Preview: Hold Me Tight at Newcastle Live Theatre

Show created by young people with experience of the care system to premiere at Newcastle's Live Theatre

Hold Me Tight

Newcastle Live Theatre

Friday 28 and Saturday 29 October 2022

Marking this year’s National Care Leavers’ Week, from 24-28 October, North East based theatre company, Curious Monkey, has produced a brand new show in collaboration with its Troupe team – a group of talented young people with experience of the care system.

Written by award-winning writer Kevin Dyer and directed by North East based theatre-maker and director Poppy Crawshaw, Hold Me Tight, which has been wholly inspired by Troupe participants, will be performed at Newcastle’s Live Theatre on Friday 28th and Saturday 29th October.

The Troupe team has worked in partnership with professionals throughout the duration of the theatre-making process – from research and development to production and performance – with most members gearing up to tread the boards as cast members too.

Billed as ‘a play about love, friendship and prawn-flavoured crisps’, Hold Me Tight has been written with young people and care sector workers in mind, but its story promises a funny and relatable experience for anyone who’s navigated the turbulent times of adolescence. 

Curious Monkey’s Artistic Director, Amy Golding, said: “Once again our Troupe members have smashed it out the park with their new production. The talent, dedication and creativity we have seen from the young ensemble throughout the process has been outstanding, and each and every one of them deserves their place on the Live Theatre stage alongside professional actors.

“It’s crucial that we create opportunities for young people who face many barriers to participation in the arts, enabling them to reach their potential but also to share otherwise untapped talent and creativity with regional theatre audiences.”

Troupe is made up of young people aged between 14 and 21 who all have experience of the care system or supported housing. Previous Curious Monkey / Troupe productions have included Leaving by Paddy Campbell (performed at Northern Stage in 2018) and politically charged film The Collection.

Hold Me Tight follows Charlie on her birthday…she’s got big news. Very big news. But all will be OK because she’s got a great family and the best of mates. Except that tonight of all nights, her mum is being worse than useless and one of the girls in the gang is seriously on the warpath. A story of hope, support and the most precious of kisses.

One of the members of Troupe, Kai, said: “The show is about a group of teenagers and their individual lives and challenges. You should definitely go, it’s a great chance to get away from it all and de-stress.”

This project has been generously supported by the Kavli Trust, BBC Children in Need, the Community Foundation and the Esmee Fairbairn Leaving Care fund 

Tickets:

Hold Me Tight, which is suitable for ages 14+, will be performed in Live Theatre’s studio on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 October at 7.45pm, with an additional Saturday matinee at 2.30pm. Running time is 40 minutes and, to encourage access for all, tickets are available on a pay-what-you-can basis (but all tickets must be booked in advance). To book, visit www.live.org.uk/whats-on/hold-me-tight

On the web:

To find out more about Curious Monkey and Troupe, visit www.curiousmonkeytheatre.com

To join the conversation around National Care Leavers Week follow #NCLW22 

Full Hold Me Tight creative team:

Director: Poppy Crawshaw

Writer: Kevin Dyer 

Assistant Director & Intimacy Coordinator: Lucy Curry

Animator: Lily Kroese

Sound Designer: Calum Howard

AV & Lighting Support: Simon Cole

Costume Designer: Lou Duffy

Production Manager: Chris Tindall

Troupe volunteers: Jack Mackel, Alanis Miller, Lucy Skidmore 

Curious Monkey team:

Artistic Director: Amy Golding

Executive Director: Jenny Dewar

Producer: Allegra Nespoli

Troupe Coordinator: Jayne Humphreys

Arriving Coordinator: Felour Moghadamy

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