Mortal Fools Ensemble Young Company (EYC) is our youth theatre group for Northumberland young people aged 14 – 19.
Our Ensemble Young Company make theatre and film through the process of co-creation, where young people and professional artists work together to contribute their ideas, skills, and opinions as part of the devising process.
We recruit into our Ensemble Young Company once a year and members take part in an exciting programme of activity from September - May, attending weekly sessions.
EYC operates across our two youth theatre bases: Tyne Valley and Ashington. Through the week, these groups work separately, and then during weekends and school holidays, we come together as a full company.
We are the only theatre company in the North-East who tour youth theatre and co-create with young people in the way that we do.
EYC operates across our two youth theatre bases: Tyne Valley and Ashington. Through the week, these groups work separately, and then during weekends and school holidays, we come together as a full company.
We are the only theatre company in the North-East who tour youth theatre and co-create 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.
- Ensemble Young Company Member
OUR CURRENT PROJECT
What’s growing up in the digital age actually like?
How does the influence of social media and digital technology shape our identities and choices?
Does constant Internet access impact our wellbeing and self-esteem?
Will the rise in artificial intelligence influence the way we learn, communicate, and perceive the world around us?
Our Ensemble Young Company are currently creatively exploring these questions for their new project. Across September 2025 – May 2026, 12 Northumberland young people will co-create an original theatre show with professional artists and creatives exploring their experiences, hopes and fears about technology.
Our digital world keeps us in constant contact with friends and family, expands our horizons, and creates new challenges. But how does our online life change how we connect?
How does the influence of social media and digital technology shape our identities and choices?
Does constant Internet access impact our wellbeing and self-esteem?
Will the rise in artificial intelligence influence the way we learn, communicate, and perceive the world around us?
Our Ensemble Young Company are currently creatively exploring these questions for their new project. Across September 2025 – May 2026, 12 Northumberland young people will co-create an original theatre show with professional artists and creatives exploring their experiences, hopes and fears about technology.
Our digital world keeps us in constant contact with friends and family, expands our horizons, and creates new challenges. But how does our online life change how we connect?
NEW DIGITAL CONTENT
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Ensemble Young Company Presents...Across May - August 2025, our Ensemble Young Company set out to create two short films tackling some of the barriers young people face today. Filmed entirely on an iPhone (a creative challenge in itself), the films are intended to start conversations with young people about Anxiety and Relationships with adults.
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MEMBERSHIP NOW CLOSED FOR 2025-26
Ensemble Young Company runs open recruitment sessions each summer.
Check out our other groups below, scroll on to find out more about Ensemble Young Company or email us at [email protected] if you'd like to chat about joining us next year.
Check out our other groups below, scroll on to find out more about Ensemble Young Company or email us at [email protected] if you'd like to chat about joining us next year.
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Stage 3 Youth Theatre GroupOur Stage 3 group invites young people aged 11-18 to take part in drama games and activities that support them to make friends, have fun, and build their confidence and skills.
We create imaginative new stories, theatre, film and audio – all working towards an exciting end of project performance! All our sessions are free, inclusive, and welcoming to all. |
WHAT IS BEING AN ENSEMBLE YOUNG COMPANY MEMBER LIKE?
EYC Member Eloise’s blog about her experience on tour with Mortal Fools and making Brainstorm gives prospect members a flavour:
Members of our Ensemble Young Company have the opportunity to:
- Create high-quality youth-led theatre and film for public audiences including young people.
- Access a creative space where their voices, insights, and lived experiences are valued and matter.
- Have fun and work together as a team.
- Create work about issues and themes important to young people.
- Be a part of a supportive and collaborative company of devisers, actors, and artists.
- Develop a wide range of performance-based skills and perform in professional theatre venues.
- Enhance employability – boost confidence and develop capabilities in communication, team working, creative thinking, resilience, and youth leadership.
- Work with and learn from professional artists and creatives – e.g. animators, writers, musicians, film makers, directors!
- Gain experience in production, technical, and backstage roles – e.g. staging, lighting, sound, marketing!
- Take part in workshops with industry professionals.
