The Mayor's £45 million Young Londoners Fund is supporting young people from across London to engage in positive and meaningful activities.
Many of the projects focus on creative ways to engage young people. Scarabeus Aerial Theatre take a unique approach, teaching young people in north London aerial acrobatics. Find out more about the project below:
Focus and Challenge
Scarabeus Aerial Theatre has 30 years of experience in creating inspiring productions. Dealing with contemporary narrative we aim to awaken empathy, ethical and political consciousness. Alongside our professional performance work, we run an extensive participatory programme for children, young people and their families.
Take Flight is a weekly aerial theatre programme for young people 13 – 21 years old which helps to support their mental health, physical wellbeing and resilience. We are pleased to be providing the only free aerial project in north London.
‘Take Flight is a space in which I can focus and challenge myself. It helps me build trust and confidence in myself and others. I can watch myself grow, develop and feel powerful. Helps me make friends and feel truly connected’.
In the Take Flight programme, the participants are introduced to and build skills in aerial acrobatics. We focus on aerial cocoons and hoops, silks, ropes and Chinese pole with physical theatre and choreographed movement. All of these exciting and challenging activities are aimed at skill building including physical strength, coordination, self-determination, resilience and teamwork within a safe, supportive and non-judgemental environment.
Skills Building
We have consistently seen the change that aerial training can make for our participants and the benefits of providing consistency and routine in both physical and mental wellbeing. This is particularly important as this type of work often appeals to people whom would not normally participate in other physical activities.
We have observed dramatic and positive impacts on those coming to us with complex needs and facing a range of barriers. By engaging in arts projects like this, young people are better equipped with skills they need to improve and progress throughout their lives.
‘[Take Flight is] a supportive space where I am free to express myself in ways I never could before. It allows me to participate in and learn skills that seem humanly impossible, and yet the teachers have faith in me and my progress’.
Scarabeus have worked extensively with young people from a range of diverse backgrounds, including young people with mental health issues, young refugees and transgender young people.
This summer Take Flight participants will have the fantastic opportunity to perform alongside professional aerialists in a promenade aerial production in Queens Woods, north London. Working on themes of climate change Scarabeus Aerial Theatre have been selected by Jacksons Lane through the Future Arts Centres programme to develop a show with young people and professional as part of the 25th anniversary of the National Lottery.
To find out more about Scarabeus Aerial Theatre