14/48 is a group working to promote cultural and creative activity, bringing new audiences into theatre and performance spaces, as well as connecting artists with the intention of encouraging future collaborative activity.
In May 2015 the group were awarded £1,080 from the Community Foundation for their Takeover project.
Takeover saw 13 young people write 4 new ten minute plays, under the guidance of 2 professional playwrights, during the May Half Term week as part of Leicester’s Spark Arts Festival for Children.
The plays were then handed over to a team of 30 professional theatre makers who staged them at a 6pm family-friendly performance which closed the Spark Festival’s activity.
Bob Christer Executive Producer at 14/48 said:
‘There are quite simply no other activities of this kind within the local area. There is very little which provides young people with access to theatre-making opportunities which are not solely about performance. There is very little in terms of creative writing for young people, and no other opportunities for young creative writers to see their work professionally staged and valued by an audience.
The project has given 13 young people skills and experience of writing for the stage, as well as the experience of seeing their work handled respectfully by professionals.
The Takeover project not only developed the skills of the young writers involved, but developed the professionals, stretching the ambitions of what could be achieved, and enforcing a huge feeling of responsibility to those who were handling the words of young people present within the audience.’
Young writers aged 13 who were involved in the project said:
‘I think that 14/48 is a really good place for starting writers to go and it has helped me learn and see more about the theatre.’
‘It was a good experience which I learnt from. I met new people who are also interested in the same things as I am which is good.’
