The next major project for DreamArts, the charity which creates opportunities for young people across inner London to learn through the creative arts, is a musical adaptation of Shane Meadows and Paul Fraser’s screenplay for the film Twentyfour Seven, performed from 3–6 September at the Embassy Theatre at London’s Central School of Speech & Drama.
Twentyfour Seven has been developed into a musical involving a company of 20 talented young people from social and ethnic backgrounds severely under-represented in the creative industries. They are involved at every level – onstage and behind the scenes – learning from and performing alongside leading professionals. The rehearsals have taken place during the summer at Central.
Described by The Guardian as ‘the most powerful British storyteller of his generation’, Meadows (This is England, Dead Man’s Shoes) attracts both critical and popular praise. Twentyfour Seven tells the story of an eccentric man (played by Bob Hoskins in the film) trying to help local youths from a rough estate to find some purpose and direction in their lives by starting up a boxing club. Bringing Meadows’ work to the stage for the first time will be theatre director Nathan Curry (associate director of the Bush Theatre and Greenwich and Docklands International Festival and director of award-winning ensemble Tangled Feet). The book for the musical is by Graham Whitlock and the music has been written by Wayne Roberts (both have collaborated on the lyrics).
For 12 years DreamArts’ Street 2 Stage new musical programme has been a stepping stone for hundreds of young people. Street 2 Stage is free to take part in, and 16-25-year-olds are empowered to do everything – from lighting and sound to marketing, choreography and design. This not only gives them strong creative skills, it also builds their confidence, teamwork, communication and leadership, and they can receive a nationally recognised qualification for their achievements as well as support to access further training and employment.
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