Wake - Up (2021)

School is over and the summer lies casually ahead for 16 year old JR (Kai Francis-Lewis) and Jordan (Niyi Akin). Their care free plans of shooting breeze, playing hoop and finding some sweet 'tings' is abruptly interrupted by the pressures of life, provoking them both to make choices that could change their friendship and potentially their futures forever. Written by 8 young men in an HMYOI (Young Offenders Institution) and in response to what is happening in their cities, 'Wake - Up' was inspired through a series of honest discussions, mentoring and creative workshops with their mentor Nathalie Pownall. The men weaved their prose, spoken word and dialogue together to tell the story they wanted to tell and ask you the audience "What would you do if you were in my shoes as you currently stand in yours?"