From Sunday 30 March, Tricycle Theatre in Kilburn will be taken over by London youth. Tricycle's Young Company to be exact. A north London hub for 11-25 year olds who are passionate about theatre and film, Tricycle Young Company members will put what they've learnt from the scheme into practice to pack the venue with a week-long programme of theatre, film, music and poetry.
As well as a chance to support young people as they embark on their theatrical careers (alongside the programming, company members will also play key roles across the creative, backstage and marketing teams), Tricycle Takeover Festival is also an opportunity for theatre lovers to enjoy seven new plays performed by young people, including a new Tricycle commission and six from National Theatre Connections (the annual National Theatre festival of new plays for youth theatres and schools).
A particularly Londony highlight of Tricycle’s Takeover is The Kilburn Passion, running 3-5 April and specially commissioned for the season by playwright Suhayla El-Bushra — a former member of the theatre’s youth company. The play looks at the daily lives of young adults who frequent the street upon which the theatre is located, Kilburn High Road, and what happens when a stranger enters their midst. At time of writing tickets for one of the nights are already sold out, so be quick if you want to catch it.
As well as theatre, there’ll also be a series of special screenings (including films submitted via the Ideastap website focusing on what it is to be young in the UK today), events with leaders in the theatre world, and masterclasses on playwriting, acting, designing and directing.
Tricycle Takeover Festival takes place from 30 March-5 April 2014. Ticket prices vary from free to up to £15 according to the event. Some events carry age restrictions. For more details and to book tickets visit Tricycle Theatre’s website.
