Mortal Fools Youth Theatre presents: The Bigger Picture
The voices of 75 young people from Northumberland and the North East come together in a collection of short films, created by Mortal Fools Youth Theatre
with Fly Girl Films and Mortal Fools’ associate artists.
with Fly Girl Films and Mortal Fools’ associate artists.
The Bigger Picture films are available to watch now! Just click on each film's graphic below, to watch and enjoy in your own setting.
It’s as if we just see things differently...
I just wish there was a way that I
could show them how I see the world.
What it’s like to be me…
Across 6 poignant and purposeful film shorts, you’re invited to see the world through Mortal Fools Youth Theatre’s eyes, and feel what it’s like to grow up today. Their realities, lived experiences, inner worlds, and fantastical dreams - interwoven with the positive changes they want to make in the world, and the hope that we can all be kinder to one another. And have more FUN in our lives!
Mortal Fools Youth Theatre invite you to listen, learn, and laugh with them by watching The Bigger Picture films below. And for youth workers, theatre practitioners, parents, and carers - we have a short resource pack available to download, so you can explore the themes with your young people.
Out of Our Minds - Mortal Fools Youth Theatre (Stage 2 Ashington)
Straight from the mouths of Mortal Fools Youth Theatre Ashington, this is a letter from young people expressing what they want to see change in Ashington, in Northumberland, and the world. And how they want the adults in their lives and community to help them make these positive changes.
Ashington community, it’s time to come together and to listen to young people. Let’s work together to make the future of Ashington as bright and brilliant as it deserves to be!
Ashington community, it’s time to come together and to listen to young people. Let’s work together to make the future of Ashington as bright and brilliant as it deserves to be!
Themes Explored
|
Accessibility Information
|
Let Us Grow - Mortal Fools Youth Theatre (Stage 3&4 Ashington)
Teenagers, eh? Too old to play, and no longer a carefree child - but too young to be an adult and to have a say in the world!
'Put up and shut up' seems to be the consistent message from society to teenagers. But what if the world enabled teenagers to still enjoy being kids AND have their voices heard – what if we let them grow!?
Mortal Fools Youth Theatre get nostalgic and share times they felt happiest, empowered and in control - and encourage us to change the stereotype narrative about teenagers.
'Put up and shut up' seems to be the consistent message from society to teenagers. But what if the world enabled teenagers to still enjoy being kids AND have their voices heard – what if we let them grow!?
Mortal Fools Youth Theatre get nostalgic and share times they felt happiest, empowered and in control - and encourage us to change the stereotype narrative about teenagers.
Themes Explored
|
Accessibility Information
|
In The Making - Highfield Middle School
Mortal Fools Youth Theatre invite you to reflect on what is means to 'be resilient', and how we can support others in this!
Over three stories, devised by Highfield Middle School, discover moments of resilience, and that resilience can look very different depending on the context.
Whether it's by yourself or with the support of others; the important thing is figuring out what works for you, and to never stop learning and challenging yourself.
Over three stories, devised by Highfield Middle School, discover moments of resilience, and that resilience can look very different depending on the context.
Whether it's by yourself or with the support of others; the important thing is figuring out what works for you, and to never stop learning and challenging yourself.
Themes Explored
|
Accessibility Information
|
I Think I Am Ready - Mortal Fools Youth Theatre (Online)
Join Mortal Fools Online Youth Theatre on an adventure inspired by the fantastical worlds in literature and film that they love to escape to. This film explores the concept of 'growing up', what skills and strengths are needed for this inevitable life process, and if young people ever feel 'ready'.
When James finds himself in a world other than our own, he meets a group of adventurers on their way to battle a monster – but maybe the monster has more in common with them than they think…
When James finds himself in a world other than our own, he meets a group of adventurers on their way to battle a monster – but maybe the monster has more in common with them than they think…
Themes Explored
|
Accessibility Information
|
In My Dreams - Mortal Fools Youth Theatre (Tyne Valley Stage 2)
What is the world like in your dreams? Are there dragons? Endless chocolate? Can you teleport? Do you have the ability to make the world a better place for you and others?
In this film, Mortal Fools Youth Theatre (Tyne Valley) bring their dreams to life and show us what they would like to cherry pick from the dream world, to make a reality in the real world. They share what sort of people they are in their dreams, and ask the world to help them become the people they want to be!
In this film, Mortal Fools Youth Theatre (Tyne Valley) bring their dreams to life and show us what they would like to cherry pick from the dream world, to make a reality in the real world. They share what sort of people they are in their dreams, and ask the world to help them become the people they want to be!
Themes Explored
|
Accessibility Information
|
The Whole Story - Mortal Fools Youth Theatre (Tyne Valley Stage 3)
Imagine if we could see someone else’s point of view in the moment. Would it help you understand folks better? Or change your opinion of them?
Using Point of View storytelling, step into the everyday reality of Mortal Fools Youth Theatre (Tyne Valley) and explore assumptions made about young people - where they come from and how they can negatively impact young people.
Using Point of View storytelling, step into the everyday reality of Mortal Fools Youth Theatre (Tyne Valley) and explore assumptions made about young people - where they come from and how they can negatively impact young people.
Themes Explored
|
Accessibility Information
|
The Bigger Picture : Behind The Scenes
From January 2023, Mortal Fools Youth Theatre groups worked with our Mortal Fools associate artists in their weekly sessions, exploring the theme of children and young people's relationships with adults; growing up, how they treat each other, and how they work together. This was the starting point for our devising and co-creation process. Each group leaned into themes and things that were important to them, and had the opportunity to work with a variety of artists and art forms, and experiment with a variety of film-making techniques, as part of the process.
The Bigger Picture project culminated in two outdoor filming weekends in July 2023, with professional film company Fly Girl Films and Mortal Fools associate artist Sheryl Jenkins. These took place in Hirst Park (Ashington), Highfield Middle School (Prudhoe), Riverside Park (Prudhoe), and Riding Mill (Tyne Valley).
The Bigger Picture project culminated in two outdoor filming weekends in July 2023, with professional film company Fly Girl Films and Mortal Fools associate artist Sheryl Jenkins. These took place in Hirst Park (Ashington), Highfield Middle School (Prudhoe), Riverside Park (Prudhoe), and Riding Mill (Tyne Valley).
The Bigger Picture films premiered at various screening events across Northumberland, and as part of NE1’s Screen on the Green programme in Newcastle City Centre - ahead of launching digitally in September 2023 for all to enjoy!
The folks behind the project:
|
Produced by: Mortal Fools
Devised and performed by: Mortal Fools Youth Theatre and Highfield Middle School Filming and editing: Fly Girl Films Animations: Sheryl Jenkins Mortal Fools Practitioners: Rebecca Charlton, Mark Gate, Kate Jeffries, Zoe Lamming, Claire Rimington, Maisie Saunders, Mack Sproates, Flora Thomson, Jessica Whittle, and Scott Wilson Project Producer: Zoe Anderson Creative Producer: Helen Ferguson Production Manager: Craig Spence Marketing & Audience Development: Rachel Horton and Elinor Bryant |
Special thanks to: Highfield Middle School, YMCA Northumberland, Riding Mill Village Hall Trust, and Hirst Park Ashington, for their support of the project.
The Bigger Picture was made possible thanks to funding from: Arts Council England, Ashington Town Council, BBC Children In Need, Community Foundation, Northumberland County Council, and The #iWill Fund. |
