The 2018 Horsecross Youth Arts Festival will see 200 young people aged 5-20 performing across Perth Theatre and Perth Concert Hall in 12 dance, theatre and music performances from 14-17 June. Working with the Horsecross Arts Creative Learning team, the young members have written, devised, choreographed and composed original material as well as re-working old favourites to create this dynamic and fast-paced festival.

The senior members of Perth Youth Theatre (PYT) have been collaborating with professional theatre-maker Lou Brodie to create A Place to...? Using cardboard houses to explore what is important to each of them individually, the PYT Seniors will headline the festival in the newly restored Perth Theatre main auditorium. The younger Perth Youth Theatre groups will have their first opportunity to perform their creations in the brand-new Joan Knight Studio. 

Following the success of last year's combined performance, Horsecross Glee and Perth Youth Dance Company will join forces again this year to deliver an exciting evening of dance and song, featuring Contemporary and Street Dance, alongside pop and rock classics.

The weekend will culminate with the Gordon Duncan Experience, Horsecross' Youth Celtic Big Band, collaborating with professional musicians Eabhal to perform all the tunes from Gordon Duncan's 1997 album The Circular Breath in the main auditorium at Perth Concert Hall. 

Isobel Drury, PYT Seniors and Jazmin Devers, PYT S3-4 said: 

“Youth Arts Festival is a great opportunity for young people to showcase their work, especially as it is year of the young people.” 

Isobel Drury added:

“I am very excited to take part in the Youth Arts Festival, especially to perform on the main stage for the first time.”

All young people will be able to try out Horsecross’s Youth Arts programme when Perth Theatre throws open its doors to anyone aged 8 to 25 for Perth Theatre Youth Takeover, part of Perth’s DiverseCitay Festival for the Year of Young People 2018.

The newly restored and redeveloped venue will be opening its doors for a day of free workshops and activities, organised by young people for young people on Saturday 23 June.

For tickets and info for the Horsecross Youth Arts Festival click here.