Posted on 21st Jul
Mansfield Palace Theatre and Zest Theatre are collaborating on a series of creative projects for young people from the Oak Tree community in Mansfield.
The first is a pop-up installation that will take place outside Oak Tree Leisure Centre.
Work on the installation began through workshops with young people aged 10 to 15 in June.
Zest met with 100 local young people to learn what it’s like to be young in Mansfield. Running workshops at Oak Tree Primary and The Samworth Church Academy schools, Zest gathered hundreds of quotes about all the things that young people felt were most important to share.
The result is a powerful selection of words exploring why it can often be hard to be yourself, inspiring the community with tips on how we could create a better, happier world together.
The pop-up installation, called The Forum, is a place to chill, be heard, and imagine the future. It uses quotes from the young people collected from the workshops. It is described as a colourful town square that gives the community a place to share their voice and be inspired by the words of local young people. The installation is free and will take place on Wednesday 26th and Thursday, 27th July, from 12noon to 5pm daily. Young people are invited to explore the Forum, sit, relax, and socialise.
There will also be other activities, including free street food and bubble tea from Biba Shack for all under-25s (whilst stocks last), as well as games and sports to get involved with.
Toby Ealden, artistic director of Zest Theatre, said: “Over the next few months, artworks will appear in Mansfield, sharing the words we’ve gathered in different ways to bring colour and conversation to the place our participants call home.”
A further exhibition will take place in the October half-term school holidays.
