IF I RULED THE WORLD!

MAY 2025

Tickets for our Youngers production 'IF I RULED THE WORLD!' are officially live! 🌍

All the adults have vanished - no warning, no trace. Now the young people are in charge, and the world is tipping into chaos. Streets become playgrounds, rules are rewritten, and a new world order rises from the rubble.

🗓️31st May 2025 @ Collective Acting Studio

⏰2pm Matinee and 5pm Evening show

Written by Christopher Mbaki

Directed by Sara Mokonen

This is one not to be missed!

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING REMIXED

November 2024

Tickets for MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING: REMIXED are NOW AVAILABLE! 🎟️

Don’t miss this fresh take on a Shakespearean classic. Join the current cohort of Intermission Youth's 10 month programme for 16 - 25 year olds from November 11th to December 7th at the Collective Acting Studio.

"Catch Flights, Not Feelings" Don P and the Aragon boys - Benedick and Claudio - have been invited to the party island of Messina, by promoter Leon. Also, on the island (unbeknown to Leon) is his younger sister Hero and fiery cousin Beatrice. When Claudio locks eyes with Hero, its love at first sight but with “zero game” he must persuade Don P to help him win her love.

However, DJ, (Don P’s illegitimate and jealous sibling) plots to deceive Claudio into believing Hero is unfaithful and chaos ensues. Meanwhile Don P, convinced that Benedick and Beatrice are secretly in love, musters up a plan to get them together…. “Much Ado About Nothing? Nah, this one’s a lot fam…” Will Claudio get his girl? Will DJ ruin the party? Will Beatrice and Benedick hook up? It’s all happening in Messina, the land of sun, sea and socials!

Darren Raymond says, ‘I wrote Much Ado About Nothing Remixed' because that’s what I do, I remix Shakespeare. In many ways the world has moved on since the Elizabethan days, but some unhelpful attitudes and ways of thinking still exist. This remix interrogates love, deception, misogyny, and gender through a 21st century, young London lens.’

EXCLUDED!

29 November - 16 December 2023

Meet Miss Portia. A secondary school teacher who’s trying to get her Year 11 students to focus on their upcoming GCSEs but how can she when Hamlet’s grieving her father, Othello has been accused of something he hasn’t done and Isabel is forced to confront her own fate! This is no ordinary class. The students are iconic characters from the plays of William Shakespeare and as tensions rise, can Miss Portia steer them away from committing decisions which could change their lives forever?

"I cannot tell you how that impacted on me...Such brilliance. 55 year olds laughing and gasping with 14 year olds as if there were no divide. Connection was the name of the game. I am stunned. I hugged folk for a little too long, such was my feeling of joy. May you all rise and thrive always" - Wendy Richardson – Director and Producer

TAMING WHO?

30 November - 14 December 2023

To mark 15 years working in theatre and with young people Intermission Youth (IY), Sir Mark Rylance's "favourite Shakespeare company", presented Taming Who? at the Arcola Theatre. Inspired by Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew, this special anniversary production, adapted by IY’s award-winning Artistic Director Darren Raymond, was performed by graduates of its Youth Theatre training programme (IYT), now working professionally across stage and screen.

Petruchio is studying at university and loving London life. An unexpected call from Mum, beckoning him back home to Nigeria, requires him to think on his feet and fast. What could he say to make her change her mind? “Mum I’m married!”. Overjoyed by this news, Mum agrees to let him stay and announces her arrival in London - in 3 days - to meet her….. Mortified, Petruchio needs to find a wife and fast!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"What is even more impressive is that his team are taking on a play that in recent years has become increasingly difficult to perform..."I have not seen a convincing recent account – until this one!" - Plays to See

"Darren Raymond’s stunning script would make the Bard proud" - The Stage

"a stunning re-imaging of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew! Darren Raymond (Artistic Director, Intermission Youth) is a visionary." - CookNCurry

MSND

November - December 2022

After abusing Titania’s trust, Oberon is refused access to his daughter, Asia. His best friend, Puck, tries to cheer him up and when a new drug hits the street, he sees this as the perfect opportunity. But this isn’t any old drug, this is MSND, once taken, it is believed you inherit special powers, including the ability to speak Shakespeare. Oberon is convinced that with the help of this drug, he can get to Asia, but unbeknown to him, Titania, also stumbles upon MSND, so has powers of her own! The temptation of the drug lures them to the playground, where they take on the role of King and Queen of the fairies. Or maybe they are just high?

“MSND will be a unique theatrical event, kicking with the life of Shakespeare’s original divine comedy and the infectious wit and warmth and honesty of the African Diaspora. You will not be disappointed. In my experience, these productions are always a revelation, a revelation about Shakespeare and a revelation about the young people of London. Don't miss it.” - Mark Rylance

SHAKESPEARE MONOLOGUE SLAM

Available to watch on YouTube

Watch this online showcase in which Intermission Youth graduates and cohort members perform a Shakespeare Monologue Slam.

Sixteen performers take part in this creative challenge in front of a panel of industry professionals. Providing feedback are actor Paapa Essiedu (Hamlet, Romeo & Juliet, Gangs of London for Sky Atlantic), actor Jenny Agutter (Call the Midwife, Spooks, The Railway Children), and director and Intermission Youth graduate Abigail Sewell (The Merchant of Venice for RSC, Pa-Lah at Royal Court, I AM [NOT] KANYE WEST at Bunker Theatre).

Oscar-winning actor Mark Rylance answers questions from the audience.

Available on Intermission Youth YouTube channel.

We are so grateful for the generous support of Mark Rylance to make this possible.

SHAKESPEARE ON SMARTPHONE

London Short Film Festival

Ten short films, made on smartphones, each inspired by a line of Shakespeare, from Intermission Youth's filmmakers.

Premiered at the London Short Film Festival January 2021.

These 5-minute films were made during 2020, a year in which extraordinary events affected each and every one of us. From a deadly virus to a global equal rights movement, our world - its systems and its people - have been challenged.

Some films have been removed due to being submitted to Film Festivals.

THE HEAD THAT WEARS THE CROWN