Teenagers explore the meaning of ‘Home’ in New Devised Performance from Outwood Academy City Fields and Theatre Royal Wakefield

A powerful new performance titled HOME has been created by students at Outwood Academy City Fields, developed over six sessions with arts practitioner Hannah Megan Butterfield. Pupils from Years 7 to 11 worked collaboratively to explore what the concept of Home means to them.

Throughout the project, the young participants considered vital questions such as “What makes a home?”, “What is a safe place?” and “What makes us feel welcome?”. The resulting performance is hopeful, poignant and deeply rooted in local voices. It features words from the young people’s families, the wider Wakefield Community including volunteers and participants from Theatre Royal Wakefield’s Conversation Café, acting as a reminder of the human connections that bind communities together.

As a Theatre of Sanctuary, Theatre Royal Wakefield, hopes to continue developing the project with Outwood Academy City Fields and ultimately tour it to new venues, creating further opportunities for meaningful conversations about community cohesion, belonging and an ongoing commitment to youth voice and community storytelling.

As one audience member said, “Home is not just where you sleep that’s what I learned today – home is everywhere you go – everywhere is home.”

Erin Braithwaite, Director of Arts across Outwood Grange Academy Trust said: “The arts bring students together to share their stories and build real understanding of each other’s experiences and backgrounds. Seeing their confidence grow — especially for those stepping onto a stage for the first time — has been incredibly powerful. We’re very grateful to Theatre Royal Wakefield for their support in making this possible.”

This project was supported by a culture grant from Wakefield Council.

Members of the public, organisations and potential partners who are interested in supporting the project, are warmly encouraged to get in touch with Aoibheann Kelly, Head of Participation: aoibheann.kelly@theatreroyalwakefield.co.uk