Mortal Fools Ensemble Young Company
Mortal Fools Ensemble Young Company offers Northumberland young people aged 13 – 19 (School Years 9+) the opportunity to develop their artistic skills and create high-quality youth-led theatre throughout an exciting year long programme.
Across the Autumn and Spring terms Ensemble Young Company create, tour and perform a full-length play, as close to a professional process as possible, providing members with opportunities to connect with other young people who are passionate about theatre and gain valuable insight into the sector.
Throughout the Summer term the group further develop their skills through workshops with professional theatre makers, training in facilitation techniques, ‘go and see’ visits to watch other theatre companies' productions, the chance to gain an Arts Award qualifications and access to paid and voluntary opportunities to work with our younger youth theatre groups.
Our Ensemble Young Company make theatre through the process of co-creation, where young people and professional artists work together to contribute their ideas, skills, and opinions to create brilliant, original theatre. If you’re interested in Mortal Fools co-creation process, check out Sparked, our video series all about it.
This group work alongside a team of professional theatre practitioners, directors, designers, and technicians to create a full production with sound, lighting, set, costumes and original music, which we then perform to audiences across the region in professional theatre venues, to paying public audiences.
Throughout the year we provide opportunities for our members to develop their skills, with guest artist workshops with industry professionals, training in facilitation techniques, paid and voluntary peer facilitation opportunities and the chance to complete Arts Award qualifications.
Mortal Fools are the only theatre company in the North-East touring youth theatre and co-creating with young people in the way that we do.
Mortal Fools Ensemble Young Company offers Northumberland young people aged 13 – 19 (School Years 9+) the opportunity to develop their artistic skills and create high-quality youth-led theatre throughout an exciting year long programme.
Across the Autumn and Spring terms Ensemble Young Company create, tour and perform a full-length play, as close to a professional process as possible, providing members with opportunities to connect with other young people who are passionate about theatre and gain valuable insight into the sector.
Throughout the Summer term the group further develop their skills through workshops with professional theatre makers, training in facilitation techniques, ‘go and see’ visits to watch other theatre companies' productions, the chance to gain an Arts Award qualifications and access to paid and voluntary opportunities to work with our younger youth theatre groups.
Our Ensemble Young Company make theatre through the process of co-creation, where young people and professional artists work together to contribute their ideas, skills, and opinions to create brilliant, original theatre. If you’re interested in Mortal Fools co-creation process, check out Sparked, our video series all about it.
This group work alongside a team of professional theatre practitioners, directors, designers, and technicians to create a full production with sound, lighting, set, costumes and original music, which we then perform to audiences across the region in professional theatre venues, to paying public audiences.
Throughout the year we provide opportunities for our members to develop their skills, with guest artist workshops with industry professionals, training in facilitation techniques, paid and voluntary peer facilitation opportunities and the chance to complete Arts Award qualifications.
Mortal Fools are the only theatre company in the North-East touring youth theatre and co-creating with young people in the way that we do.
"Mortal Fools has been such a lifeline for me. It gives me a space to truly be myself and I have met the most amazing, genuine people. The way Mortal Fools gives the young people a voice, is honestly special."
- Ilana, Ensemble Young Company Member
This group work alongside a team of professional theatre practitioners, directors, designers, and technicians to create a full production with sound, lighting, set, costumes and original music, which we then perform to audiences across the region in professional theatre venues, to paying public audiences.
Throughout the year we provide opportunities for our members to develop their skills, with guest artist workshops with industry professionals, training in facilitation techniques, paid and voluntary peer facilitation opportunities and the chance to complete Arts Award qualifications.
Mortal Fools are the only theatre company in the North-East touring youth theatre and co-creating with young people in the way that we do.
Throughout the year we provide opportunities for our members to develop their skills, with guest artist workshops with industry professionals, training in facilitation techniques, paid and voluntary peer facilitation opportunities and the chance to complete Arts Award qualifications.
Mortal Fools are the only theatre company in the North-East touring youth theatre and co-creating with young people in the way that we do.
“I kept returning because of the incredible opportunities that I wouldn’t have been able to do without it like going on tour, performing promenade performances at massive outdoor locations, voice recording plays, improvising, animation, incorporating our own songs and loads more.”
