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Listen Up!

A vibrant collage of numerous UK village and town signs, buildings, street signs, and landmarks. The image features an array of colorful signs, houses, and objects, giving a whimsical and chaotic glimpse of various locations and elements.

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 want our voices to be heard so we can change the world and make the next generation better than ours.

– Student, Outwood City Fields

Look

Take a look at some highlights of visual art created by young people on Speak Up.

 

Through art, students have been speaking up about their identity, mental health, how they feel about their homes, the climate crisis and sharing messages of hope.

A display of six colorful and abstract paintings is seen against a brick wall. The artworks feature a variety of themes, including space, human faces, vibrant flowers, and a skull with rainbow patterns. Each painting is unique and filled with intricate details and vibrant colors.
A display of six colorful and abstract paintings is seen against a brick wall. The artworks feature a variety of themes, including space, human faces, vibrant flowers, and a skull with rainbow patterns. Each painting is unique and filled with intricate details and vibrant colors.
A display of six colorful and abstract paintings is seen against a brick wall. The artworks feature a variety of themes, including space, human faces, vibrant flowers, and a skull with rainbow patterns. Each painting is unique and filled with intricate details and vibrant colors.
View 15 images
A photo looking up from inside a hollowed-out tree trunk. Sunlight filters through the opening at the top, illuminating the textured walls in shades of green, brown, and some touches of blue. Small plants and branches are visible at the opening. A dual-pane image showcases a mannequin adorned with a colorful, abstract costume against a backdrop of large windows and structural supports. The mannequin's outfit features bold splashes of blue, red, and other vibrant hues. A collage of ten colorful posters with playful fonts and doodles. Each poster contains different messages such as Colorful artwork depicting a diverse group of people with inspiring messages above them. Messages include Two young people stand beside a large artwork featuring four hands embracing with peace and rainbow signs 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

Watch

A group of school children are group on a stage. They wear school uniforms and look directly at the camera. A girl with a pink t-shirt that reads 'Speak Up' stands in the centre.
Play Video

Things We Want To Tell You
Artist credit: Kieran Vyas, Rob Heslop, Natalie Linh Bolderston, Georgina Clare. Director of Photography: Rob Heslop, of Rendah Films.

Play Video
A view of Earth from space. The text underneath reads
Play Video

What is Home?
Written and directed by Maddy Chapman and Harry Plowden. Director of Photography: Harry Plowden.

Play Video
Two students in school uniforms stand in a classroom. The background shows other students working at desks. The boys' expressions are focused, and they wear blazers with a distinctive crest. A window on the right lets in natural light.
Play Video

How to Waste A Life?
Artist credit: Fran Richards. Director of Photography: Kieran Vyas.

Play Video
Play Video

Safe/Unsafe
Written and directed by Maddy Chapman and Harry Plowden. Director of Photography: Harry Plowden.

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. Director of Photography: Fly Girl Films.

Play Video
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. Director of Photography: Fly Girl Films.

Play Video

Read

Read poems and poetry collections written by young people on Speak Up.

A bright green background featuring the bold blue text

NADA

Written by students from Outwood Academy Hindley and Speak Up Rep: Ruth Welch.

“Nothing is perfect” Nada was a short animated film that celebrates the beauty of imperfection. A message of self-acceptance, reminding us that true beauty lies in authenticity.

The film was shown as part of the Speak Up takeover at the Lowry in June 2024.

NADA
The image features the words

Winstanley Poetry

Winstanley students worked alongside poet Matt Miller to create poetry that expressed their feelings on issues important to them.

The poems in this collection are I Want To Be by Louis, My Mind Is Lost by Vilte and Oona, and Chicken Wings by Jubran.

Winstanley Poetry

Listen

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

 

 

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

I speak up to…

Help young people understand and realise that they have an opinion too and it matters!

– Speak Up Council Rep member

Change the negative opinion people have of teenagers and young people.

– Speak Up Council Rep member

Help people who don’t feel heard and to make myself more confident about sharing my thoughts and opinions.

– Speak Up Council Rep member

Join the conversation

Follow Speak Up activity on Twitter #NTSpeakUp

News from the programme

A group of young people wearing matching

Second national meet-up of the Speak Up Council

Photo © Matthew Kaltenborn

Second national meet-up of the Speak Up Council
A group of people stands on stage in a theatrical performance. The performers are dressed in school uniforms and casual clothes, with some featuring colourful accessories. The background includes a blue backdrop and stage props, including a sign reading

Speak Up Year 2: Highlights from an impactful year

Photo © Owen Peters

Speak Up Year 2: Highlights from an impactful year
A group of students wearing pink Speak Up tshirts in a classroom together with a few adults on their right, all reaching their arms up in the air.

Speak Up - Sharing The Message Loud And Clear!

Photo © Fly Girl Films

Speak Up - Sharing The Message Loud And Clear!
An illustrated image of a young person with green hair, wearing headphones, sat on a bus with the words 'Meet Hero' in green in the right-hand corner

The Story of Speak Up - the pilot

Illustrations by India Buxton

The Story of Speak Up - the pilot

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  

Header artwork by students from Oxclose Academy Sunderland with artists Tommy Anderson and Sarah Marsden