Open Mic Night
Young people empowered by Open Mic night
Stratford Youth Zone staged its first ever “Open Mic” night - putting the Zone on the map as a cultural youth space to showcase young people’s talents and persuade them to try something new.
Youth worker Biff Nesbitt said: “The Open Mic Night showcased a culmination of half-term projects from Theatre Royal Stratford East’s Poetic Justice project and Create Define Release’s Synthesise London project along with individuals who’d signed up to take part.
“A variety of acts were performed - from spoken word, rap, songs, acoustic instrumentals, monologues, poetry and even a bit of karaoke.”
With a couple of Stratford Youth Zone’s young people MC-ing the event, it was a great success, said Biff, and it was captured by another of Stratford Youth Zone’s projects, magazine television show Y-Zee TV.
They added: “As well as developing skills and performing publicly to build up their self-confidence, Open Mic gave young people the chance to socialise in a safe creative space.
“It also provided the opportunity for them to try something new, that they may not have had access to before.
“Open Mic helped develop them as young leaders and gave them experience in supporting their peers, encouraging each other to step out of their comfort zones and then celebrating the success of the group.”
Biff added: “The young people showcased a huge range of talents and skills and supported each other and had a fun in a creative space. They say they can’t wait for the next one!
“We hope to start producing open mic nights more regularly, building in opportunities for young people to co-design and deliver all elements of them. We plan to involve young people currently training in technical production, which is currently taking place in Stratford Youth Zone with Theatre Royal Stratford East, to operate the events.”