Tricycle Theatre Announces Festival Of Young People's Work Across Brent

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."

The festival includes:

STONEBRIDGE YOUNG COMPANY
Sugar
Written by Yasmin Joseph
Director: Justin Audibert; Designer: Sadeysa Bailey
Stonebridge HUB, Stonebridge
6 April & 7 April 2018

The women and girls of Brent have staged a revolt. They've seized the Civic Centre and are refusing to reintegrate until their demands of respect, safety and less overwhelming cologne are firmly met. Inspired by the gender politics of Lysistrata, Sugar explores the journey of a group of boys navigating a lawless world without women. Will they ride the high of adrenaline and Krispy Kreme's for dinner, or will the taste of freedom quickly become sickly sweet?

Yasmin Joseph is a resident playwright for Theatre503, The 503Five. Her theatre credits include The Place of Shining Light (Theatre503) and Do You Pray? (Theatre503/Southwark Playhouse). Joseph attended the Soho Theatre Young Writers Lab, where she developed her first play Pinch that was considered for the Alfred Fagon Award in 2015.

Justin Audibert directs. His theatre credits include The Winter's Tale, Macbeth (National Theatre), The Box of Delights (Wilton's Music Hall), Beowulf, My Mother Medea (Unicorn Theatre), Snow in Midsummer and The Jew of Malta (RSC). In August 2018 he will become Artistic Director of Unicorn Theatre.

WILLESDEN GREEN YOUNG WOMEN'S COMPANY
a colOURful world
Written and directed by Natasha Nixon
Assistant Director: Kadisha Williams; Designer: Emma Bailey; Sound Designer: Dinah Mullen
Willesden Green Library, Willesden
10 & 11 April 2018

a colOURful world is an immersive performance devised by Willesden Girls Youth Theatre looking at the theme of segregation. The piece begins in a dusty, dark market place in a long lost desert where market sellers try and convince you to set apart one from another. It's not until a huge sand storm whips the market away and we land in the present day on a raft where they are forced to confront each other. Will they be able to survive the storms at sea and make it through to their dreams of the future or will the storms quench their hopes?

Natasha Nixon is a theatre director. Her theatre credits include Trigger Warning (Young Vic/Shoreditch Town Hall), Reasons To Be Pretty (The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama), The Scottsboro Boys (Young Vic), Feel Sad About Japan (Southwark Playhouse), The Sexual Awakening (Edinburgh Festival Fringe/Theatre503) and The Aim of the Game (The Old Vic). She was also National Theatre Connections Director and Assistant Director on A Streetcar Named Desire (Young Vic).

PRESS ROAD YOUNG COMPANY
Double-bill:
We Are Here to Stay | Blanket
Director: Christopher Sivertsen; Designer: Alex Berry
St Catherine's Church Hall, Neasden
12 & 13 April 2018

We Are Here to Stay
Written by Catriona Kerridge

One park, six superheroes. Meet the mismatched but best matched. The park is their place to relax but something's up. With one last mission, a mini love story and a friendship, the park is restored. It's now time for the superheroes to take off their skins, become human again and let us deal with our problems. But if you need help don't forget the park.

Blanket
Written by Chris Finnegan

Inspired and written by the cast, Blanket is an offering of the minds and points-of-view of some of our the UK's young citizens.

An expression of what the world looks like today from the eyes of a young person setting out on their journey into adolescence and beyond, Blanket showcases the wisdom of youth and gives voice to the complex thoughts and emotions of these brilliant young people.

This performance is an opportunity for them to be seen, heard and acknowledged as talented, intellectual, imaginative and passionate individuals.

Christopher Sivertsen is a director, actor and musician from Norway. He is Artistic Director of the internationally award-winning physical theatre company Awake Projects. He has over 20 years experience in creating and devising theatre with young people all over the world.

The Quest for Happiness
Written by Press Road Group 1
Directed by Natasha Marks and Aliyah Forde
St Catherine's Church Hall, Neasden
14 April 2018, 12pm

We have a story to tell from the underworld, about a Princess who is banished from her kingdom by her grief-stricken father. A story of a young girl who spreads the importance of bravery and kindness in her quest to restore happiness.

THE OK CLUB
The OK Club Presents...
Written by OK Club Young Company
Directed by Dionne Reid and David Gilbert
The OK Club, South Kilburn
14 April 2018

After 10 weeks of 'creative sessions' developing their talent and exploring what is important to them and their community, this project ends in a showcase celebration of love, life and laughter.

David Gilbert is a director and theatremaker from Zimbabwe. He was awarded the regional theatre young directors scheme at Cambridge Junction.

Storylab
Written and directed by Jonathan Glew
Willesden Green Library, Willesden
School Performances: 16-20 April 2018
Public performances: 21 April 2018

Storylab is Tricycle Theatre's flagship project for primary schools, using drama techniques to increase attainment and enthusiasm for literacy. This is the 4th year this project has been delivered in Brent, this year in partnership with Brentfield Primary School, Donnington Primary School, Furness Primary School, Salusbury Primary School and Sudbury Primary School.

360 students have taken part in interactive performances, followed by 8 workshops in schools delivered by Tricycle Theatre practitioners. Students aged 8-10 years old, have been working together to create 12 brand new stories.

The children's stories will be adapted for the stage and made into a brand new production by the Tricycle Theatre, to take place at Willesden Green Library in April. Each participating class will see their story brought to life by a team of professional actors.

Jonathan Glew is a theatre director, composer and Olivier Award-winning actor. His directing credits include John Lennon 'In His Own Write' (V&A), Girls Like That (LIPA), Richard II and Macbeth (East 15). As an actor his credits include Jerry Springer The Opera, She Stoops To Conquer and As You Like it (National Theatre).

www.tricycle.co.uk

Mapping Brent tickets: FREE. Limited to two per person.

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