Positive Activities For Young People: Hackney Empire showcases young talent
Last updated 29/01/2010 20:55:23
Hackney Empire showcases young talent
Young people from Hackney and the four other Olympic host boroughs in London will have the chance to showcase their talents on stage at the prestigious Hackney Empire this Sunday before the venue closes for the next nine months.
Play The Empire, funded by the London Development Agency, the Metropolitan Police, and the Government's Positive Activities for Young People fund, is a variety show that aims to give young people aged 12 - 25 a chance to perform for a live audience.
This variety show will be the culmination of six months of auditions. Hundreds of young people attended six open auditions in all five boroughs but only 25 acts were lucky enough to make it to the Empire.
Local auditions sessions were held at the Stoke Newington Youth Forum Comedy Club, the first ever youth-run comedy club in Hackney, throughout November. The successful young performers received master class coaching and will get to follow in the footsteps of artists such as Leona Lewis and Jimmy Carr.
The show kicks off from 7pm this Sunday, 31 January and will be attended by actor Griff Rhys Jones, who is a trustee for the Hackney Empire.
Positive Activities for Young People is part of the Department for Children Schools and Families' Aiming High for Young People strategy – a 10 year plan to provide safe places to go and something positive to do for young people at times when they most want and need them - particularly Friday and Saturday nights.
Play The Empire is not just about promoting local talent but is also geared towards providing technical and professional guidance for these young artists.
Producer Frank Sweeney, explained: "It's about entertaining an audience and what we're looking for are the acts that really can play the Hackney Empire stage to a thousand people."
The event is also being staged with the help of young people behind the scenes. Kim Pham, 15, a Youth Organiser for The Crib youth club in Hackney, is studying for her GCSEs. She has been involved with the audition process from the beginning.
"Being a part of Play The Empire has made us good role models to others," she said. "All the skills that I have learned from this will definitely contribute to my future."
For details of local activities for young people in Hackney, please visit www.younghackney.org
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