2020 - what a year!
2020 was a challenging, unusual year in many ways, but there was still plenty worth celebrating! To remind you that some good did come out of 2020, here are just a few of our highlights.
JANUARY: School of Rock Relaxed Performance
Before we locked down, we rocked out! 256 families joined us at the Gillian Lynne Theatre for our 10th Relaxed Performance. 319 young people with special educational needs and disabilities spent a joyful, magical evening with their families to celebrate a brand new decade.
“What you create with these events are a little bit of 'magic and pixie dust,' memories which keep families afloat during our more challenging day to day lives.”
Parent
FEBRUARY: Youth Leadership in the Arts Conference
68 young people joined us at Soho Theatre for our Youth Forum’s annual arts careers conference, featuring expert speakers, dynamic workshops, and inspirational keynote speeches from Yamin Choudury and Tyrone Huntley. Watch out, 2021 - there’s a new generation of arts leaders heading your way!
“What an incredibly informative and inspiring day! As an aspiring Writer-Director and Producer, the conference was exactly what I needed to progress in the right direction … I’m from a low-income background so without your generosity, I couldn’t afford [opportunities like this].”
Conference attendee
MARCH: Every Home a Theatre
You don’t need us to tell you what happened in March, but you might need us to remind you that it wasn’t all bad. We launched our #EveryHomeATheatre weekly challenges, inspiring families up and down the country to get creative and celebrate the joy of the theatre in their own homes.
"Every Home A Theatre got me to think creatively and use my imagination. I am very happy because I’m not bored anymore. I wish they could continue with their challenges."
Young person, EHAT participant
APRIL: Mousetrap Monologue Slam
With a little help from our Patron Eddie Redmayne, we gave young performers a chance to shine in spring 2020 with our #MousetrapMonologueSlam. Fourth Monkey kindly provided our incredible first place prize - an exclusive actor training package. Watch our winning video from the glorious Nansi Love - remember that name!
“I’m so humbled to have won and appreciate you providing the opportunity so much … I cannot express how grateful I am.”
Nansi Love, Mousetrap Monologue Slam winner
MAY: Mousetrap Musical Medley
Following the amazing success of our Monologue Slam, we launched the #MousetrapMusicalMedley to give young singers a chance to step into the spotlight! Our fantastic winner, Madeleine Morgan, was chosen by West End star, Rachel Tucker, and will receive one-on-one voice lessons from vocal coach to the stars, Mary Hammond!
“It gave me the confidence that I’ve been lacking for a while now … It meant everything, so thank you.”
Madeleine Morgan, Mousetrap Musical Medley winner
JUNE: Mousetrap Awards 2020
In a year full of firsts, perhaps the most exciting was our first ever online Mousetrap Awards. Our Youth Forum hosted a stunning virtual ceremony that brought all the glitz and glamour of the stage to your living rooms. The big winners, as chosen by voters aged 15-29, included Dear Evan Hansen, Waitress, and Sir Ian McKellen!
“A gorgeous ceremony presented with such passion and style by an extraordinary group of young people. Bravo!”
David Hunter, winner of the Mousetrap Award for ‘Best Male Performer’
JULY: Story Busters
Our storytelling and drama sessions for Deaf children, produced in collaboration with Handprint Theatre, ran throughout June and July. Every week, we shared a new story, with lively, interactive workshops delivered in British Sign Language and designed to get children learning, creating, and telling their own stories!
“Thank you, this is excellent. [My child] is loving it!”
Parent
AUGUST: Online Summer School
We sang, danced, and rapped our way through August with our Online Summer School for young people with special educational needs and disabilities. The young people learned what makes a hero, who their heroes are, and became the heroes of their own stories with some new creative super-skills.
“Thank you for an amazing course. There was so much to entertain and educate the children. It really was phenomenal.”
Parent
SEPTEMBER: Give Me Strength
Young members of the Mousetrap family teamed up with 3 of the Young Simbas from the West End production of The Lion King to record a rousing new rendition of Give Me Strength – an inspirational anthem written by Steve Marwick as part of our Change Your Tune project back in 2019. The recording was viewed by hundreds on YouTube, providing a powerful message of strength and togetherness in uncertain times.
“Being part of this project means a great deal to me. I love how [Give Me Strength] is … helping young people like myself through this difficult time and make them realise that they aren’t alone.”
Young singer, ‘Give Me Strength’
OCTOBER: Young Carers’ Workshops
Across the August and October half-terms, we worked with a total of 7 young carer groups. The groups studied performance and poetry techniques in our online workshops - a chance to enjoy a well-earned break from their caring duties and learn some brilliant new creative skills in the process. The results were fantastic - the young people devised some epic poems and performances, like this one from Bexley and Havering Young Carers.
“I never knew I could write poems like this. This is a new thing I can do and I will continue to do.”
Young Carer
NOVEMBER: Change Makers
This Autumn, we launched ‘Change Makers’ - a series of online conversations with theatre pioneers. The series got off to an explosive start with the great Yamin Choudury and Kwame Kwei-Armah, and continued in epic fashion with Tali Pelman and Phyllida Lloyd. Members of our Youth Forum facilitated inspiring, informative, and energizing conversations with some truly remarkable theatre change makers; we hope to bring you more exclusive insights in 2021.
“The talk was very fun to moderate and left me feeling genuinely so inspired and motivated … I’m always so grateful for all the opportunities Mousetrap has given me.”
Chiara Lari, Mousetrap Youth Forum member
DECEMBER: Playmakers
Struggling theatre manager, Frosty Fredericks, called on pupils at 4 primary schools to write a Christmas blockbuster play that would save his theatre - and they certainly rose to the challenge! With the help of professional writer, Darren Rapier, the children wrote their very own short plays, which were performed on-stage at the Duchess Theatre by actors in the Mischief Theatre company. The plays were streamed in classrooms for a unique Christmas celebration. We were delighted to put a joyous end to an incredibly tough year for many children, families, and teachers.
“I can’t express enough how much I appreciate this incredible opportunity! My students are rightly proud of their accomplishments and are enjoying sharing it with family and friends.”
Teacher
Bring it on, 2021!
2020 was a year full of challenges, surprises, and triumphs - no matter how small. Just by keeping yourself and others safe, you have helped us all through the most difficult year most of us can remember. Together, we have made joyful, magical moments for young people in the most challenging circumstances. 2021 will bring its own opportunities, and we’re excited to see what’s in store!