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IGNITE your creativity

Posted 10 Sep 2023 by Joe Duggan

Launched in March by National Youth Theatre and Netflix, IGNITE Your Creativity has seen over 350 young people engage with the programme in Wales. As well as aiming to raise aspirations and build confidence of 14-25 year olds, IGNITE spotlights the wide range of highly skilled behind-the-scenes careers in film, TV and theatre as well as helping young people build networks within the industry.

Find out more and sign-up to get involved

The programme was launched alongside a survey of 3,000 young people, which demonstrated the need for regional initiatives like this, finding that 79% of young people across the UK believe they needed connections rather than talent and determination to make it, and a further two-thirds (68%) feeling they needed to live in a big city to have a career in TV and film. This partnership with National Youth Theatre builds on Netflix’s production in Wales with titles such as Sex Education and Lady Chatterley’s Lover filmed in the nation. Between 2017 and 2022, Netflix productions in Wales contributed £200m to the UK economy, and more than 40% of Netflix’s investment in Wales goes beyond the UK’s TV and film industry, with thousands of vendors from the hospitality, logistics and rental sectors all benefiting.

The workshops in Wales are being delivered with Urban Myth Films and their Newport-based film studios, the Sherman Theatre, National Youth Arts Wales and local community organisations and schools. Local young participants have had the chance to tour Urban Myth Film Studios and meet their team of industry professionals to find out more about creative careers available in film and TV on their doorstep. Workshops have also been hosted in Cardiff, Port Talbot, Torfaen and Bridgend. This will be followed by activity in West Yorkshire and the North East later this year.

Jessica Morden, Labour MP for Newport East, commented: “Too often, our young people are left feeling that the creative industries - one of the fastest growing sectors of our economy- are closed to them due to a lack of connections. It’s great to see organisations like the National Youth Theatre and Netflix taking action to break down these barriers. Today’s event in my constituency, Newport East, demonstrates just how many talented young people are out there and why it’s so important that we support them and help break the class ceiling.”

Darren Green, Head of Production for Urban Myth Films: "We are delighted to be hosting and supporting the IGNITE workshops at our studios in Newport. It has been a pleasure to work with National Youth Theatre and to see young people learn more about the opportunities on their doorstep. We look forward to continuing our relationship with NYT and the local community."