"This is how it used to be. Me and Jay, every weekend.
Just us, the bikes and anyone else who could keep up.
No one rides any more - we're tired. Everyone's... tired".

Southwood, 2008. The community of a suburban council estate are tired. Resources have been bled dry by a council that puts profit over care, and the local teenagers have nothing to do but burn what they can. Rico spends his days at the old dirt track, passing the time with stolen mopeds, lighters and scavenged roll ups. Jay's meant to be his best friend, but he's growing up faster and can see past the horizon of their small world.

Two teenage boys navigate adolescence, masculinity and responsibility as they question what it means to face adulthood and collective identity in 21st century Britain. From burgeoning romance and bitter feuds to a divided community and a BMX track under threat from developers, these are their stories - complete with the dirt and the debris that is so often ignored by a world in crisis.

DIRT is a piece of spoken word theatre written from the first hand experience of a youth worker and social activist. It is currently in development with support from Half Moon Theatre and follows the production of FLAT LANDS in 2021

FLAT LANDS is a multi-media spoken word show about friendship, risk taking and BMX bikes, told from the perspective of an older, benevolent but often socially invisible housing estate street cleaner.

11-year-old Leo has been kicked out of school and spends his days on his bike, showing off to the older teenagers on the estate and causing trouble where he can. In Jay and Rico, who are struggling themselves to navigate the demands of day-to-day existence, Leo finds two role models and a chance to make choices of his own.

FLAT LANDS aims to explore the context of tender male friendships and communal responsibility. The piece highlights the resilience, joy and beauty of communities who are often overlooked in theatre-making. This piece was supported by  Half Moon Theatre as part of their Narratives of Empathy and Resilience programme.
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FLAT LANDS was inspired by young people in Stockwood, South Bristol, and their love of BMXing. Young Bristol, Life Cycle and Off The Record have been working with the BS14 youth club to develop a programme of bike maintenance and mental health.

https://youtu.be/iZaQllHyFfk
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-56995352​
https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/features/new-project-changing-perceptions-of-young-people-riding-bikes-in-south-bristol/​

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