Award-winning 20 Stories High Theatre Company, based in Toxteth, is proving that talent is alive and well amongst the young people of Merseyside as they announce not one, but two young people’s shows this summer. In a bold move away from directing their own Youth Theatre Programme, Co-Artistic Directors Julia Samuels and Keith Saha have passed the reins over to two exciting and very different theatre practitioners from Liverpool.
Samuels says, “Over the past year, our Participation Programme has grown considerably and we wanted to bring new, local artists on board to find fresh and creative experiences for our participants. They have collaborated together to develop exciting new skills and techniques.”
20 Stories High Young Actors Company, aged 17 to 25, have been working with physical comic actor and director, Tim Lynskey of Big Wow (The Art of Falling Apart, The Friendship Experiment) on a show that explores the journeys of passengers stranded at an airport terminal after all the flights are cancelled. The show, titled Grounded, promises physical theatre, hip hop, dubstep and a whole load of angry people in an airport!
Also 20 Stories High Youth Theatre, ages 13 to 21, have been creating their own unique and darkly comic show, CRASHED, under the direction of physical theatre practitioner Elinor Randle of Tmesis Theatre (Wolf Red, Anima, The Dreadful Hours, Memento Mori.)
The show, which has grown from ideas generated by the young people themselves, is a coming of age tale following a group of teenagers in the wake of a terrible tragedy. Promising poignant and moving drama alongside innovative physicality, CRASHED demonstrates the power of the human spirit to survive in the face of terrible adversity.
On the show, Randle says, ‘It’s brilliant to work with 20 Stories High, a fantastic forward-thinking company who do such great work with young people, creating a supportive and open environment. I have loved working with the youth theatre, and introducing them to more physical way of working and creating theatre which they have really embraced. I’m really excited about this piece. We switch between two worlds, a naturalistic, sensitive story of a tragedy with young people and the crazy, magical and very physical, dream world.’
For more information visit: www.20storieshigh.org.uk
Tickets for Crashed on the 24th and 25th July at The Cornerstone Theatre on Shaw Street are priced at £3 with concessions available at £2. To book go to info@20storieshigh.org.uk or ring 0151 7089728.
Tickets for Grounded on the 11th July (7.30pm), 12th July (1.30pm & 7.30pm) and 13th July (7.30pm) at The Bluecoat on School Lane and are priced at Tickets: £3 with concessions at £2. To book go to www.uj.patronbase.com or ring 0151 7025324.