Jumped Up Draft 1

JUMPED UP THEATRE: Kate Hall Emily Steele Creative Producer Assistant Producer Saving The Arts In today’s society, the arts play a huge role in forming people’s values and schools that young people won’t achieve unless they have a morals. A hard-hitting play or a political song has the power to change fully rounded education” someone’s opinion for the better. Another project that is currently underway is a manifesto cre- ated by young people, about the changes they want to see in By Jen Ramm the education system. It’s not just wishing for cooler uniforms, it’s a call for real reformation within schools: investment in Established in 1993, Jumped Up Theatre is an organisa- films, digital content, and journalism are. We are at risk of creative studies and equal opportunities for all students. After losing that, but actually, when times were really bad, people the Fierce Talent project, Kate asked what else the people who turned to the arts. These things alleviate the pressure of life worked on it wanted to change. “They wanted to do a digi- tion that is dedicated to making the arts accessible to people and make you believe the world can be better.” tal campaign about education. It’s more about why failure is of all backgrounds, sourcing home-grown artistry as well as putting on productions for touring talents. Kate Hall is the The Fierce Talent project raised the voices of young people “People turned to the arts. These and showed their experiences over the past two years.“The things alleviate the pressure of life Creative Producer, and she has been running it for 30 years. Fierce Talent project came out of a conversation about how and make you believe the world Kate explained that “It’s had lots of different lives. It used to be touring theatre, we did the London Fringe. Now all our there was a real sense that young people had been really im- can be better.” pacted by the pandemic, but their needs weren’t being met work is about doing projects in Peterborough.” and their voice wasn’t being heard. The light at the end of the - Kate Hall One of these is the Northern Soul project, which is all about the music and dance movement that emerged in the 1960s, tunnel was that lots of young people were finding that being creative was a way of finding a balance.” taking inspiration from black American soul music. Many Pe- Fierce Talent is a film created by Jumped Up Theatre, put into a really important part of learning, and why having your own terborough locals are interested in it, so Jumped Up seized this identity acknowledged in your learning helps you engage. You opportunity to create something amazing. motion by members of the Sounding Board. This is a group want education to mean something to you.” Kate explained of 16-24 year olds based in Peterborough, who generate new what kind of impact she is hoping this project will have. “I’m Then the coronavirus pandemic happened. ideas for how they can impact art and culture in the city. The thinking about emailing the head of education, as I’m a trustee The project was created during 2020, at the height of the pan- of the Thomas Deacon education trust - so he has to talk to demic. Every plan and idea had film featured dancers, actors, po- me! They don’t always respond, it was quite difficult during “The light at the end of the tunnelto be reimagined; instead of a ets and singers. Fierce Talent, there would be another covid crisis and there Kate shed some light on what was a lot of noise. With the Sounding Board, they might be was that lots of young people werelive event in the city centre, a ra- these projects mean to young involved in organising the events or being in editorial control dio play was put on BBC Radio for the online content but also, we will ask the young people finding that being creative was aCambridgeshire. In spite of all people. “Fierce Talent was cele- how the campaign should work. We did an Instagram Live.” brating young people’s creativi- This Instagram Live was fairly successful, averaging at about the hurdles, Northern Soul went 200 viewers. Emily Steele, Assistant Producer for Jumped Up way of finding a balance.”ahead with full force. The dance ty.” She described the arts as “a Theatre, runs the Sounding Board. She hosted the livestream. - “I was interviewing one of the Sounding Board members and classes were moved to the online two of the young artists who were in the film and they got world, Zoom interviews were Kate Hall chance to go and explore a dif- to talk about why creativity is important to them, why peo- ficult idea. You don’t have to be ple should watch the film, what they enjoyed about the whole perfect in your thinking,” and posed the question, “how else experience as well. It was really good to get their perspective held which captured the stories of young people who were are you going to learn and grow as a person? Otherwise, noth- on that.” exploring the history behind their parents’ and grandparents’ It is incredibly refreshing to see young people being given the youth culture. ing changes. That’s why I think young people have something reins when it comes to raising awareness about the issues they to offer.” are passionate about. In a way, it provides a glimpse into the Kate explained how the creative processes changed during the It was significant that young people were able to express them- future of the country; we get to see the potential in future pandemic. “You had to sort of ravel back a project and then leaders and we see upcoming activists blossom. Kate truly be- work out how you could take it forward. A lot of people de- selves through this film, as the arts are squeezed out of the lieves in this. “Imagine if ten of those people became teachers national curriculum. State schools are often forced to neglect and then they go, right, how am I gonna have this, this is what scribed it as ‘unproducing’.” artistic subjects, and instead have to mainly teach core sub- young people care about - it’s like you fight the war not the Everyone’s lives were turned upside down during the pan- battle. We are going, what is your war? What do you want to demic. However, young people were no longer able to attend jects like Maths and English. Without the arts, students are change? My job is to go, what do you all want? And that’s the limited in their capabilities; music, acting and art empower you best way to do it.” school or extracurricular activities. They lost a part of their so- to learn more about who you are. Jumped Up Theatre runs a cial lives. Subsequently, more teenagers began to struggle with their mental health; having a regular routine where you get to programme where they work with schools to inspire students with art and theatre, but this lasts for a limited time as resourc- see your friends and learn is vital for your wellbeing. es can be scarce. Jumped Up Theatre sources the funding. As a result of being shut in at home, many people relied on their hobbies to make it by. Whether it be taking up crochet- “Unfortunately, not every young person has access to the arts and it often will be in areas that are under-resourced already. ing, painting or playing an instrument, artistic endeavours were Budgets are so under threat and the arts are the thing that the saving grace for some during lockdown. “We began to really understand how important books, plays, gets disposed of. But there is a real acknowledgement from