic programme and I'm particularly looking forward to seeing the Tricycle Young Company performing on our main stage, in addition to young performers from across the capital."

Liam Shea, Creative Learning Director said: "We have around 400 people engaged with us each week, working in our rehearsal spaces, outnumbering our staff and main-house companies. Takeover is an opportunity for us to put our young people centre stage, hear their voices and discuss the issues relevant to them."

Young Company Director Tom Bowtell added: "I'm astonished by the energy and creativity of all 60 members of the Young Company. I believe that the untrammelled minds of young people have the potential to create theatre no-one else could make and I'm in no doubt that the itchy, complicated, vibrant version of Paradise they'll make during the Takeover will be unusual and extraordinary."

All tickets to Takeover can be booked online at www.tricycle.co.uk or via the Tricycle Theatre Box Office: 020 7328 1000.

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