EastSide Story

Young people from neighbouring estates in Waltham Forest came together to create EastSide Story, an original piece of theatre commissioned by Waltham Forest, London Borough of Culture 2019.

New ideas

Waltham Forest London Borough of Culture 2019 commissioned two forward-thinking community groups to create EastSide Story. The aim was to explore new models of working with the least engaged young people and at risk teenagers, to support personal growth and inspire new ways of thinking.

Working together

Two groups of young people attended workshops led by award-winning youth coaches from Catalyst in Communities, The Song Corporation, and performing arts specialists and cultural stars of Waltham Forest RAW Academy.

New experiences

The groups came together at a weekend rural residential, where the participants began to re-write their narrative together. EastSide Story is their story, told in their words.

Showtime

The hard work and dedication of all involved culminated in two sold out performances at Chingford Assembly Hall on Saturday 13 April 2019.

It doesn't end here...

EastSide Story helped the young performers realise their potential, it encouraged them to make good choices and empowered them to use their creativity to prove those who had underestimated them wrong. They have since had their story retold through a major BBC One documentary. One of the group has gone on to a full-time media apprenticeship, one has begun a university degree and all have been invited and supported to become peer coaches for the next phase of the project.

Commenting on the EastSide Story performance, Cllr Clare Coghill, Leader of Waltham Forest Council, said:


“EastSide Story was exceptional. Watching this group of young people from our borough demonstrate their creativity, courage and talent was nothing short of inspirational. The project was created over the course of four months as part of the Waltham Forest London Borough of Culture year, and it’s exactly what the year stands for – highlighting the talent of our residents and enabling people to discover the power of culture and use it to tell their own stories, in their own words. I can’t wait to see what they will do next!”