– Mark Gate, Ensemble Young Company Alumni and trustee
Meet our Ensemble Young Company
“I don’t feel like we’re kids here - it’s not like we’re the kids and you’re the practitioners and we’re separate. We’re all one ensemble. You treat us like professionals, we have fun, and we make good theatre.”
Ensemble Young Company Member
Brainstorm 2025!
In Spring 2025 Mortal Fools’ Ensemble Young Company toured Brainstorm - an honest, funny, and thought-provoking theatre show diving into the messy mechanics of the teenage brain!
In Spring 2025 Mortal Fools’ Ensemble Young Company toured Brainstorm - an honest, funny, and thought-provoking theatre show diving into the messy mechanics of the teenage brain!
How our Ensemble Young Company works:
How our Ensemble Young Company works:
Ensemble Young Company is a year-long programme of activity, from September 2024 – July 2025.
Our Ensemble Young Company is spread across our two youth theatre bases: Tyne Valley and Ashington. Through the week, these groups work separately, and then during weekends and schools holidays, they come together as a full company.
Weeknight rehearsals are as follows:
Tyne Valley Group: Tuesdays, 6pm - 8pm at Prudhoe Parish Hall (NE42 5HJ)
Ashington Group: Thursdays, 5:45pm - 7:45pm at Ashington Family Hub (NE63 9EF)
Sunday and Half Term rehearsals take place at Newbiggin Sports and Community Hub, and transport support is provided for Tyne Valley members. A full schedule of dates is provided in the Ensemble Young Company Guide 2024/25 linked above.
How our Ensemble Young Company works:
Ensemble Young Company is a year-long programme of activity, from September 2024 – July 2025.
Our Ensemble Young Company is spread across our two youth theatre bases: Tyne Valley and Ashington. Through the week, these groups work separately, and then during weekends and schools holidays, they come together as a full company.
Weeknight rehearsals are as follows:
Tyne Valley Group: Tuesdays, 6pm - 8pm at Prudhoe Parish Hall (NE42 5HJ)
Ashington Group: Thursdays, 5:45pm - 7:45pm at Ashington Family Hub (NE63 9EF)
Sunday and Half Term rehearsals take place at Newbiggin Sports and Community Hub, and transport support is provided for Tyne Valley members. A full schedule of dates is provided in the Ensemble Young Company Guide 2024/25 linked above.
Recent Work
INEVITABLE?You’re 17. You arrive on the threshold. Some of you are fearful, some of you are hopeful, some livid, some oblivious, and some raring to go. You stand amongst strangers, anticipating what comes next.
Mortal Fools Ensemble Young Company returned to the stage in Spring 2024 with a brand new contemporary theatre show- showcasing an original soundtrack, bold set design, and their incredible talent, insights, and lived experiences. |
FLUX DIGITALThe film version of our 2022 Flux show is available to watch now. Flux is a positive and empowering film, grounded in the reality of life for young people exploring their identity and making decisions about their future.
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FLUX 2023Devised and performed by young people from all over Northumberland, Flux was a contemporary, dynamic and poignant piece of theatre which explored the fluidity of identity; showcasing an original soundtrack, bold set design, and the incredible talent and insights of young people.
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MY PEOPLEFour bittersweet, poignant film shorts, following a group of young people navigating the reality of friendship in the modern world. What if growing up means growing apart?
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“I really enjoyed when we showed the play to the other theatre groups and how inspired they were from it. They talked about how it was a voice for them and that there needs to be more theatre like that."
Ensemble Young Company member
More about the MFYT Ensemble Young Company:
Being part of Ensemble Young Company is a unique opportunity. It means:
A standard year's Ensemble programme may include:
- Working with professional theatre makers to develop creative skills in devising, performing, and directing
- Developing teamwork and building long-lasting relationships, and supportive friendships in a welcoming environment with young people who share an interest in creating high-quality theatre.
- Gaining further opportunities (e.g. paid opportunities, volunteering and examples for personal statements or interviews)
- Gaining experience of a professional-style theatre-making and touring process.
A standard year's Ensemble programme may include:
- Creating and performing a professional-style project, including regional touring
- Guest Artist workshops with industry professionals
- Training in facilitation techniques
- Completion of Arts Award qualifications (Bronze – Gold level)
- ‘Go and see’ visits to see theatre made by other companies
- Paid and voluntary Peer Facilitation opportunities with our younger youth theatre groups
- Visiting performances from other young companies
