The National Theatre is touring a new production, Shut Up, I’m Dreaming, created by physical ensemble theatre company The PappyShow, to nine state secondary schools across Wigan, Salford and Rochdale in Greater Manchester in partnership with The Lowry.
From 16th – 27th January, the production will visit:
Outwood Academy Hindley, Wigan
Irlam & Cadishead Academy, Irlam, Salford
Bedford High School, Leigh, Wigan
Pendelton College, Salford
Edgar Wood Academy, Heywood, Rochdale
Kingsway Park High School, Rochdale
St Ambrose Barlow R.C. High School, Swinton, Salford
Fred Longworth High School, Tyldesley, Wigan
Hollingworth Academy, Rochdale
Directed by Kane Husbands and created in collaboration with secondary school students, the production will visit a different school every day for 11 weeks across 11 areas across England as part of the NT’s largest ever schools tour. School halls across the country will be transformed with a gigantic moveable climbing frame set.
In an innovative new collaboration with The PappyShow, residencies have been held with 100 students in three partner schools in Wakefield, Sunderland and Walsall to understand the experience of teenagers over the past few years and incorporate their voices into the piece. Shut Up, I’m Dreaming explores the hopes and dreams of young people in an uncertain world through an eclectic combination of movement, dance and music.
The PappyShow is a physical theatre company which aims to platform marginalised identities and create diverse, joyful and collaborative productions rooted in the lived experience of their performers, bringing people together to move, dance, create moments of radical joy and share stories.
In partnership with local theatres, this widest-reaching schools touring production in NT history will be seen by 12,000 students across England, also including Outer East London & South Essex, Wakefield, Doncaster, Sunderland, Wolverhampton, Stoke, Leicester, Peterborough and North Devon.
Kane Husbands, Director and Founder of The PappyShow said, “This new production, Shut Up, I’m Dreaming is a bright, brave response to our time. The research alone has been an incredible journey and we have been so inspired by how this next generation – our future change makers and leaders – have responded to us. At a time where we feel creativity is being removed from the curriculum, we believe taking performance and theatre directly to young people can inspire and make us dream of more, see things differently and connect us to our feelings. I hope we can inspire young people across the country to walk into and lead BIG Lives and to keep dreaming… their whole life.”
Rufus Norris, Artistic Director of the National Theatre said, “As the National Theatre, it’s imperative that we are working truly nationally and creating opportunities for young people to take part in and watch live theatre across the country. Through our expanding Theatre Nation Partnerships network, we are working in close collaboration with theatres nationwide to develop deep and sustained relationships within their communities and with local schools to create lasting impacts. We are thrilled to work with The PappyShow to create a unique show with young people, directly for young people, and inspire the next generation of leaders and creators”.
Speaking about last year’s schools tour of Jekyll & Hyde, Rachel Kirkpatrick, teacher at Hollingworth Academy in Rochdale said, “The National Theatre have outdone themselves, bringing a truly spectacular show and placing it in the heart of Rochdale. Jekyll & Hyde was a feast for the eyes, a powerful retelling of a classic thrust into the 21st century and delivered to our students in their very own school, what more could we ask for?”
The cast for Shut Up, I’m Dreaming includes Joseph Adelakun, Marc Benga, Jake Garvey, Lewis Griffin, Rachel-Leah Hosker, Rianna Kellman, Jeff D’Sangalang, Bianca Stephens, Molly Walker and Seda Yildiz.
The creative team includes set and costume designer Peter Butler, lighting designer Amy Mae, sound designer Roly Botha, composer Naomi Hammerton, songwriter Ty Lowe and assistant director Marc Benga.
The schools’ tour forms part of the NT’s Theatre Nation Partnerships network to grow and sustain new audiences for live theatre and create more opportunities to engage in the arts. Our partner theatres include Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, Theatre Royal Wakefield, Cast in Doncaster, Sunderland Culture and Sunderland Empire, The Wolverhampton Grand, Curve in Leicester, Selladoor Venues in North Devon and Peterborough, Restoke, Regent Theatre & Victoria Hall in Stoke, Trowbridge Town Hall and The Lowry in Salford.
