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Listen Up!

Listen Up now to what young people are exploring and creating on Speak Up – a secondary school programme with a difference. 

Alongside teachers and artists, young people are speaking up about issues that matter most to them. Explore creative work made in classrooms and in local towns and cities. 

This page will be updated throughout the duration of the programme. Keep up to date with the creative responses here and by following along on social media #NTSpeakUp. 

 

We need someone who will listen. We want to make something meaningful. We need a space to express ourselves and just be.

– Student, Carleton High School, Pontefract

The Big Speak Up Get Together

In November 2023, we invited teachers, artists, partners and the Speak Up Council to the National Theatre for The Big Speak Up Get Together.

We welcomed over 100 people from across England to our South Bank home for a series of conversations, workshops and CPD training – and, crucially, to give people the chance to meet others on the programme.

A group of people pose for a group shot with a sculpture made of cardboard and paper in the middle
A group of people pose for a group shot with a sculpture made of cardboard and paper in the middle
A group of people pose for a group shot with a sculpture made of cardboard and paper in the middle
View 10 images
A group of people standing with some sitting holding a large piece of textile fabric A group of people creating a physical sculpture in a workshop space A person wrapped up in red transparent paper with post-it notes stuck on her that read 'Have babies' and 'Grow own food' A group of people physically moving in a workshop space A line of people laughing A young person holding a microphone amidst a circle of other people A group of young people in pink t-shirts with 'Speak Up' written on them - they are signing A large group of people collectively holding up a sculpture made of cardboard and paper A grpup of people in a room with one person smiling and shouting in the middle wearing a green t-shirt with 'Speak Up' written on it

All photos © Matthew Kaltenborn

Look

Have a look at the artwork created by students from across the Speak Up programme

Two young people stand beside a large artwork featuring four hands embracing with peace and rainbow signs
Two young people stand beside a large artwork featuring four hands embracing with peace and rainbow signs
Two young people stand beside a large artwork featuring four hands embracing with peace and rainbow signs
View 12 images
An artwork featuring four hands embracing with peace and rainbow signs A mixed-media artwork of a person's head and shoulders, they're wearing glasses and they have the words Speak Up where their mouth should be A mixed-media artwork of a person covering their hands with their face against a backdrop of multi-coloured papers An mixed-media and abstract artwork of a person with no features but the word 'respect' written across their face An abstract mixed-media artwork of a person holding a hand in front of their face with a heart on their palm, the words Speak Up are across their arm and shoulder Artworks hanging on a white wall, two canvases featuring graffiti including words 'speak up', 'believe' and 'kindness' People looking at an artwork on the wall featuring a person covering their mouth with their hands and the words 'silence is the most powerful scream' written across both arms People looking at artwork on a wall Artwork hanging on a wall Two t-shirt designs - one says 'Culture, Pride & Diversity Day' in a rainbow heart in the right-hand corner and the other has a multi-coloured circle with the worlds 'Pride Club' in the middle The words 'Levelling up isn't just a game' in newspaper font against a bright red background

Watch

Two films made by students from Trinity Academy Cathedral

A person in a chimp costume on a high street on a sunny day
Play Video

The Chimp in my Brain
Written and directed by Matt Woodhead. Photography: Fly Girl Films.

Play Video
Still of an image from the Speak Up film. A person in school uniform, holding a pink balloon
Play Video

No Balloons
Written and directed by Matt Woodhead. Photography: Fly Girl Films.

Play Video

Two films made by students in Sunderland

Play Video

Oxclose Community Academy, sharing showcase event 2022

Play Video
A cartoon drawing of a person with a speech bubble.
Play Video

Made by students at Beacon of Light school with animator Sheryl Jenkins

Play Video

Listen

Listen to our playlists of music, podcasts and spoken word created by young people on Speak Up

 

 

Join the conversation

Follow Speak Up activity on Twitter #NTSpeakUp

News from the programme

An overhead shot of a group of school students sat on the floor, one of whom is writing on a piece of paper

Our first Youth Council on the Speak Up programme

Photo © Becca Hunt

Our first youth council on the Speak Up programme
A facilitator talking to two secondary-aged pupils in a classroom

Loud and clear: National Theatre's Speak Up programme

Photo © Colin Davison

Loud and clear: National Theatre's Speak Up programme
A person in a chimp costume on a high street on a sunny day

Speak Up students produce two cutting-edge films

Speak Up students produce two cutting-edge films

Our funder

The Mohn Westlake Foundation Trustees share our belief in the importance of youth voice, and care about the detrimental effects of the pandemic on young people’s aspirations, confidence and agency.

In partnership with Mohn Westlake Foundation we created Speak Up, and we are excited to be working together with young people in some of the most economically disadvantaged areas of the country to enable positive change in their lives, schools and local communities.

Find out more about supporting our work

Contact us

If you would like any more information about the creative work made on Speak Up, please contact:

Rhian Bennett 
Press
rbennett@nationaltheatre.org.uk 

Ellie Hart 
Speak Up Project Manager
speakup@nationaltheatre.org.uk  

Typography banner artwork made by students from Oxclose Academy, Washington (Sunderland) with artist Tommy Anderson