Southwark-based theatre group will be running their latest offering at the Young Vic from next week having taken their show on the road in a bid to make theatre accessible by bringing the play to local community groups.
Young Vic Taking Part put on their fourth YV Unpacked production, which saw them tour local community venues across Lambeth and Southwark before a run at the theatre.
Directed by Daniel Bailey, YV Unpacked: I Wonder If… is a play that fuses dance, music and dialogue to “explore the complex beauty of human relationships.”
YV Unpacked was established in 2018 by Kwame Kwei-Armah, with the aim of reaching audiences who may find it more difficult to access theatre by taking the theatre to them.
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Shereen Jasmin-Phillips, Director of Taking Part said: “Every year we try to choose venues based on who we haven’t been reaching before. For example, this year we’ve tried to reach more people of minority ethnic backgrounds, as well as older people with reduced mobility. We purposefully try and branch out and expand our audiences every year.”
Southwark venues where the play has been shown are Phoenix Place, St Johns Waterloo, Blackfriars Settlement, South London Women’s Hub/Beth Centre and Draper Together at Draper Hall, Southwark Inclusive Learning Service, Espacio Mamá, and Indoamerican Refugee Migrant Organisation (IRMO).
The run at the Young Vic’s Maria Theatre will follow the travelling tour, and will cater to a wide range of needs. “As well as the tickets being super accessible prices, our matinee performances will be socially distanced for people still being cautious about covid. We’ll also be doing a British Sign Language interpreted performance on the 28th.” Shereen added that for people who can’t get to the theatre itself, the show on the 28th will be live-streamed with discounted tickets.
She said every year, they try to reference culture that their audience will be familiar with. “Because of showcasing this play to Southwark and Lambeth residents, we want there to be references that they can relate to – like rising housing prices, gentrification.
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The nature of the Young Vic as a more modern version of The Old Vic, young people are also a priority for them. “Every year we show the play at local Pupil Referral Units, where concentration is often a big challenge for the young people there. We recently went to Phoenix Place, and afterwards the teachers said they were surprised that the kids stayed engaged throughout the whole performance. It just shows the impact our work can have.”
“Whatever age people are, there’s something for you.”
It’s on at the Maria Theatre at the Young Vic from 24-29 October.
You can buy tickets for £10 HERE.
