Youth take the lead in new Stalybridge performance

A new youth-led performance ‘Between Earth and Voice’ set to bring passion and authenticity to Stalybridge Civic Hall.

A powerful new performance is taking to the stage in Stalybridge this weekend, showcasing the creativity, honesty, and energy of young people from across Tameside. Between Earth and Voice - a brand-new, multidisciplinary, youth-led performance - will be performed at 5pm on Sunday, 12th October at Stalybridge Civic Hall.

Described as a “fierce, passionate, and impactful piece,” the show blends original songs, poetry, choreography, and physical theatre to create a space where young people are not only heard but respected as creators and leaders.

The project is the brainchild of organisers Alex Lane, Joseph Horrocks, and Chloe Gorrod, who developed the production after successfully securing funding through Tameside Council.

“Between Earth and Voice is a multidisciplinary performance that includes spoken word, movement and music,” explains Joseph Horrocks. “It’s completely youth-led, and everything that you see has been created by young people working together over the last few months, after the three of us got some funding from the council.”

The initiative is more than just a performance; it’s a statement about empowerment and collaboration. By creating a space in which young artists lead the process from start to finish, the organisers aim to redefine how youth creativity is seen and supported in the local arts scene.

Alex Lane shared how their journey began: “We had to apply for a bid through the council. When we won, we had a meeting afterwards about the budgeting and how we were going to run the event. We won out of about 30 people, so we were very, very pleased when we did.”

The team has drawn together a diverse group of local young people, each bringing their own artistic strengths.

“We kind of had an idea for the first time we did it of who we wanted to be involved,” says Chloe Gorrod. “We know so many local young people who are really talented and have a high skill set in their area of expertise. We picked people we knew would be passionate about the same things as us. But going forward, we’ll be looking to take it into schools and colleges to find new people we can connect with.”

The team is already thinking ahead, hoping to build Between Earth and Voice into a long-term, sustainable project that reaches even more young creatives.

“After we do this initial show, it’s then about how we can expand and take it into community groups, schools, and colleges,” adds Joseph. “Because the themes are quite varied, we can adapt them to different audiences, even in primary schools.”

Audiences can expect an evening filled with “tears, laughter, and authenticity.” Following the performance, attendees are invited to stay for a networking event, offering a chance to meet the team, learn more about the process, or connect with other local creatives interested in youth-led arts.

Tickets are completely free and available through a ‘pay what you decide’ scheme, making the event accessible to everyone.

Tickets are available at: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/stalybridge/stalybridge-civic-hall/between-earth-and-voice/e-gpkmvo

You can keep up to date with the project on social media @betweenearthandvoice

If you want to support Chloe, Alex and Joseph’s project you can donate at: https://gofund.me/69fffdeef