All too often, young people in care are defined by their past, rather than by the resilience they draw upon in order to overcome adversity. Society sees these young people as a burden and too often maps out a future for them dominated by antisocial behaviour and criminal activity instead of recognising that through overcoming adversity these young people develop a strength and fortitude that can lead to them contributing huge amounts to society.

Wise Words have partnered with the Marlowe Theatre and Virtual Schools Kent in order to develop and deliver a project working with young people in care that has lead to the young people creating an immersive installation celebrating resilience that will be sited in the Marlowe Studio as part of Wise Words Festival.

A group of 20 young people who have been brought up within the care system or who are unaccompanied young refugees have been working with one of the UK’s most exciting performance poets Joelle Taylor; a projection artist, a musician and a visual artist to create a virtual landscape of projected poetry, imagery and song – a landscape that tells the stories and experiences of how these young people have overcome life’s challenges to become the people they are today.

Lemn Sissay who is perhaps one of the world’s most famous poets (appearing almost daily in the Guardian, on the radio or television as well as beating ex-politician Peter Mandelson to become the chancellor of Manchester University), is the Artistic Director. Lemn was also brought up in care and has devoted his life to being an ambassador for those who come from a similar background.

Through this project, Wise Words want to find ways to listen, to celebrate the young people’s strength and resilience, so that, like Lemn, they have the confidence to say “I am not defined by my scars but by my incredible ability to heal”.

Produced in Partnership with The Marlowe Theatre

FREE: Just turn up and enjoy | The installation runs every 20 mins