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Hooded

A youth-led theatre project exploring real stories from the lives of the hooded ones

Starts: 2009-06-11
Finishes: 2009-06-13

Availability:

Thursday 11th & Friday 12th June 2009, 6.30pm
The Door, Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Tickets: £3 (£1.50 concs.)
Box Office: (0121 236 4455 /www.birmingham-rep.co.uk)

Introduction

Are they carrying knives? (Or books?)

Exploring young people’s lives, alliances and prejudices in our multicultural city, Hooded is a refreshing, fast moving, and seamless piece of contemporary theatre created by a diverse group of teenagers working with Women & Theatre.

Is it any different being a teenager now than it was then?

Real stories from the lives of “The Hooded Ones” are played out with verve, passion and conviction whilst original music, film and projection made by the young people weave an authentic back drop.

They may all look the same but everyone’s story is different…

History

Hooded was a youth led performance project about the complexity of issues surrounding being a young person in Birmingham in the 21st century. Women & Theatre worked with groups of young people from across the city, exploring their lives, alliances and prejudices in our multicultural society. Young people from RoC Drama, Baverstock School, the Bridge Centre and Fox Hollies School worked with Women & Theatre in a creative devising process over several weeks, culminating in an action-packed production week at the Birmingham Rep.

The final promenade performance took audiences on a journey through the lives of young people in Birmingham today, told in their own words. In a powerful, challenging and uplifting piece of theatre, young voices came together to speak, shout, sing, and ultimately claim their place in the world. Hooded was performed over two sell-out nights at the Rep in June 2009.

Hooded was developed with funding from Birmingham City Council’s Creative Futures, Awards for All, The Bryant Trust, The Baron Davenport Charity and The Harry Payne Trust.

Notes

“The process for developing Hooded has been very exciting as it has been a genuinely young person-led project. The ideas and material that form the basis of the production have come from the young people and reflect their perspective on life in Birmingham as well as wider social and global issues.”
Janice Connolly

Outcome

“Absolutely brilliant – totally unexpected. A great success. Talented actors and brilliant staging. One of the best things I’ve ever seen at The Door! Need more: Hooded II!”

Pepita Hanna, Birmingham City Council

Production Credits

Hooded was created through a devising process involving Janice Connolly, Jonathan Morris, Vikash Patel, Liam Walsh, Terina Talbot and young people from Rights of Children Drama Group, Baverstock School and Fox Hollies School.

Original concept: Michael Aduwali

Downloads

Hooded flyer

2 Responses to “Hooded”

I went to this play last night at The Birmingham rep . Very different Thanks very much for an unusual night at the theatre. congratulations to all involved . I even recieved a free Yoghurt !!

Posted by jean pickles

Just some of the fab feedback we had after two sell-out performances at the Birmingham Rep:

  • “Absolutely brilliant – totally unexpected. A great success. Talented actors and brilliant staging. One of the best things I’ve ever seen at The Door! Need more: Hooded II!” (Pepita Hanna, Birmingham City Council)
  • “It was super, really enjoyed it all. I would like to come again.”
  • “Absolutely fantastic in every way. Well done everyone! A reflection of our times, loved the audience participation and the interaction.”
  • “Loved it! Never been to the Rep so wow what an experience. Really liked being involved. Everyone involved did amazing, pure naturals! Couldn’t fault it. In such a short space of time to show so much and address many issues was pure genius. I want to see it again! Once again well done all you superstars! Mwah!”
  • “I really enjoyed the performance. It really showed that our young people are more concerned and worried about many more things in society than I would of thought.”
  • “Great loved it. Inclusion, real stories and experiences but shared! Heartfelt stuff in the thick of it!”
  • “Great show had a great time.”
  • “Loving it. Loved it. Wenz da nxt show? Lol!”
  • “I thought it was a good production and it puts across the message. I would like to do something similar”
  • “I thought it was good and it shows all the stages that some people are like in their lives.”
  • “Superb! Not what I expected! Interaction good.”
  • “Enjoyed the interaction and layout of the set. Didn’t fully understand the play but great performance overall.
    It was very funny.”
  • “Superb. Not what I expected but it surpassed my expectation. Well done!”
  • “Excellent. Thought-provoking. Talented young people. Great to see such a mix.”
  • “Well… it was SO GOOD. Well done to everyone involved in this project. So may marvellous ideas, thoughts, scenes, film etc. FAB. Thank you.”
  • “It was really good. It felt very intimate being in the set. It helped to experience the emotions of the characters. It would be good for this production to be shown in secondary schools.”
    • Posted by kat

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