Young DaDaFest develops young disabled and Deaf artists, aged between 12 and 30 by providing them with a platform to perform in front of large audiences.
The annual event has grown significantly since its origins in 2003 and now includes both a performance focused event at the Liverpool Everyman and a music focused event at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall’s new Music Room. The short festival now also includes a number of fringe events, including Sandfest, an event created by students from Sandfield Park School.
The theme for this year’s Young DaDaFest is Outside the Box. Young performers will examine how people are put into categories which can make them feel judged, isolated and limited. How do we break outside of the box?
Throughout the entire process, young people are provided with the opportunity to develop their skills. The DaDaFest Young Leaders make all key decisions on the running of the events and chose this year’s acts following the initial call out. DaDaFest also provides mentoring and training opportunities for aspiring young performer.
Young DaDaFest 2017 will showcase a number of diverse and exciting performances. Local individual artists and organisations responded to a series of Open Commissions advertised by DaDaFest. This year’s programme includes; Act Up! from Newham, London producing a chorus piece integrating poetry, ‘sign-along’ and rap; Warrington’s Wolfprint performing Undivided, a contemporary dance piece; Owen Jones performing Beethoven’s Dyslexia Poem and all new work by Young DaDaFest veterans The Champions, Arden Rockers, Like U Dance Company and more.
This year, DaDaFest is also rolling out an all new project DaDaFest Rookies; which aims to increase employability for young disabled people within the creative sector. Young people can take advantage of development grants, producer placements within creative organisations and mentoring with professional artists.
Sam Wade, Arts Manager at DaDaFest said, “The young people we work with are dedicated to increasing the quality of the work they produce, creating high quality work with strong messages. They come up with fresh new ideas and have big ambitions for each Young DaDaFest, increasing what we offer each year.”
Ruth Gould, Artistic Director of DaDaFest said, “Once again the young people lead by talent passion and dedication to excellence. They make me proud and all should come and see and support them, they are the future.”
Listings.
Young DaDaFest: Perform.
Date: Thursday 13th July (6.30pm to 8.30pm).
Tickets: £5 with concessions available at £3.
Venue: Liverpool Everyman Theatre.
Access: British Sign Language interpretation, audio description and relaxed performance.
Booking information: Tickets available via the Everyman and Playhouse Box office.
Young DaDaFest: Music.
Date: Friday 14th July 2017 (6.30pm to 8.30pm).
Tickets £5 with concessions available at £3.
Venue: Music Room at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.
Access: British Sign interpretation and relaxed performance.
Booking information: Tickets available via Liverpool Philharmonic Hall Box office.
Fringe Events.
BankFest
Date: Thursday 29th June 2017 (6pm to 8pm).
Venue: Bank View High School
Tickets: Invitation only.
A multi performance event created and performed by students from Bank View High School.
SandFest
Date: Thursday 6th July 2017 (6pm to 8.30pm)
Venue: Devonshire House Hotel
Tickets: Invitation Only.