Sounding Board is a Mortal Fools project, created to give our Youth Theatre members opportunities to explore the expressive power of music. This bold and hopeful project is inspired by the DIY music scene, and based on the belief that young people can use their voices to speak up about what matters to them through music.
Since January, we have been working with professional guest musician Calum Howard and our wonderful theatre practitioners to explore spoken word, digital music production, movement, and lyric writing. Our groups have discovered different musical genres and used music as a tool to tell joyful and authentic stories.
Stay tuned for vibrant theatre events, film screenings, and digital content that showcase the incredible creative work of our Youth Theatre Members from across Northumberland.
You’re invited to dance, sing, play, use your voice, and make some noise!
Read on to find out more about Sounding Board events and activities...
Since January, we have been working with professional guest musician Calum Howard and our wonderful theatre practitioners to explore spoken word, digital music production, movement, and lyric writing. Our groups have discovered different musical genres and used music as a tool to tell joyful and authentic stories.
Stay tuned for vibrant theatre events, film screenings, and digital content that showcase the incredible creative work of our Youth Theatre Members from across Northumberland.
You’re invited to dance, sing, play, use your voice, and make some noise!
Read on to find out more about Sounding Board events and activities...
Sounding Board: Digital
Coming soon
We’ve passed the mic to our youth theatre members to show what really matters to them, as they use music to express their true selves and share what makes them feel happy and heard.
These short films and music videos are filled with bold, thought-provoking lyrics, catchy tunes and creative soundscapes.
Stage 2 Ashington are creating an exciting story following a group of friends learning to face their fears together, with a fun soundtrack to bring their adventure to life.
Stage 3 Ashington are creating an engaging song and music video exploring places where they feel safe and can express themselves authentically.
Our Online group are creating a bold punk inspired music video all about speaking up and questioning the strict rules placed on young people.
“What I've enjoyed about making this piece is all the behind the scenes work with Calum, making the beats and also getting to write your own lyrics” - Mortal Fools Youth Theatre Member
Follow our social media @mortalfoolsuk on your preferred channel or join our mailing list to find out about the online release of 'Sounding Board: Digital' and future screenings.
These short films and music videos are filled with bold, thought-provoking lyrics, catchy tunes and creative soundscapes.
Stage 2 Ashington are creating an exciting story following a group of friends learning to face their fears together, with a fun soundtrack to bring their adventure to life.
Stage 3 Ashington are creating an engaging song and music video exploring places where they feel safe and can express themselves authentically.
Our Online group are creating a bold punk inspired music video all about speaking up and questioning the strict rules placed on young people.
“What I've enjoyed about making this piece is all the behind the scenes work with Calum, making the beats and also getting to write your own lyrics” - Mortal Fools Youth Theatre Member
Follow our social media @mortalfoolsuk on your preferred channel or join our mailing list to find out about the online release of 'Sounding Board: Digital' and future screenings.
Sounding Board: Live
Sounding Board: Live was a joyful community event celebrating music, activism, and creativity!
Our Mortal Fools Youth Theatre members transformed Riding Mill Parish Hall into a vibrant DIY Creative Music Hub filled with bold artwork and fun upbeat music for this immersive live event.
Our groups delighted audiences with dynamic music videos, inventive stories, and powerful spoken word performances, making them laugh out loud and giving us all food for thought, as they shared what it's like to be a young person today and the changes they'd like to see in the world.
It was wonderful to see our audiences get their creative juices flowing as they answered some thought provoking questions and got involved with fun crafts and music-making activities.
We loved letting our imaginations run wild and getting the chance to see what a youth-led future could be!
Our Mortal Fools Youth Theatre members transformed Riding Mill Parish Hall into a vibrant DIY Creative Music Hub filled with bold artwork and fun upbeat music for this immersive live event.
Our groups delighted audiences with dynamic music videos, inventive stories, and powerful spoken word performances, making them laugh out loud and giving us all food for thought, as they shared what it's like to be a young person today and the changes they'd like to see in the world.
It was wonderful to see our audiences get their creative juices flowing as they answered some thought provoking questions and got involved with fun crafts and music-making activities.
We loved letting our imaginations run wild and getting the chance to see what a youth-led future could be!
"I've seen the group really embrace music, they've really enjoyed having Calum in the room and looking at all the tech stuff that goes on behind the scenes. When we made music with Calum they've been really responsive and I've really enjoyed watching them develop their skills and build a tune, it's definitely helped them develop their creativity and confidence!"
- Ilana, Volunteer Peer Facilitator
Youth Music
Calum Howard, professional Guest Musician facilitating in a session with Mortal Fools Youth Theatre. Photo Credit: Von Fox Promotions.
We couldn’t run this project without funding from the Youth Music Trailblazer fund. It has enabled us to support children and young people facing barriers to make music through working with Mortal Fools. We’ve upskilled our practitioner team and embedded music-making into our youth theatre sessions and creative devising process; supporting our youth theatre members to gain the skills and confidence to make their own music.
"Youth Music has supported this project with funding to explore integrating music practice into our theatre devising process. This has allowed us to run music-making sessions with our Youth Theatre members - giving them a chance to work with professional musicians and artists. We are also thrilled to have been able to run staff CPD training to develop our team's skills and explore new ways of working with music. We are really excited to continue developing this work with our Youth Theatre!"
- Scott Wilson, Youth Theatre Practitioner and Coordinator
Youth Music is a national charity funded thanks to the National Lottery via Arts Council England, players of People's Postcode Lottery, and support from partners, fundraisers, and donors.
Youth Music believe that every young person should have the chance to change their life through music. Their research shows that many can’t because of who they are, where they’re from, or what they’re going through.
Their insights, influence, and investment into grassroots organisations and young people themselves mean that more 0–25 year-olds can make, learn, and earn in music.
You can find out more about Youth Music here: Youth Music Home Page | Youth Music
Youth Music believe that every young person should have the chance to change their life through music. Their research shows that many can’t because of who they are, where they’re from, or what they’re going through.
Their insights, influence, and investment into grassroots organisations and young people themselves mean that more 0–25 year-olds can make, learn, and earn in music.
You can find out more about Youth Music here: Youth Music Home Page | Youth Music
Mortal Fools Digital Content
Mortal Fools Youth Theatre session. Photo Credit: Von Fox Promotions.
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