National Theatre launches Speak Up youth council
Hattie Fisk
Wednesday, July 5, 2023
Among their proposals, the council suggested a restorative day planned by and for teachers, including artist workshops, market stall sessions, sharing best practice and legacy discussions.
Becca Hunt
Speak Up, the National Theatre’s secondary school programme that provides young people with the chance to explore issues that matter to them, has launched its first youth council.
The council, consisting of young people from 11 areas across the UK,l will help shape the future of the Speak Up project.
A selection of motions that were proposed by the council in the inaugural meeting include the suggestion of a restorative day planned by and for teachers, including artist workshops, market stall sessions, sharing best practice and legacy discussions.
Other proposals include annual regional meet-ups for all partner regions, teachers, artists and young people, that all Speak Up areas should make a piece of art about how ‘we’re different and the same’, and that all Speak Up partners and participants learn BSL in order to communicate better with one another.
The Speak Up Council Student Representatives are:
- Doncaster: Chloe (co-chair), Tiffany, Veronica
- Greater Manchester: Alisa, Amelia, Isabelle
- Outer East London and South Essex: Gladness, Pipeloluwa
- Leicester: Isobel, Jaspreet
- Sunderland: Lola, Oliver
- Wakefield: Connie, John
- Wolverhampton: Brooklyn, Aaravjiv
Representatives from North Devon and Stoke will be involved later in the programme.
One of the council reps, Amelia, called the group a ‘very accepting’ and ‘diverse community’.
In November, the Speak Up Council will meet in person to see the National Theatre’s backstage, the archive and a live show.
Find out more at nationaltheatre.org.uk/news/speak-up-youth-council/
