Somerset Youth Festival is a Huge Online Success
Somerset based Charity, Arts Taunton’s TYCA (Taunton youth culture and arts) took a giant leap of faith and streamed their youth festival live over two nights this last weekend.
The charity had spent October recording live performances of young people, ready for the festival weekend on the 23rd and 24th of October, realising that as the pandemic began to rise again, young people would have fewer opportunities again to showcase their talent.
“We had over 2000 viewers in two days!” said Festival Director Deborah Badoo.
"In these unchartered waters we took a leap of faith and it paid off. Our young performers have shared what it has meant for them to have had this opportunity, and even better – the festival is still online and attracting new viewers and we intend to leave it up for others to enjoy”.
Actor, Ian McNeice, well known for his character Bert Large in Doc Martin, hosted the event on behalf of the charity: “I was delighted to host the Tyca Festival. I look back fondly to the start of my own artistic career which began at Taunton School and look forward to helping other budding talents take the stage” said Mr McNeice.
The festival showcases a wealth of local talent, and includes dance, theatre, outdoor performances, an open mike evening, live DJ performances, family theatre show, art and design by fashion students, media make up demonstration, short play, performance from the musicals and finally, slamthology a spoken word performance. And whilst it was predominantly for Somerset Youth, it drew audiences from as far as Kilmarnock in Scotland.
“When we looked at who had been viewing and where they were from, it became obvious that family and friends from afar where watching, many from areas of the country that are on a lockdown again, presumably unable to travel to see the performances,” added Deborah.
The Festival is remaining live on the site during half term to offer young people the chance to view it during this time and they invite you to see for yourself the fabulous performances via their website: https://tycafestival.co.uk
ENDS