By Michael McGlade, Community Relations Council
Over 55 young people from across Belfast engaged in weekly good relations arts workshops for the Crosslinks Empower project – a partnership between Youth Initiatives and Diverse Youth NI.
The Community Relations Council supports Youth Initiatives through its Core Funding Scheme.
During the nine-month project duration, participants developed friendships and worked together to write and produce an original theatre and art exhibition as a platform for sharing their learning and voice.
The showcase of art, dance, music and drama was performed in Stranmillis Theatre on March 22 to over 400 family, friends and funders.
Their theatre performance, Murder Mystery: Dead Serious, follows a group of unlikely guests who discover that embracing their diverse backgrounds empowers them to work together to solve the murder of Mr Alfredo Sorrentino.
The young thespians performed a lively Scooby Doo -style haunted house routine where comedy and suspense intertwined, ghosts appeared as musicians, dancers and eerie staff, and the mystery culminated in the surprising reveal of a singing, dancing maid as the cunning murderer.
Utilising audience participation as part of the story, attendees were asked to decide the murderer's fate: take a bribe to free murderer or call the police to see justice prevail.
Interestingly, the matinee sided with the murderer while the evening audience called the police.
The Crosslinks Empower project has shown the power of creativity to bring young people together, break down barriers, and build lasting connections.
As these young people continue their journeys, they carry forward not only new skills and new friends, but a shared understanding that their voices are stronger when united.
Funded by TEO, DFA, Community Relations Council, and Peace Plus.