Announcing the Youthquake National Tour 2019/20
/Part show, part TED Talk and part party, Youthquake by OFFIE-award-winning Zest Theatre gives a powerful insight into the hidden lives and minds of Teen Britain and questions what it actually means to change the world.
Becky is thirty years old and wants to make a difference
Frustrated with her peers, Becky wants to empower the next generation to stand up and change the world. Tonight she’ll perform an inspirational presentation for you, the audience, designed to do just that.
Except there’s a problem. Becky’s been talking so much that she’s not realised the Youthquake has already begun.
Zest Theatre founder and director, Toby Ealden and Youthquake’s Creative Team devised this urgent and current piece through extensive R&D, visiting over 11 cities in which the show will tour. Conversations with more than 800 young people over 14 weeks were recorded on audio to inform an authentic piece of theatre inspired by Gen-Z. Youthquakeunlocks their words and opinions and gives voice to a generation often left unheard.
Politics, climate change, social media, mental health, parents and family breakdown, the education system, LGBTQ, diversity, the struggles of young women, are the breadth of issues in this charged piece, which mixes verbatim theatre, movement, spoken word, rap and music.
Director Toby Ealden comments: “It’s not easy being young in Britain. But between the news stories and the negativity, there are the rumblings of something exciting and new. Generation Z are realistic, yet optimistic for the future. They’re authentic, transparent and allergic to bullshit.”
“They’re a generation challenging the system that’s set against them whilst positively redefining their future. Their influence is changing the world. I wanted to capture this and expose the harsh realities they are facing through theatre. It’s a tough listen at times but ultimately, I hope an empowering experience for all.”
The production will tour seven venues in 2019 and five venues across the North East in 2020 through an exciting commission from Tees Valley Combined Authority. This ambitious production led by a professional cast, also incorporates a local ensemble of 20 young performers from each town who will invade the stage to add a local narrative to every location visited on the tour. Each performance becomes a metaphor for the cultural shift a Youthquake brings.
National Tour 2019 / 20
Autumn 2019
Lincoln Drill Hall
Thursday 10th & Friday 11th October 2019
Stratford Arts Centre, London
Wednesday 16th & Thursday 17th October 2019
The Egg, Bath
Tuesday 22nd - Friday 25th October 2019
The Old Market, Brighton
Tuesday 5th & Wednesday 6th November 2019
The Garage, Norwich (on sale soon)
Friday 7th & Saturday 8th November 2019
The Civic, Barnsley
Tuesday 12th - Friday 15th November 2019
Gulbenkian, Canterbury
Tuesday 19th - 22nd November 2019
Spring 2020
BOOKING OPENS SOON
Centre For Excellence In Creative Arts (CECA), Hartlepool
Thursday 16th & Friday 17th January 2020
Middlesbrough Town Hall
Tuesday 21st & Wednesday 22nd January 2020
ARC, Stockton
Friday 24th & Saturday 25th January 2020
The Hullabaloo, Darlington
Tuesday 28th & Wednesday 29th January 2020
TunedIn!, Redcar
Friday 31st January & Saturday 1st February 2020
