Action Transport Theatre Company working to help rural youngsters get their voices heard

CHESTER’S Theatre in the Quarter is helping youngsters to get their voices heard.

Artistic director Matt Baker and students are working with professional actor/writers and director Kevin Dyer from Action Transport Theatre and Cheshire Rural Touring Network to create a play based on the views of young people in rural Cheshire.

Matt and his students will provide music and film footage for the play 12 Miles from Nowhere.

Other youngsters involved come from the Tattenhall Young Person’s Project and the Connexions Youth Centre in Sandbach.

Claire Smith, rural arts officer of Cheshire’s Rural Touring Network, said: “We have asked the young people to talk about growing up in rural Cheshire and the issues that affect them.

“Creating the play will allow people like parish councillors and those who make decisions about young people to get a window onto their lives.”

12 Miles from Nowhere follows two successful rural youth projects: The Maize Field in 2006 with the Malpas Young People’s Project and Cross Your Heart, a play created by youngsters in Rudheath last year.