Derby Theatre is thrilled to introduce you to our Future Creatives, a group of young people who are an integral part of our Home Girl production and related project.
Who’s Who?
Our Future Creatives’ ensemble performers are: Ellie-Mai Brookes, Tom Carlisle, Primrose Cole, Holly Chippendale, Yvette Fadahunsi, Zoe Fowkes, Bry Griffiths, Ursule Jancenkovaite, Shannon John, Oliver Manley, Chloe Ridgers and Riley Sheehan-Moore.
Future Creatives working as part of the creative team, undertaking non-performance roles are:
- Reilly Beresford (Stage Manager)
- Shannon Bower (Sound)
- Alisha Brignull (Marketing)
- Nicole Chang (Costume Designer)
- Sam Evans (Lighting Designer)
- Keira Grady (Stage Manager)
- Jamie Hallett (Producer)
- Thomas Massey (Production Manager)
- Emma White (Set Designer)
Meet the Future Creatives
Aspirations
Being a part of Future Creatives has provided the young artists with an insight into the industry. We asked them about their related hopes and ambitions for the project and for the future and comments included:
– “I’m excited to see my piece of creative art on stage and thinking, I did that” (Emma)
– “I want to broaden the things I can do and be more comfortable talking to new people” (Alisha)
– “Being in care is relatable, it (the story) gets rid of the negative stereotypes that people have of the care system” (Bry)
– “I hope I can take the knowledge that I have gained throughout this process to apply for my future jobs” (Jamie)
– “I think I’m going to take to be more open minded towards people, know about people’s journeys and their lives, and be more accepting and kind towards other people, because you never know what they’re going through in their lives” (Primrose)
– “I definitely want to learn more about myself, I really want to see more of my creative side, as I don’t let myself open that up, I would just love to be more confident in myself”(Riley)
– “Like everyone, I’m excited to get out the house and do something creative” (Shannon)
– “I’m hoping to gain experience of acting, life skills and social skills of how to make friends” (Ursule)
Image – The Future Creatives taking part in a producing and marketing workshop.
“They won’t just shadow the professionals”
Lauren Barkes-Nickolds (Reimagine Assistant Producer) said:
“We are privileged to be able to work with such a dedicated, enthusiastic, and talented group of young people through our Home Girl Future Creatives project.
The project provides opportunities for young people to work on a professional production, both on stage and backstage in roles such as Stage Management, Producing, Set Design & Lighting Design.”
“The young people will take an active role in the production, they won’t just shadow the professionals, they themselves are the professionals and we are providing training and mentoring for them to be able to achieve their full potential.
Although, of course, there will be a show at the end of the project, the main aim is to provide arts opportunities for young people who maybe wouldn’t have had access to before, to learn new skills, gain confidence and feel empowered to be leaders and share their skills with others.
Next year we will curate the Reimagine Festival in Derby and the hope is that our Future Creatives will progress to working with us to co-create the festival.”
About Future Creatives
Future Creatives sits at the heart of the Home Girl project, an initiative which offers a range of hands-on opportunities for young people aged 14-25 to be involved in different stages of the creative and production process, including set and costume design, lighting, production, marketing, film and photography.
As part of the process, each young person is being mentored by a professional who works and specialises in each area, including Anisa Archer as the Future Creatives Writer.
Our Future Creatives are from different areas of Derbyshire, including Sinfin, Wirksworth, Mackworth, Oakwood, Etwall, Chaddesden, Derby City, Pear Tree, Matlock, Chesterfield, Chellaston and Shelton Lock plus Burton-on-Trent.
Image – The Future Creative taking part in a lighting workshop.
Future Creatives is part of Reimagine, one of 5 National pilot programmes, funded through Arts Council England and DMCS as part of the Youth Performance Partnership Fund.
