Young people from Plymouth schools prepare to perform at Our World Festival this summer

Youngsters from across Plymouth are preparing to perform at Our World Festival, the culmination of the four-year With Flying Colours project which aims to bring exciting cultural opportunities to young people.

With Flying Colours has been run by the Plymouth Cultural Education Partnership and funded by Arts Council England and the Department of Culture Media and Sport. The project, which brings together arts organisations, freelance artists and schools from across the city, is led by Theatre Royal Plymouth.

In the final year of the project, 11 schools have been co-creating plays in response to the theme ‘Our World’. Across a variety of year groups, theatre and performance makers have been collaborating with young people to co-create school play, developing the sense of community that comes with it, and telling stories that come directly from young people’s imaginations and experiences.

This year, 290 young people from across Plymouth have had the opportunity to create performances with highly skilled professional theatre makers.

With Flying Colours Project Manager Lucy Donald said:

“The Our World Festival is the culmination of four years of co-creation with young people, teachers, community groups, and cultural delivery partners across Plymouth.

“Every element of the festival has been co-created with young people, from our logo to the themes of their performances, music choices, puppets, lighting – you name it, it’s been co-created. The Our World Festival is an opportunity for the young people of Plymouth to be heard – this is their city, and their creative manifesto for the future.”

The festival will showcase the range of creativity and work that has been developed across Devonport, Stonehouse, Whitleigh and Southway. The festival will take place at Marjon Arts Centre and Soapbox Children’s Theatre Devonport Park in June.

It will also feature the work of the project’s Youth Steering Group, the Co-Pilots, and community partnerships between Take A Part CIC, Devonport Community Choir, the Whitleigh Big Local, and Whitleigh Community Art Group.

Find out more about With Flying Colours: withflyingcoloursplymouth.co.uk