Young DaDaFest gives young disabled and Deaf artists, aged between 12 and 30, a platform to perform in front of large audiences.

The annual event has grown since its inception in 2003 and now includes both a performance focused event at the Liverpool Everyman and a music focused event at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall’s new Music Room.

The festival now also includes a number of fringe events, including Sandfest, an event created by students from Sandfield Park School.

The theme for this year’s Young DaDaFest is Outside the Box. Young performers will examine how people are put into categories which can make them feel judged, isolated and limited, and what can be done to break outside the box.

Throughout the process, the youngsters are provided with the opportunity to develop their skills.

TheDaDaFest Young Leaders make all key decisions on the running of the events and chose the year’s acts following the initial call out.

DaDaFest also provides mentoring and training opportunities for aspiring young performers.

Young DaDaFest 2017 will showcase a number of diverse and exciting performances, following responses from local individual artists and organisations to a series of Open Commissions advertised by DaDaFest.

This year’s programme includes; Act Up! from Newham, London producing a chorus piece integrating poetry, ‘sign-along’ and rap; Warrington’s Wolfprint performing Undivided, a contemporary dance piece; Owen Jones performing Beethoven’s Dyslexia Poem and all new work by Young DaDaFest veterans The Champions, Arden Rockers, and Like U Dance Company.

This year, DaDaFest is debuting DaDaFest Rookies, which aims to increase employability for young disabled people within the creative sector. Young people can take advantage of development grants, producer placements within creative organisations and mentoring with professional artists.

Sam Wade, arts manager at DaDaFest said: “The young people we work with are dedicated to increasing the quality of the work they produce, creating high quality work with strong messages. They come up with fresh new ideas and have big ambitions for each Young DaDaFest, increasing what we offer each year.”

Ruth Gould, artistic director of DaDaFest said: “Once again the young people lead by talent passion and dedication to excellence. They make me proud and all should come and see and support them, they are the future.”

LISTINGS

Young DaDaFest: Perform

Date: Thursday 13 July 2017 (6:30pm to 8:30pm)

Tickets: £5/£3

Venue: Liverpool Everyman

Running Time: 2 hours (including interval)

Access: British Sign Language Interpretation, Audio Description & Relaxed

Performance

Booking Info: Tickets Available via the Everyman & Playhouse Box Office

Young DaDaFest: Music

Date: Friday 14 July 2017 (6:30pm to 8:30pm)

Tickets: £5/£3

Venue: Music Room at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

Running Time: 2 hours (including interval)

Access: British Sign Language Interpretation & Relaxed Performance

Booking Info: Tickets Available via Liverpool Philharmonic Box Office

FRINGE EVENTS

BankFest

Date: Thursday 29 June 2017 (6pm to 8pm)

Venue: Bank View High School

Tickets: Invitation only

Running Time: 2 hours

A multi performance event created and performed by students from Bank View High School.

SandFest

Date: Thursday 6 July 2017 (6pm to 8:30pm)

Venue: Devonshire House Hotel

Tickets: Invitation only

Running Time: 2 hours 30 minutes