Beth Shouler, Director of Tricycle Young Company, writes a Guest Blog for West End Frame about the Tricycle Takeover 2015 which runs until Sunday 29th March 2015.
The Tricycle Theatre has been overrun with young people aged under 26 and the work they’ve made: plays, performances, films, talks, workshops, music and art. There’s a palpable buzz of anticipation around the building. There are pieces of set, costume and props in just about every room, corner and crevice you can store something. Already I’ve come in this morning to find a camping chair on my desk and a fake death certificate. As you do.
I’ve just joined the Tricycle as the new Young Company Director. Last year I came to the Takeover Festival and it was magical, so when I got the job I was thrilled.
I’m directing three plays and created one film with four ensembles: Press Road Young Company 10-14s, Young Company 11-14s, 15-18s and 19-25s. I started the year asking them questions and trying to get to the heart of what stories they wanted to tell. The performances they’re all working on are very different in style, as are the rehearsal processes, but all the groups are headed in quite a political direction. Some of the material is hilarious but there is a deeper subtext which illustrates the anxieties and questions young people have regarding their future and there is some real anger about being dismissed by those adults who call young people politically apathetic.
