Mortal Fools Ensemble Young Company brought new production, Inevitable? to venues across the North in a highly anticipated Spring tour, delighting audiences and selling out performances. Nearly 350 audience members watched the unfiltered, funny, and thought-provoking show exploring a universal part of life: becoming an adult.
Devised and performed by a group of Northumberland young people, Inevitable? was an honest and poignant exploration of the phenomenon of growing up, drawing on the real lived experiences and feelings of the young company members involved in the production.
Wendy Scott, Northumberland Culture Manager shared: “As a young person led production the messaging was beautifully pitched to connect with a wide range of people of all ages in a hugely engaging way. The stage craft and effects were highly polished and professional and further amplified the enjoyment of the performance without it being eclipsed. It was of the highest quality and better than some professional productions in Edinburgh and London.”
11 Northumberland young people from Ashington and the Tyne Valley worked with theatre, drama and creative learning company Mortal Fools and their associate artists since September 2023 to create the show from scratch.
Ensemble Young Company is Mortal Fools’ dedicated youth theatre group for Northumberland young people aged 13-19 which offering young people the experience of making and touring theatre, as close to a professional process as possible!
Kiz Crosbie, Mortal Fools Artistic Director and CEO shared: “Northumberland is one of Arts Council England’s Levelling Up for Culture areas, meaning that the county is recognised as having a significantly lower level of arts and culture activities available for people to take part in than the national average.
Mortal Fools’ work has always been focused on Northumberland and gives exciting artistic opportunities to the young people who live there. Inevitable? gave our Ensemble young company members the chance to make a high-quality original theatre show through a process of deep collaboration with a range of professional artists, to showcase their work and voices to public audiences and as a beacon for change.”
The current group worked alongside a team of professional theatre practitioners, directors, designers, and technicians to create a full production with sound, lighting, set, costumes, and original music in the making of Inevitable? They then had the experience of performing to audiences across the North in professional theatre venues, to paying public audiences. This was a unique, high impact opportunity for those young people, many of whom have intersectional needs, mental health difficulties and face challenges in their lives.
“Mortal Fools has been such a lifeline for me. It gives me a space to truly be myself and I have met the most amazing, genuine people. The way Mortal Fools gives the young people a voice, is honestly special.” – Ashington Ensemble Young Company Member
The production was part of the national Grow Up! Project, created and co-led by Beyond Face, Company Three, Mortal Fools and Prime Theatre – showcased an original soundtrack, striking set design, and the incredible talent, insights and lived experience of the young company members.
The Grow Up! Project supports youth theatre across the country, drawing on its ability to spark and create radical, transformative change for young people.
Due to the success of the Inevitable? production and its impact on audiences, Mortal Fools are planning what’s next for Inevitable? and exploring the possibility of transforming it into a film, so that the lived experience of Northumberland young people can be seen and heard on a bigger scale.
Kiz Crosbie concluded: “We know that it’s not always easy for audiences to access live theatre performances, so we’re excited to be developing a digital content strategy. As part of that, we’re busy working on plans for a filmed version on Inevitable? which will be proudly produced in Northumberland, providing a longer legacy and much wider audience for this brilliant piece of work.”
Any young people aged 13-19 interested in joining Mortal Fools Ensemble Young Company are invited to take part in taster workshops in Ashington this Summer term, ahead of joining one of the groups in Ashington or Riding Mill. Young people can register their interest via: www.mortalfools.org.uk/register-with-mfyt