- Attend young people’s events and watch other young people’s creative work.
- Opportunities to progress into paid and voluntary roles.
As a disabled young person, I was struggling to find a place that would accept me and that I would be comfortable working in. Mortal Fools is just so inclusive for everybody, from all different backgrounds. …the way a session is structured helps us loads…I always walk away with my head held high.
- Ensemble Young Company Member
ENSEMBLE YOUNG COMPANY OVERVIEW
Ensemble Young Company is our dedicated youth theatre offer for young people who want to develop their artistic skills and gain experience of making and touring theatre or film, as part of cohesive company of devisers, actors, and creatives.
Programme Schedule
EYC offers a programme of activity for approximately 9 months each year, with open recruitment happening each summer. Membership is expected for the full period to ensure participants fully benefit from the opportunities offered.
An example programme:
An example programme:
- Sep – Apr: Creating, rehearsing and touring a theatre show OR creating a feature length film or series of film shorts.
- Apr – May: Celebrate achievements and take part in creative activities together e.g. skills development workshops, theatre trips, etc.
Rehearsal Groups
Our Ensemble Young Company is spread across our two youth theatre bases: Tyne Valley and Ashington.
These groups work separately in their weekly sessions, and then during weekends and school holidays, they come together as a full company.
These groups work separately in their weekly sessions, and then during weekends and school holidays, they come together as a full company.
- Tyne Valley Group: Tuesdays, 6pm - 8pm at Riding Mill Parish Hall (NE44 6DJ)
- Ashington Group: Thursdays, 5:45pm - 7:45pm at Ashington Family Hub (NE63 9EF)
- The full group then comes together for fortnightly Sunday rehearsals and Half Term rehearsals, which take place at Newbiggin Sports and Community Hub (NE64 6HG) and run from 10am - 4:30pm. Transport support is provided for Tyne Valley members.
EYC Member Expectations
Our EYC members:
- Have courage.
- Are kind to each other.
- Show willingness to try and learn new things.
- Are interested in being creative.
- Work hard.
- Show commitment.
- Want to work together as a team.
- Have important things to say about the world we all live in.
WHAT OUR MEMBERS SAY
Mortal Fools has really changed my life for the better. Before I didn’t leave my house or see anyone, but now I’m pretty much out every day. They taught me to be confident and to trust in my ideas as well as good social skills.
– Ensemble Young Company Alumni and Trustee
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. We are treated like professionals; we have fun, and we make good theatre.
- Ensemble Young Company Member
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.
– Ensemble Young Company Alumni and Trustee
Our powerful, thought-provoking pieces of theatre are a symbol of hope to young people in our community and are really important in starting a social change.
- Ensemble Young Company Member
Being a part of Mortal Fools over the past year has been full of exciting new experiences. The projects I’ve been a part of this year have been inspiring, full of learning experiences and I have fun memories I will never forget.
- Ensemble Young Company Member
GET TO KNOW ENSEMBLE YOUNG COMPANY'S WORK
The best way to get a sense of what Mortal Fools Ensemble Young Company is like is by engaging with their co-created work! Each year there is a new creative output – a theatre show, a film, or film shorts!
Recent Work
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Brainstorm 2025This is a play about us.
It’s about our brains. And it’s about you. In Spring 2025, EYC toured Brainstorm - an honest, funny, and thought-provoking theatre show diving into the messy mechanics of the teenage brain! Using a script developed by Ned Glasier, Emily Lim, and Company Three - in collaboration with neuroscientists and including brand-new devised content from our Ensemble Young Company cast and creative team - Brainstorm was a must-see for teenagers, young people, and the adults who support and work with them. |
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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. |
On Demand Content
Our Co-Creation Practice
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SparkedAn educational and practice-sharing video series about working in co-creation with children and young people.
The series walks you through the experience of our young people co-creating new devised pieces of theatre with Mortal Fools. We share elements of our creative process (the tasks and activities we do to create new pieces of work) and the relational process (how we work together and the environment we create). |
Sign up to our mailing list so you can keep up to date with EYC recruitment, upcoming events, and performances:
