Next month Young Rep is back with their third annual festival celebrating the talents of the young people of Birmingham.
Home & Horizonswill take over Birmingham Rep stages for two-weeks with 15 productions exploring identity, self-discovery and community from Wed 9 – Sun 20 July.
With titles spanning Greek tragedies, to new adaptations of classic novels, it promises to be their most ambitious programme to date – giving a voice to the next generation and putting a spotlight on emerging young theatre talent, with over 400 local performers taking part in the festival.
Highlights for 2025 include Tennessee Williams’ epic play Summer and Smoke (Fri 11 & Sat 12 Jul) performed by The Company, The Rep’s ensemble for emerging artists aged 18 – 25, it has given them an exciting opportunity to develop their practice and work in a professional setting. This tender play takes audiences to turn of the 20th century Mississippi and explores the doomed connection between spiritual Alma and sensual John as they battle the eternal struggle between body and soul, reason and passion, and the human yearning for connection in an unforgiving world.
Euripides’ timeless tale of love, betrayal and consequences, Medea (Sun 13 – Tue 15 Jul) will be presented by Young Rep Seniors, The Rep’s ensemble for young people aged 14 – 18. Heartbroken, alone, and consumed by rage when her husband leaves her for the king’s daughter, Medea decides to take revenge, no matter the cost, she will make him pay, in the National Theatre version of this powerful and enduring Greek tragedy.
C.S. Lewis’ classic novel Alice in Wonderland is given a contemporary re-imagining in Alice (Thu 17 & Fri 18 Jul). This dynamic production, performed by The Company, brings a fresh, vibrant energy to an age-old story, accompanied by ‘00s pop music soundtrack and electric choreography that explores the universal themes of grief, loss, and the complexities of growing up.
Closing the festival will be a bold and thrilling adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Jekyll & Hyde (Sat 19 & Sun 20 Jul) performed by Young Rep Seniors. With intense physicality, striking visuals, and a thought-provoking script, this gripping production smashes through time, drawing powerful parallels between past and present, gender and power, repression and freedom and is Jekyll & Hyde as you have never seen before.
Further highlights include: The Diamond Debacle (Sat 12 Jul), mischief, mystery, and mayhem await in this original piece of theatre performed by Young Rep Juniors; get ready for a whirlwind adventure in Around the World in 80 Days (Sun 20 Jul) performed by Young Rep Inters.
Iranian Community Theatre of Birmingham (Wed 9 Jul) present a storytelling and performance event featuring Iranian tales related to Nowruz, the Iranian New Year; The Witching Hour (Sat 12 Jul) is a new razor-sharp satire from Plymouth Barbican Theatre’s ReBels Young Company; following their debut at The Rep in 2024, Thimblemill Creatives return for 2025 with a second sharing of work created with the support of Birmingham Rep Foundry alumni Robert George Lane (Tue 15 Jul); Story Engine Birmingham (Wed 16 Jul) is a new stage to screen scratch night showcasing some of the best writing and acting talent in the West Midlands; community and charity groups Open Theatre and Stories of Hope & Home return with a brand new double-bill (Fri 18 Jul); and Four Stories Up (Fri 18 Jul) promises a quirky, pacey, and fun theatrical adventure from local theatre and arts group LouDeemY Productions.
Becky Deeks, Head of Young Rep commented: “This is the third part in our trilogy of Young Rep festivals that started in 2023 with Order and Chaos, followed by Love and Rebellion in 2024 and this year we are bringing Home and Horizons to The Rep. Each year we discuss with our Youth Board and youth theatre companies what shows they are interested in and then our incredibly talented directors work with the companies throughout the year, before we take over The Rep for two weeks. I am so excited for this year – it is the first time we have worked in a professional setting with The Company to rehearse Summer and Smoke, we have live music and dance in Alice, our Young Rep Seniors are taking on some challenging titles and have risen to the occasion and our new group for 5-7 year olds will be performing on the stage for the first time. Every year I am so proud of all the young people and our team working on the festival. The productions are loved by audiences, and they really do set the standard for what youth theatre can be.”
Tickets for Home & Horizons are on sale now. Prices range from free up to £13*. There is also a Festival Multi Buy Offer where customers who book 3 or more festival events and save 33% off your booking. Offer will apply automatically in basket. To book tickets visit birmingham-rep.co.uk or 0121 236 4455.