Portsmouth and Havant young people bring community together through creativity and nature

At a time when many headlines focus on the challenges facing young people and the environment, children from Portsmouth and Havant are coming together to celebrate something different - creativity, community and the natural world.

Young people from The Young Creatives Portsmouth and The Young Creatives Havant bring giant jellyfish to life during rehearsals for What a Wonderful World?. | TYC Arts & Education CIC

placeholder image — Young people from The Young Creatives Portsmouth and The Young Creatives Havant bring giant jellyfish to life during rehearsals for What a Wonderful World?. | TYC Arts & Education CIC

Young people from The Young Creatives Portsmouth and The Young Creatives Havant will take to the stage this weekend for What a Wonderful World? - a free original performance inspired by the work and legacy of Sir David Attenborough and Portsmouth's City Centenary.

The performance was originally scheduled to take place on Sir David Attenborough's 100th birthday but was postponed due to adverse weather conditions. The rescheduled event will now take place at the Theatre of the Sea on Southsea Promenade on Sunday, June 14.

Young people from The Young Creatives Portsmouth gather on stage during the organisation's 10th anniversary celebrations. For more than thirteen years, TYC has created opportunities for children and young people to explore creativity, build confidence and develop their own artistic voice. | TYC Arts & Education CIC

Rather than performing a pre-written script, participants aged 5 to 13 have spent recent months researching, devising and creating original work inspired by the question: "What if David Attenborough came to Portsmouth?" The resulting performance explores local wildlife, conservation and Portsmouth's unique connection to the sea through the eyes and imagination of the young people involved.

The project has been delivered by TYC Arts & Education CIC through its Young Creatives Portsmouth and Young Creatives Havant programmes.

Founded in Portsmouth more than thirteen years ago, TYC is a Portsmouth-born creative organisation dedicated to helping young people discover the creator within. Through theatre, film, heritage and community projects, children and young people are given the time, space and ownership to explore ideas, tell stories and develop their own creative voice.

Committed to ensuring the arts remain accessible to all, TYC creates opportunities for young people from a wide range of backgrounds to take part in high-quality arts experiences, develop leadership skills and discover pathways into the arts and creative industries.

The performance features original scenes inspired by jellyfish, salmon, stingrays and Portsmouth's cheeky Southsea seagulls, with the ideas, characters and creative decisions coming directly from the young people involved.

Marie Amey, Director of TYC Arts & Education CIC, said: "We wanted to create something that allowed our young creatives to reconnect with the natural world and celebrate some of the simple good things around us. Rather than handing them a script, we encouraged them to research, explore and create work inspired by the world around them."

"At TYC we believe every young person has a creative voice worth hearing. This project has given them the opportunity to work together, share ideas and create something entirely their own while celebrating Portsmouth's connection to the sea and the environment."

Families are invited to come along and enjoy this free celebration of nature, creativity and community.