We are dead chuffed to announce that poet, artist and theatre maker Lemn Sissay MBE is our new patron.
Both 20 Stories High and Lemn have been talking on and off for a few years now about each other’s work and what the connections are, politically, artistically and socially.
On being asked Lemn said:
“I am so pleased to be the new patron of 20 Stories High. I am proud of the work they make, proud of the young people who make up the company and proud that they have asked me. The stories they tell are powerful, relevant, funny and heartfelt. And with the amount of challenges that young people are facing, it is more important than ever that their voices are heard.”
And this week three of our young artists Owen, Scott and Riaid went to meet Lemn for a cup of tea in Manchester along with Co-Artistic Directors Julia and Keith.
Lemn talked to the group about his journey as a young person in care who discovered poetry and what it means to him. We spoke about the young people at 20 Stories High who have had experience of being in care: their challenges, hopes and opportunities for the future and also about how important it is for young people to have ownership of their own stories and the way they are represented in theatre and art.
Owen explained how after joining our Youth Theatre 8 years ago he was plunged into a world in which he suddenly found himself doing everything – acting, beat-boxing, dancing, singing, playing the guitar, writing poetry and even puppetry. He explained how proud he is that now he gets paid professional experiences in and out of the company as both an actor and puppeteer.
Scott told Lemn about the time he watched his first 20 Stories High play GHOST BOY where he got chatting to Keith and Julia who persuaded him to join the Youth Theatre. Now he is creating his own one person show.
And Riaid had everyone in stitches talking passionately about how going to a drama group was something that he felt he had to hide from everyone because he felt embarrassed, but now he is open about it and not only celebrates the art being made but his place within the process.
From then on we covered everything from football, woolly-backs, silly dancing to Harry Potter and with a sparkle in his eye, Lemn declared:
“That’s it! Patronus! Patronus the spell. Patron Us!”
On one of Lemn’s origin stories on Radio 4 he spoke of his experiences as a foster child and drew comparisons with Harry Potter. In the Harry Potter books the patronus is a magical force that guides and protects. So Dumbledore has a phoenix, Hermoine has an otter and now 20 Stories High has a Lemn!
