Lyric life

For the last 11 years the Lyric has a run a dedicated program of work for some of the most vulnerable young people in our city. Over the years we have had some amazing success stories of those young people going on to achieve great things, we have also had hundreds who have simply changed the path they were on. (No easy feat). We are not perfect, we can’t say that all of them have made it out of their circumstances, and if I told you some of the things that they have to deal with before they even leave the house, you would tell me that I lie. ‘It’s complicated’ does not begin to describe their lives. But it is complicated.

But day in day out they show up, so we show up for them.

We live in a world that’s more cynical than ever, that feels like we can go down into our bubble and not ever come out if you don’t want to, and you don’t really have to care about anyone other than your circle that ultimately reinforces your ideas of the world. The far more difficult thing to do is come out of that and actively put yourself in a place where you are being challenged or at the very least in place where you are open to a different way of looking at things, and equally why should we even care. Why should a theatre even do this kind of work?

That is – put money, resources and time into working with vulnerable groups. Shouldn’t we just be about making the shows, make them laugh and give them a bit with a dog? Yeah we should….. but everyone should get to laugh.

We should do this because theatres are holders of stories all the stories and in the theatre space no one story is more important than the other. No one’s story is more valid than anyone else’s. I think theatres are the great levelers, we are the mirrors of our world and we have to be able to reflect all parts of that world. Good, bad , scary, sweet and everything in between. I would also argue that we should be actively seeking out the quietest voices, and making sure that they have space amongst the noise. We are safe spaces and we should hold space for everyone.

So why should be even care?

Because the more different kinds of stories and people that come into our theatres, the more we realise that we are more similar than different, closer together than we think and we have way more in common than we give each other credit for.

I think the work we do is urgent and important. I think if we didn’t do it, if we are not actively trying to influence change with and for the young people that we work with, the trends toward violence, disaffection and feeling that they live in a completely different society to the rest of us will continue.

So if they keep showing up we will keep showing up for them.

You can find out more about the work we do here.

–  Nicholai La Barrie, Director of Young People.