Storyhouse partners with Chester Samaritans and Tesco
Am I? is a brand-new piece of theatre performed at multi-award winning Storyhouse on the 4 & 5 July (first scratch performances in April)…. Devised by Storyhouse Young Company (ages 17-25), working with Chester Samaritans the performance told the story of AJ and Jack, their emotional health and how their friends and family responded to it.
Nicola Samuels, Chester Samaritans schools’ coordinator said: "We're delighted to have won £4000 from the Tesco Bags of Help scheme for this project because when people feel listened to, it can save a life. Samaritans want young people to hear and understand this message, and what better way to voice it than through the Storyhouse Young Company!
AJ’s and Jack’s stories were about the conflicts and battles they faced trying to find their identities while dealing with the impacts of social media, living their ‘best lives’ and fitting in with their friends. Darkly comic explorations of being a young adult in 2019.
Hayley Lindley Thornhill, Youth Projects Manager at Storyhouse said: “Looking at how we use social media we are pretty much all guilty of putting on a show even when we are having a bad day. The performance used different theatre styles, including comedy to explore mental health and to encourage us all to talk and listen, start conversations, share some of our private pain.”
A short film based on scenes in these excellent performances is now being made, for Chester Samaritans to show during their awareness raising sessions in schools in Chester, Wrexham, Deeside and Wirral areas.