How would you improve your community?

The stars were aligned the day two things I desperately needed were handed to me. I had been feeling pretty low until my saviour said ‘ yes and yes’, when I asked him if he knew of a home to rent and also storage facilities.

That is why I landed in the neighbourhood I currently live in. I say ‘currently’ because none of us know what is around the corner, do we? I have learnt it is best to ‘ be ready’. That can be a exhausting existence, for sure, but some habits are hard to break.

Anyways, I digress. The vibrant community which I am part of, whilst remaining an outsider, is 400O strong. A well kept secret, really. Just about anything you want or need are on the doorstep and, if any service is missing the local FB page will find it for you within minutes. Quite extraordinary.

Schools, eateries, take aways, pubs, tattoo artists, well being centre, rugby club, railway station, fire station, 2 small supermarkets, gym, gift shop, ‘ boutique’..now that sounds an old fashioned word, but it describes this particular shop well. The list is endless. A big village which could qualify for town status, if there was a municipal building.

The young people all who will have suffered one way or another at the hands of Covid. This generation which is always critised from every corner, for spending too much time on their devices. The very devices they had or needed during their formative lives, whilst in lockdown. The same devices their parents/guardians praised for ‘ keeping them quiet’, for months on end. My heart really does go out to the Covid Generation and their siblings, we have no idea how it has shaped them, really.

Nothing on the two public notice boards have any attractions for the young people of the village.For the sporty families there is the rugby club, it does well too. They are always busy training or match playing. There is a big welcoming community centre too, but it is pretty much adult focused.

So, WP/DP to answer your question. A youth theatre, wouldn’t go a miss. Purposely built for the arts. Somewhere the kids can go to meet up, express themselves, be part of something. A place to safely hang out with like minded souls and mentors.

I am an outsider so maybe I feel things differently than the older natives do, but when I see the young people on the streets every day , there appears to be a lack of good energy. Even their clothes are without colour or character. It’s like they are shut in. A young generation should radiate vibrancy, but it’s lacking.

Maybe I am wrong, perhaps the kids would say to me ‘we are alright, thanks all the same’.

But I’m not so sure.

• ‘ Break a leg’ is ‘ Good luck’ in UK theatre-speak.