Emerging talent in the spotlight in Birmingham

Published: 4 March 2021
Reporter: Steve Orme

Focusing on young and emerging talent: TEDxYouth@Brum

Birmingham Hippodrome has announced two live-streamed events which will put emerging Midlands talent in the spotlight.

The events will be the first to be streamed by the Hippodrome as part of the theatre's ongoing commitment to providing exposure and growth for young and emerging talent in Birmingham, the Midlands and beyond.

After a conference in 2019 which focused on “an age of change”, TEDxYouth@Brum is back and will broadcast Insert Future Here on Tuesday 30 March. It hopes to capture how the spirit of innovation remains present within the city, highlighting how young people are refusing to wait for the future they want and are using the power they have to transform the world.

TEDxYouth@Brum will be hosted by Birmingham's Yshee Black. Speakers will include Rakeem Omar, Casey Bailey and Cassandra Nelson and there will be performances by Xhosa Cole, Lady Sanity and Darcy Holmes. Tickets are free but must be booked in advance.

The Hippodrome's Young Advocates have been working on a bespoke digital project that will be part of the conference. The group are involved in a pilot programme in which they receive mentoring and training to build them as leaders as they help shape the theatre's work with and for young people.

UniSlam 2021, “the UK's largest team poetry slam tournament”, will broadcast its semi-final on Saturday 20 March and final on Saturday 27 March.

Starting as a one-off event in 2013, UniSlam has grown into an annual festival and “cornerstone event” of the British spoken-word calendar. “Some of the most exciting poets in the UK” will be competing while there will be readings from judges Inua Ellams, Mona Arshi, Paul Tran and Deanna Rodger. Tickets cost from £5.

Chris Sudworth, the Hippodrome’s director of artistic programme, said, “these events will amplify the voices, creativity and ideas of our city's young people. I can't wait for the event to celebrate the change young people have driven already, and to hear their visions of a reimagined and fairer future.”

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