Get ready for Youthquake!

Published Friday, 10th January 2020

A new show inspired by and starring young people from Hartlepool and the Tees Valley is storming into the town’s Centre for Excellence in Creative Arts (CECA) for its regional premiere.

Youthquake, by the award-winning Zest Theatre, is described as ‘part show, part TED Talk and part party’ and takes the audience on an exhilarating journey through the lives of teen Britain and asks what it means to change the world.

Tickets for the show are free.

To develop the show, Zest worked with 800 young people from across the UK, including 500 from the Tees Valley, hearing their stories and experiences.

Among the young people taking part will be students from Hartlepool Sixth Form College and English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College.

The Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority – which funds Hartlepool Borough Council-run CECA – is a commissioning partner for the show.

Youthquake

Scenes from Youthquake and (bottom right) Erin Frances who will be performing a set before the evening public performance

Councillor Shane Moore, Tees Valley Combined Authority Lead for Culture and Tourism and Hartlepool Borough Council Leader, said: “Our young people are the future of our town and our region, and in our drive to grow our economy and create jobs we are committed to listening to what they say and tackling the issues which are important to them.

“I hope people will come along and support what I’m sure will be a fantastic, thought-provoking performance.”

The hour-long show contains some strong language and is aimed at ages 14+.

There will be three performances for schools – on Thursday 16 January at 1.15pm and on Friday 17 January at 10am and 1.15pm. To book tickets, schools should contact CECA on (01429) 284400 or email ceca@hartlepool.com

There will also be a public performance on Thursday 16 January at 7pm – to book click here 

In an added bonus, Erin Frances, the Best of Hartlepool’s Young Performer of the Year, will be entertaining the audience ahead of the evening public performance with a set in the lounge from 6.15pm. The very talented young performer has recently recorded music in the CECA studio which has now been released.