As the confetti falls: Youthquake reflections from our young people and professional team
Over the last 11 months, Zest has been on an incredible journey to research, develop and tour Youthquake. Our aim was to lift the lid on the unheard voices of Teeage Britain and tell the story of the next generation. Having researched the show with over 800 young people, we then toured the production to 12 Cities, with 168 young performers joining our professionals on stage across the tour. Youthquake has been a transformative journey for Zest’s professional team and young people alike.
As the confetti falls on our 2019/20 national tour of Youthquake, we reflect on the entire process and hear from a selection of the Young People, Cast and Creative team that have made it all happen.
Ben Pacey, Lighting Designer:
“The week when we were putting Youthquake together, I was feeling conflicted. Friends of mine were on the streets in London, risking arrest as part of Extinction Rebellion's 'October Rebellion'. And I was in a theatre, turning the lights on and off... Luckily, Youthquake is awesome, and packed full of the energy, confidence, dreams and questions of all the young people from whose voices it was made. It's a thing which might just help all those participants (and their audiences) really *know* that they can take their dreams for change, tolerance, justice and compassion out from the theatre and make them happen in our actual real-life world. I'm still conflicted about that week: I believe we need the change that Extinction Rebellion is campaigning for. But we also need young people with the ideals, hope, and resilience which Youthquake campaigns for. And I feel grateful and lucky to have been able to contribute my skills towards something which brilliantly kindles their futures.”
Catherine Fowles, Producer:
“Watching Youthquake develop from start to finish has been a privilege. This process was a challenging one - from the beginning we knew there would be a lot to overcome as there were so many aspects of Youthquake that were going to stretch Zest’s limits: starting the ascent into the midscale, reclaiming theatre spaces for the young with the design, developing bespoke local scripts, and, one of the biggest unknowns, working with a new young cast in each venue we visited. We stretched and grew as a company, and we invited workshop participants and audiences to do that with us. The thing that has continually left me in awe is the way that every member of the team (both professional and young people) has risen to the challenge with grace, skill, and humour - and courage. There is a hell of a lot of faith and courage in this process, and that’s what has made Youthquake an immeasurable success. How could it not be with that much passion driving it? The sector would be wise to learn that the best work is about that symbiosis of risk and passion, the metric of which is palpable in any audience of Youthquake.”
Cas, Lincoln Youth Cast:
“Youthquake absolutely changed my life. It gave me a voice at a time when I needed it most, and proved to me that I do matter. It carries such an important message that the whole world ought to hear.”
Chloe, Lincoln Youth Cast:
“Youthquake helped me as an individual by building my confidence it made me feel heard and like people cared about my opinion.”
Lincoln Youth Cast
Claire Gaydon, Actor:
“This process really made me realise that as we get older we get brainwashed into accepting the status quo. We stop questioning. But young people just don’t do that. As you get older you get indoctrinated into the system. It happens without you being aware that it’s happening, and it’s only when you spend time with young people that you see all that in yourself. These voices we’ve heard are precious to everybody, because they aren’t just speaking out for themselves, they are speaking out for everybody. The changes they want to see are inherently the changes we all want to see. So we need to listen to them, they need to be a part of the fabric of how we make decisions in this country, not just for their sake, but for everybody. Only by doing that are we going to have a better society for everybody.”
Gareth Morgan, Dramaturg:
“Youthquake, for me, has proven what many of us working with young people or making work for young audiences have said for ages - that's these young people are avid consumers of complex, rich stories and intricate ways of telling these. Nothing need ever be "dumbed down" for it to be understood by Gen Z across the country. From Bath and Brighton to Barnsley and Hartlepool, Youthquake showed us young peoples' capacity to tell us their lives and how we need to get behind them or get out of the way. They deserve their voices heard and we can both build the stage from which this can happen and try to amplify them - Youthquake succeeded massively in doing all of that.”
Hannah, Middlesbrough Youth Cast:
“Youthquake has taught me more in 4 days than college has in 2 years.”
Middlesbrough Youth Cast
Harris Cain, Actor:
“My key take away is self–belief. It’s not an easy thing to acquire, but with the right help and guidance, everyone can access it. With that self-belief you can open doors and find potential that you never thought you could. Seeing this team work with the young people and install this self-belief within them means they manage to do things that they probably couldn’t even comprehend doing before we came along. Loving yourself and accepting yourself for who you are is so difficult, but I know I’ve learnt to love myself a hell of a lot more being on this tour. Self-belief is so key.”
