Young poets, writers, actors and composers are set to take centre stage as part of Theatre Royal Stratford East’s Young People’s season. 

Packed with new work including four new plays, there will be a series of performances from the theatre’s poets and spoken word artists.
 
As part of the season, students from Rokeby Secondary School in Newham will present their short play, Child Soldier, inspired by Theatre Royal Stratford East’s iconic production of Oh What a Lovely War. Students have been exploring the play’s themes and what war means to them.
 
Theatre Royal Stratford East’s Youth Theatre will present a new play called Boyz n’ Gyals which has been devised by the group. 

This topical production takes an amusing and honest look at how boys see girls and girls see boys, exploring the pressures they experience to dress and behave in a predetermined way.
 
Flat Lives by the Young Artists Lab, made up of aspiring performers, writers, directors and composers aged 17 to 24, have taken a block of flats in Stratford as the starting point for a journey that uncovers the secret lives of residents, each with a different story to tell.
 
Audiences can expect an evening of rapid fire, tongue twisting Spoken Word and monologues as members of Theatre Royal Stratford East’s Poets Platform present their latest work. 
 
Rhythm of Men is a company of Spoken Word artists based in East London who began developing their poetry talents at Theatre Royal Stratford East three years ago. They now perform on the spoken word scene across London, Bristol and Brighton.

 "The Poets Platform has given me space and skills to be a poet," explains Michael, 17, one of Theatre Royal Stratford East’s young poets. 

"We are like a family. We have done over nine shows and slams across London in addition to performing at our home venue, Theatre Royal Stratford East. 

"The spoken word produced by this group is truly inspirational."

Theatre Royal Stratford East’s Young People’s Season is Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, Stratford, from July 24 until July 26. 
Details: stratfordeast.com, 020 8534 0310