UPLIFT Festival - 18th - 21st November

CREATED BY AND FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
ACROSS THE BOROUGH OF WANDSWORTH.

The first ever UPLIFT Festival will feature performances, workshops, and a range of events inspired by the ideas and passions of young people, alongside the culmination of the Group64 and Theatre503’s Playwriting Competition. Part of the Mayor of London’s London Borough of Culture in Wandsworth, UPLIFT provides a platform for young voices to be heard, celebrated, and uplifted.

UPLIFT 2025 Programme

Explore Creative Futures: Careers in the Arts (18 Nov) gives young people the opportunity to be inspired by the idea of a creative career and discover a wide range of career paths within the arts and creative industries. Attendees will hear directly from industry professionals, gain practical tips and advice and have the chance to network with organisations and creatives.

Happimess: create and explore theatre crafts (19 Nov) is a joyful evening of theatre craft, centred around the theme of happiness. This hands-on event is designed to explore creativity, learn new skills, and make a bit of a mess along the way! Workshops include: costume design with Davy Stringer, mask making, puppetry with from War Horse Puppeteer Alex Donnachie, and more! The evening culminates with a performance of Lucy Prebble’s The Effect by The Group 64 Young Directors (19 & 20 Nov).

Young directors Showcase: Directing and Acting for Young People (20 Nov) is an evening dedicated to exploring what it means to be a director (and to be directed) across both stage and screen. Young creatives will have the chance to develop practical skills and gain insight into the collaborative process. The event includes an acting for screen workshop with actor Gabriel Howell (Netflix thriller Bodies, 2023 and How to Train Your Dragon, 2025) and a directing workshop with a professional Director.The evening culminates in a second performance of The Effect by Lucy Prebble, directed by the Young Directors themselves, followed by a panel discussion featuring the show’s director, cast, and a professional industry guest.

Make A Scene: celebrating the joy of being uniquely you! (21 Nov) will be an extravaganza of self-expression featuring costumes, music / DJs, Divas and Drag.

The Diva Workshop with Raina Greifer will explore all things drag and DIY. Take out that cracked eyeshadow pallet, dust off that old t-shirt and look at the basics of character creation on a budget.

The Drag MakeUp Demonstration with Visa is a fun, hands-on session celebrating creativity, colour, and confidence. Watch a live demo as Visa transforms a model into full drag glamour — from bold brows to sparkling glitter — and discover the art of transformation!

In SING YOUR STORY!, composer and choral activist Kirsty Martin, will be writing you an anthem! She will be asking ‘What makes you…YOU?’ before taking take your words and weaving them into an upbeat vocal harmony song – all about YOU!

Kirsty will run a singing workshop to teach you the song on Friday 21st November at 6.30pm and then this very special UpLift Scratch Choir will perform the song to kick start the Friday night party!

The UPLIFT Finale – UPLIFTING Voices: The UPLIFT Playwriting Competition (22 Nov) will showcase the next generation of talent from Group64 and Theatre503’s Playwriting Competition. With excerpts from 9 original plays written by young creatives and performances of two 30 minute plays by our competition winners, this is a celebration of bold ideas, fresh voices, and the future of theatre.

Taking place at Putney Arts Theatre, UPLIFT Festival is for all young people aged 14-19, who live, go to school or go to community groups in Wandsworth. All tickets are available on a ‘pay what you can’ scale, this can be anything from £1 upwards.