Liverpool-based young person’s theatre company 20 Stories High are to ditch treading-the-boards in favour of pushing-the-pedals in a bid to raise much needed funds for their local participation programme. In an attempt to boost income for their Youth Theatre and Young Actor’s Company, the charity’s Youth Advisory Group has set some of the staff team the challenge of cycling non-stop for 24 hours.

Participation Programme Manager, Leanne Jones says, “The money for our programme comes from a whole range of statutory and charitable sources but there is a shortfall in our income this financial year. Our Youth Advisory Group were given a target of £2,500 to raise, to ensure we can continue offering top quality performance training and experience to the young people of Liverpool, free of charge. They have decided to throw down the gauntlet and have challenged the core staff team to cycle – on display in Liverpool City Centre – for 24 hours!”

The sponsored event will see staff members from 20 Stories High don the Lycra at 6pm on Friday 6 June 2014 to cycle through the night at their offices in Toxteth. The challenge will continue the following morning, moving down into Williamson Square in Liverpool City Centre where 20 Stories High Youth Theatre members will be collecting donations and offering their moral support.

20 Stories High has gained a reputation in the past few years for creating challenging and dynamic new theatre for young people with a string of award-winning national tours exploring issues relevant to their culturally diverse young audiences.

Leanne Jones says, “The company’s professional work has catapulted us onto the U.K. theatre scene with incredible speed. But it is the work we do with young people that really sets us apart from your average theatre company. We’re passionate about young people, their voices, their talents and their aspirations – many of our young people cannot afford the expensive fees charged at other youth theatres or drama schools, that’s why we believe what we offer should be free of charge to everyone.”

The money raised from the 24 Hour Cycle Challenge will go directly into 20 Stories High’s local participation programme supporting a diverse range of young people from all walks of life in developing their skills as performers, but it doesn’t stop there:

​​“What we do doesn’t end when the curtain comes down on a youth theatre show,’ says Leanne Jones, ‘We offer a whole range of pastoral support and professional development opportunities to those on our programme to ensure that young people, regardless of their background, can go on to become successful and well-rounded young adults contributing to the arts both here in Liverpool and across the U.K.”

You can make a donation online at: www.justgiving.com/20storieshigh