Speak Up Work Exhibited at Wakefield Artwalk

News 1 Aug 2022

News Story

On Wednesday 27 July, we were proud to share Believe in your Sen, an exhibition premiering two cutting edge films and a piece of art, all co-created with professional artists, teachers and young people, as part of the National Theatre’s new initiative Speak Up.

The films and artwork explored equality, sexual harassment and mental health, some of the most prevalent issues facing today’s young people. Visitors wrote down their comments on a feedback wall during the event.

Audience seated watching a screening of a film, with screen prints on display next to them.

No Balloons and The Chimp in My Brain explored sexual harassment and mental health. Co-created by CAPA Juniors and Fly Girl Films.

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Truly powerful; thought provoking; creative, inspired and hopeful.

Visitor Feedback

Image gallery

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Image of whole screen-print exhibition. Colourful prints displayed across the studio wall with visitors looking at the artwork.

The Year 9 Nurture Group and designer Emma Hardaker designed the new piece of artwork.

© 2022 Credit : David Lindsay
Close up of screen-print display, colourful prints including the text 'if not now, when, if not you, who?'

The Year 9 Nurture Group and designer Emma Hardaker designed the new piece of artwork.

© 2022 Credit : David Lindsay
Selection of colourful screen-prints on display with text including 'Be Your Self'

The Year 9 Nurture Group and designer Emma Hardaker designed the new piece of artwork.

© 2022 Credit : David Lindsay

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It’s been a whirlwind of emotions and it means so much to see our work finally be shown

Student Participant

Image of a participant listening to the audio exhibition through headphones.

An audio exhibition was made with young people in the chaplaincy and voiced by Helen Monks.

Listen Now

Writer and director Matt Woodhead worked with students in the chaplaincy at lunch time and afterschool to write about issues they want to Speak Up about.

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It's been a privilege to work with staff who always go the extra mile and young people who have so much they want to speak up about. This project is such a unique collaboration. I can't wait to see what everyone makes next - the sky's the limit!

Matt Woodhead (LUNG Theatre)

Over 100 visitors viewed the exhibition, including some of the students who were involved in the project, their families and teachers, and members of the public, alongside Theatre Royal Wakefield staff, board members, and the artists who co-created the work.

Speak Up

Theatre Royal Wakefield and Cathedral Academy are part of the National Theatre’s Speak Up, a nationwide project for schools, which will see young people working in collaboration with local artists and teachers to lead creative projects in response to issues that are most important to them.

Find Out More

We are currently recruiting artists and facilitators from across a range of artforms to be part of Speak Up here in Wakefield, working with our selected secondary schools.

Come and Meet Us

Gemma Woffinden, Speak Up Producer for Theatre Royal Wakefield, is holding 'come and meet us' sessions at Theatre Royal Wakefield on Thursday 25 August and Tuesday 30 August.

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