This summer will see Ripon Theatre Festival embarking on an exciting new partnership project that will place young people at the heart of this summer’s festival, thanks to Cultural Passport for Young People funding.

Supported by David Skaith, the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, and funded by the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority from the Mayoral Investment Fund. The Cultural Passport programme has been developed and managed by the City of York Council. RTF’s project will bring together local young people, artists and youth organisations in a vibrant programme of creative activity, leading up to Ripon Theatre Festival in July. Delivered in partnership with YMCA Ripon, this initiative creates multiple new opportunities for 11–18 year olds to take part in arts activities, volunteering and live performance in Ripon.

At the project’s centre is Sound Board, Zest Theatre’s bold and innovative live show shaped in real time by young people and audiences. Part performance, part conversation and part game show, Sound Board will be presented at Ripon Theatre Festival on Sunday 12 July as part of the Festival’s Big Family Weekend. A team of youth hosts, locally recruited young people, will work alongside Zest Theatre’s professional artists to welcome audiences, lead activities and help shape each performance live in the moment.

Further creative activity, made possible by the funding, will comprise drop-in arts sessions delivered by Knaresborough-based collective Yorkshire CREATE. Hosted by YMCA Ripon and open to all young people in Ripon, these will include mask and prop making, animation and circus skills. Yorkshire CREATE artists will also support young people in designing and creating a youth chill-out zone for the festival. Sessions will take place as part of the YMCA Ripon Pop Up Cafe in Spa Park on Thursdays this half term from 3-5pm.

Recruitment of Youth Squad volunteers is underway, offering young people from Ripon the opportunity to be part of an established cultural event and their wider community. They’ll play a valuable part in ensuring the smooth running of the Big Family Weekend, gaining valuable volunteering experience whilst having lots of fun. Youth Squad members will also have the important job of running the Chill-Out Zone at Ripon Spa Gardens on Sunday 12 July. Lucy Downes, CEO of YMCA Ripon, explained that the project would be “a brilliant opportunity for young people to build confidence, make connections and have their voices heard in a positive and creative way.”

We want young people to feel that the Festival belongs to them too — not only as audiences, but as volunteers, collaborators, performers and future cultural leaders.

Young people aged 11+ are encouraged to register their interest by emailing steph@riponymca.org. No previous experience is necessary - just enthusiasm, openness and a willingness to get involved.