A Toxteth based youth theatre group who promote diversity and inclusiveness has equipped over 800 youngsters with the tools to launch a career in the arts.
20 Stories High (20SH) was formed in 2006 to create theatre embracing working class and culturally diverse young voices, and to bring different groups of young people together in Liverpool. They make theatre telling stories of culturally diverse and working-class communities.
They began touring schools bringing theatre directly to children. 20SH have showcased; gritty, jumping, melodic, rebellious, contemporary, mashed-up, authentic, original, visual, challenging, lyrical, tender, anarchic, diverse, surprising, booming, political, funny, collaborative and heart-felt theatre to over four hundred thousand young people and audiences since 2006.
READ MORE: Toxteth actor has lead in blockbusting rock ’n’ roll panto
Co-CEO and artistic director Keith Saha told the ECHO: "Our greatest achievement is making new theatre with for and about young people, participants and artists who want to tell authentic stories about their struggles and hopes. To create these shows and then perform them for audiences who don't usually watch theatre and see themselves reflected back.
"It's also inspiring to see so many of our young participants grow to make their own companies, have their own freelance careers in the arts or somewhere else. We also visit other communities (across Liverpool) and nationally we have partners in different regions; Manchester, Blackpool and Battersea. Internationally we have visited Iran, Canada, South Africa and at the Ruhrtriennale Festival in Germany".
A young person said: "I want to be that person that loves myself and that is what 20SH has helped me with, to improve and be stronger as a person. It’s helped me develop my social skills to be able to form new friendships in and out of 20SH.
"I was different before, a quitter and less expressive, I was the reclusive one. I think it will keep helping with my confidence".
Another added: "I can honestly say, hand on heart, 20SH has changed my life and I will never be able to thank the company enough. Thank you all for being fabulous and keep changing the world.”
Youth projects producer Lucy Graham said: "The company continues to grow and develop our community of culturally diverse, working class young people, locally, nationally and internationally. We're also embracing and learning how we can work better with our deaf, disabled and neurodivergent participants, artists and audiences and also placing wellbeing at the heart of everything we do through our State of Mind programme (which explores mental health)".
One graduate of 20SH Pailsie Reid went on to perform for the Royal Shakespeare Company, starred in a CITV production of The new Worst Witch. She is presently the lead actor in the Everyman's blockbusting rock n roll panto until January 2023.
They have a youth theatre starting from 13 year olds and cater for up to the age 30. Their next big project is a Hip Hop show; LOOPS co-produced with the Everyman and Playhouse theatre. It explores issues around the police use of stop and search which disproportionately affects black and other minority communities.
For information on shows and how to get involved visit HERE or email natasha@20storieshigh.org.uk
Eurovision content: The countdown has officially started. Join our Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool Facebook group
READ NEXT:
Mum's nightmare after son never came home from Christmas party
Hundreds of jobs secured at Ford's Halewood factory as £125m investment revealed
Liverpool doorman nicknamed 'Switzerland' has died
Faces of 40 Liverpool criminals who were jailed during November
Martin Lewis issues urgent message to households earning less than £40,000
