Creative Exchange FUN HOME Project – Co-Creating with Young People from Tameside

Drawing inspiration from Alison Bechdel’s graphic-novel-turned-hit musical FUN HOME, a group of young people from Tameside Youth Services came into the Royal Exchange in July for a week of creative workshops, exploring their personal experiences and interests relating to key elements of the show, to create their own distinct response piece.

“I’ve always grown up watching others create characters and stories, and now knowing that I can do that makes me very happy and also excited to see where my creations go in the future.”

After attending the Exchange’s acclaimed production of FUN HOME, these young creatives worked with Associate Director (Creative Exchange) Katie Greenall and Hodgkiss Director Award recipient Connor Goodwin, to co-create a piece of theatre which featured a brilliant mix of drama, song-writing and music-making.

Over the course of a week and inspired by FUN HOME’s themes of identify, self and family, the group shared the things which bring them joy, their questions for the world and things which make them hopeful for the future. These ideas were then moulded into a performance full of vibrant colour, energy and laughter.

“My favourite thing in the world is watching sunrises and sunset. The colours merging, red and oranges, so when it’s rising it looks like there’s a fire in the sky.”

Stage Manager Phil Clack and Lighting Designer Yvette Sedgley created a world which could move swiftly from a dazzling, satirical game show to an intimate space for each performer, particularly when taking a light from a wall of stars to create their own tiny universe. From here, they could each share a meaningful “caption” about something significant to them, echoing Alison’s world in FUN HOME.

A beautiful mix of monologues included a powerful declaration of love for Blur (particularly guitarist Graham Coxon), Harry Potter, the tram announcements, fashion design, life in a wheelchair and a surreal game-show with an extraordinary host – drawing a circle around the things they love most in their lives.

Sound Designer Hannah Bracegirdle worked with the cast to create a sweeping score which reflected each of these worlds, inspired by FUN HOME’s musical motifs and tracks. The score managed to reflect each element, whether a jazzy gameshow theme, guitar and bass riffs introducing each section or Blur’s Song 2 bursting to life.

“I learned this week that people can actually listen to what I say and take me seriously. Also I can play guitar and people think it’s COOL!”

Just as Alison and Bruce’s most honest dialogue came through letters, the piece ended with the cast exchanging letters which they had written to one another. Underscored with their own recorded voices, discussions of what their club and this process had meant to them, and what they had discovered about themselves and one another played whilst they read, ensuring that they do say something to each other, unlike Alison and Bruce.

“I loved this project and I’m thankful to the whole team for helping bring this to life. I cannot be more grateful.”

Creative Team

Director:  Katie Greenall
Assistant Director: Connor Goodwin
Sound Designer:  Hannah Bracegirdle
Lighting Designer: Yvette Sedgley
Stage Manager: Phil Clack
Creative Exchange Manager: Molly Taylor
Creative Exchange Coordinator: Stephen Hall
Tameside Youth Worker: Diane King

Tameside Youth Service’s FUN HOME response piece was performed to an invited audience in the Royal Exchange’s Front Room. With thanks to the Royal Exchange Theatre’s Production Teams for their support in facilitating use of the space and equipment.