Celebrating Gather and Tell: A Magical End to Another Incredible Year of BLAST Youth Theatre
A Journey Through Stories
What a wonderful way to end the year!
After months of devising, creating and rehearsing, the young people of BLAST Youth Theatre took to the stage at Metal, Chalkwell Hall to perform three fantastic performances of Gather & Tell to audiences of family, friends and members of the local community.
We couldn't be prouder of everything they achieved.
Bringing the Tales to Life
From the very beginning, Gather & Tell was about celebrating the stories that connect us. Inspired by folktales from around the world alongside the young people's own ideas and experiences, the production took audiences on an immersive journey filled with imagination, creativity and wonder.
The performance featured magical tales from across the globe, and from right here at home. Audiences encountered expressive animal masks inspired by the Jataka Tales and Romanian folklore, beautiful shadow puppetry bringing to life the story of an armadillo from Central America, and a magnificent dragon puppet inspired by a Ukrainian folktale. Together, these stories explored universal themes of hope, resilience, courage, kindness and joy, reminding us that although our stories come from many different places, they often speak to the same human experiences.
Growing in Confidence
The performances were a true celebration of everything the young people have developed throughout the year, not only their acting and performance skills, but their confidence, creativity, teamwork and willingness to support one another. They embraced every challenge with enthusiasm, worked incredibly hard throughout rehearsals and delivered performances full of energy, warmth and imagination.
Watching the young people grow in confidence over the course of the project has been a privilege, and seeing them share their work with such pride was a wonderful reminder of the power of youth theatre.
What Our Audience Said
“What a wonderful afternoon of storytelling! I loved the atmosphere of the set and the way it immersed you in it! Lovely touch with the food!”
“It was so wonderful to see so many stories from so many cultures! Even sharing personal family stories and stating the importance of keeping these alive for future generations actually brought tears to my eyes.”
“Thank you for your time and effort. We have truly enjoyed the show!”
“What a wonderful performance, with some fantastic stories! Thank you for inviting me and a huge well done to everyone!”
“Absolutely fantastic, very impressed with the confidence and fluidity of the children and performance”
“Amazing show! So clever, informative, welcoming and multi-cultural.”
Thank You
Projects like Gather & Tell are only possible because of the dedication and talent of so many people.
A huge thank you to our incredible creative team: Director Michelle Barrington, Assistant Director TriggerBliss, Assistant Director and Stage Manager Al Hawkins, Designer Jay Durkin and collaborator and performer Hannah Brailsford. The team’s passion, expertise and encouragement helped bring this production to life. From devising and directing to design, music, movement and technical support, every member of the team played an important part in creating such a magical experience for our young people and audiences alike.
We'd also like to thank our families, partners, funders and everyone who came along to support the performances. Your encouragement means the world to our young people and helps create a welcoming community where they can flourish.
And finally, thank you to every member of BLAST Youth Theatre. Your imagination, bravery, commitment and generosity made Gather & Tell something truly special. You should all be incredibly proud of what you've achieved.
We can't wait to see where your creativity takes you next.
Until next time... keep gathering, keep telling, and keep sharing your stories.
BLAST Youth Theatre 2025/26
We're already looking forward to welcoming returning and new members to BLAST Youth Theatre next term as we continue creating bold, imaginative theatre together.
Sign up now to register a young person for a place at BLAST Youth Theatre starting September 2026.
Photos credit: Clarissa Debenham/ Film Free Photography
