Building on the success of previous one-off projects, Women & Theatre launched Word Lounge Theatre Company in 2018, working with disadvantaged young people in collaboration with Birmingham Hippodrome, The REP, and MAC (Midlands Art Centre).

 

As the theatre had to temporarily close its doors, sadly we had to finish the “Word Lounge” project prematurely, but we wanted to share what they had created and how you can get involved with the project at home.

This unique youth theatre offers exciting opportunities for young people aged 12-18 to work in different theatre buildings and create new work that responds to each venue’s wider artistic programme.

Led by Jo Gleave, lead Artist practitioner at Women & Theatre, the company provides a fantastic opportunity for young people to work in different ways and is hugely supportive in helping young people gain varied skills and experiences.

The company is made up of looked after young people, young carers and young people with additional needs. In just 11 weeks, these participants are tasked with creating a totally new performance based on their unique ideas. From the flyer to the script, the songs to the set, the whole show is designed and performed by the youngsters!

In addition, the company are provided with workshops by professional poets, musicians and set designers! This term, the group was also invited to the opening night of Open Theatre’s The Twisted Tale of Hansel and Gretel. 

What is the show about?

 

This term at Word Lounge, the participants created a completely original performance based on the themes and issues most important to them and thus, The Differences Between Us was born.

The story follows four young people, experiencing their own trials and tribulations, who come to realise that by working together — perhaps they aren’t so different after all. The show incorporates themes of perseverance, companionship, and hope. The Differences Between Us truly reflects real young people’s experiences in 2020.

Of course, the multi-talented company isn’t just made up of fantastic actors; we’ve got singers, dancers, musicians, and much more! The performance features original songs such as Stronger Together, Good Enough, and I Will Be Heard written by members of Word Lounge and coached by our brilliant in-house musician, Sarah Wilson.

Lyrics aren’t the only medium through which the young people demonstrate their literary prowess. Working with Leicester-based poet Ty’rone Haughton, they experimented with writing their own poetry. Exploring themes of emotion and advice, the company wrote and recorded poems including Dear You and I Feel.

What did the company think?

 

“The group is so welcoming, and everyone is so supportive that it makes you feel so much more at home and that has really helped me.”
– Participant

“Everyone’s all included. There‘s no one [left] out and I don’t feel like I have to fit in, I feel like I can just be myself… this here is like a definition of diversity, at its finest.”
– Participant

– Participant

“Working on Word Lounge is one of the hardest and most rewarding things that I do. To give YP real agency over what they create and present is truly wonderful. Projects always say they are child led but rarely really are and so the YP expect prescribed activities and scripts and cannot, for the first few weeks, understand that they are truly responsible for writing and creating every bit of the content. It is a tight nit group who accept newcomers with open arms and support each other fiercely and it is an honour and a pleasure to work with them”
– Sarah Wilson, Musician

How can you get involved in Word Lounge at home?

 

For now, Word Lounge has come to the end but there are still plenty of ways in which you can stay involved! Why not:

– Make a mind map or bullet journal the themes and issues that are most important to you?

– Try writing your own scene? Don’t forget to include characters, settings and stage directions.

– Try writing a song or poem about how you feel? Start with simple sentences and statements to help.

– Improvise a scene with someone at home or even create a monologue based on your own ideas?

 

FUNDERS

Children in Need, Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, The Eveson Charitable Trust, Grantham Yorke Trust, Fields Family Charitable Trust and Baron Davenport’s Charity