Katie, Canterbury Youth Cast:
“Doing Youthquake has basically confirmed, for me, that I want to do live theatre for a living. Having our class all being pulled together to support this cause has not only left a lasting impact on me and given me confidence, it's left an impact on the entire class, it's brought us closer together like a proper family, and we have Youthquake to thank for that.”
CANTERBURY YOUTH CAST
Jason, London Youth Cast:
“I have ADHD and I also found out that I’ve got EBD. My character made me burst out a lot of anger, because with my disorder, some people think of me as a kid that doesn’t function properly. They wouldn’t know what ADHD and EBD really does to a young man. I feel like my character spoke from the heart, that was my heart. I felt like my character and I poured our heart out towards the audience and we combined that same energy to let everyone know that us young people feel the same way as adults. Just because we have a disorder, that doesn’t mean you can portray us as a kid, we have feelings and it hurts us. Zest taught me new things that I never knew I had. I’ve become patient, confident, less angry. I am more self-assured of who I am. I feel I’ve conquered the whole disorder of ADHD and EBD because of you guys (Zest). It felt like I was part of the professional industry, I felt like I was part of a family that was in the same page as me, the same wave length. It was an honour to work with you guys. Honestly I wouldn’t ask for anything else. Thank you sooo much.”
LONDON YOUTH CAST
Joe Jenner, Company Stage Manager:
“Youthquake has definitely been a game changer for me. At first I thought it was going to be like any other tour, going from venue to venue and doing a show, but it’s not. The wide variety of young people have taught me that everyone is different, but at the same time the same. Everyone wants to be “loved, cared for and cherished, not discriminated against or hated”. It has been so great to see the younger generation living these values because it shows there is hope for the future. Everyone is “amazing at something”, regardless of who you are, you are just as important as anyone else and deserve to be heard.”
Lachlan, Lincoln Youth Cast:
"Making real change is not just about getting a point across, its about communication, hearing each other. That’s what Youthquake did.”
Millie, Hartlepool Youth Cast:
“It was an amazing experience and I learnt that it is simple to make a change in the world by doing the little things - kindness really is everything. Looking back I’m so sad that it’s over, but I’m so happy I was a part of it. It was just so chill, but focused, the perfect working environment! We were given an amazing opportunity and I can’t thank you enough! I learnt that it’s okay to just be you and there’s no wrong way to live your life, everyone’s just on their own journey. It completely changed my outlook on life”
HARTLEPOOL YOUTH CAST
Patricia Suarez, Movement Director:
“Youthquake is about space. It’s about making and holding space for people, especially young people, to be themselves and to tell their story in their words. I saw first hand in R&D workshops and with our Youth Casts that that opportunity to speak and have someone really listen is just so important. I’d like to challenge our wider industry to be more diverse and inclusive, to create more space for people to be themselves and in your process. All it takes is to really see, and hear, and be with someone to be able to put them in your process in a really meaningful way. The commitment to being inclusive and diverse is what makes Youthquake unique. The experience of working with all the different Youth Casts is going to stay with me and make be a better Movement Director. So I just want to thank them.”
Rakeem, London Youth Cast:
“Talking about some of the issues that disabled people face was a great thing for me because it gave me a chance to say things that I don't say. I also feel that it helped people to see that disabled people are completely normal and do not need to be judged differently to others.”
TEES VALLEY YOUTH CASTS UNITE TO CELEBRATE THE FINAL SHOW
Rob, Lincoln Youth Cast:
“Youthquake has changed my perception on life and the value I have with my own life and others. It’s made me realise how important I am and that anyone can make a difference. It also made me realise how much damage there is in the world and that it will take more that a single thought and an idea to save it.”
Tammi, Middlesbrough Youth Cast:
“I think the Youthquake project is the only thing I’ve ever actually encountered that targets the wellbeing of young people. Young people genuinely want to help and make a difference. That is all we need, to be able to feel hope. The hope we felt in Youthquake was almost overwhelming. I just wish it happened sooner.”
Toby Ealden, Artistic Director:
“Youthquake was an idea I had 2 years ago. I wanted to see if there was a better way of representing young people and their voices on stage. Was it possible to make a touring show that put real young people centre stage and authentically allowed them to speak for themselves? The answer is YES! This project is testament to what young people can achieve when adults shut up, listen and create a platform for their growth. I want to thank all our young people for trusting us with your stories. Thank you for all your energy, joy, optimism and honesty. Thanks for teaching me how to be a better ally. We’ve seen you, we’ve heard you and we promise not to stop. We will carry on fighting your corner and amplifying your voices for as long as Zest exists.”