About Us Streets Alive Theatre Company works with young people aged 16 to 25 who are in housing crisis, usually living chaotic lifestyles in hostels, temporary accommodation or even street homeless. We were set up in 1998 by Patrick Young with help from the National Theatre. Our aim is to empower young people to move their lives on, away from the streets, and we do this by using performance and theatre skills as a vehicle to confidence building. Given the level of commitment required and the personal problems they are facing, it is amazing that the young people are so empowered by being part of Streets Alive that they can turn their lives around. We believe in them, so that they can believe in themselves.
We do outreach work in various hostels and drop-in centres across London. Those young people who become interested in the company are given the opportunity to join our Open College Network accredited programmes.
Another important aspect of our work is preventative work. We want to prevent other young people from becoming homeless and to educate our audiences about the reasons behind homelessness. We take our performances to various locations, including schools, youth centres, hostels, pupil referral units, conferences, arts festivals and in many other venues and events.
Our Mission Streets Alive Theatre Company exists to create the provision of a safe supportive space for self-expression that culminates in an artistic programme of excellence that moves young people at risk beyond what they already know and encourages their independence, safety and self expression in a creative and life-fulfilling way.
We aim to enable young people to take an active role in their own education and to help them recognise and to realise their own potential by at all times encouraging and supporting the creativity, self-confidence and identity of young people.
“Streets Alive has been a god send to me. Because before I started in the group I was quite self destructive, and couldn’t find any way out of the predicament. I joined the group about 10 months ago, and it has made me a much better person. I have gained a lot of self-respect and self worth and I now have a creative purpose in my life.”
young person, former company member
