Recent highlights
Creative FuturesWith free projects for 4,000 young people every year, have a look through some of our recent highlights!
Romeo and Juliet
Young Musicians from our Creative Futures programme took centre stage in our bold-new co-production of Romeo and Juliet in April 2025, with the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry and Bristol Old Vic. For the first time, these young musicians performed as part of a professional theatre tour, bringing a fresh and contemporary energy to the show’s groundbreaking musical score.
Elijah Raheem Aduu (known as ERA – guitar), Mark Holder (drums) and D’evante Seepaul-Craig (keyboard) developed their skills through our Creative Futures programme. After taking part in the Artist Development Programme (ADP) and other key Creative Futures projects, they were invited to join the professional band for the entire Romeo and Juliet tour, performing at the Belgrade Theatre, Bristol Old Vic, and Hackney Empire.
We were also thrilled to welcome over 1,000 young people and community groups to our Entry for All performance of Romeo and Juliet. Every year we programme a high-profile performance as part of Entry For All and all tickets are free for anyone 25 and under and for anyone who would otherwise be unable to afford to attend.
Alter Ego 2025
In February 2025, we brought East London’s biggest talent showcase Alter Ego back with a bang. See some of the best 14-18 year old singers, rappers, poets, and dancers East London has to offer perform alongside unbelievable headliners Kali Claire, Kairo Keyz, 163Margs, Rain Boy Blue.
We were thrilled to crown singer Jaye as our winner.
Artist Development Programme (ADP) 2024
A Long Goodbye
"This is a great space to be yourself and feel safe doing something you love"
In August 2024, we brought together over 50 young creatives to stage a brand-new musical on our main stage in just 10 days!
We caught up with some of the young people taking part in our Artist Development Programme (ADP) 2024 and asked them what this free, annual programme means to them.
Hear their inspiring stories and learn how ADP empowers the next generation of creatives.
Alter Ego 2024
In February 2024, East London’s biggest talent showcase Alter Ego was back in Hackney for its 12th year, welcoming London’s most exciting emerging artists aged 14 - 18 to our main stage. You can now check out the full show!
With 10 finalists and special guest performances on the night by Skadeuces, M24, Suli Breaks, Boy Blue, Mnelia and Ivorian Doll. Hosted by BBC Introducing's Jess Iszatt and with music by DJ Teej.We were thrilled to crown spoken word artist Rain as our winner.
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Entry for All: First Five with Yomi Ṣode, Rapman and Special Guests
In Jan 2024, poet Yomi Ṣode chatted to acclaimed filmmaker, rapper and director Rapman, delving into what inspired him on his journey to create Shiro's Story, Blue Story and the soon to be released Netflix series Supacell. Featuring live performances and special guest act Prinz, this Entry for All event was not to be missed! Free books and merchandise were also provided by Lit in Colour on the night. The Lit in Colour campaign was launched by Penguin Random House and The Runnymede Trust in October 2020, with the aim to to ensure English Literature better reflects contemporary culture.
Designed to support young people from Hackney and wider London to access live performance and art and culture, tickets to Entry For All shows are completely free for anyone 25 and under. Entry for All is made possible by Hackney Council's Hackney Community Fund. Stay tuned for details of future Entry for All events!
Artist Development Programme (ADP) 2023
UNmuted: A revolution has never sounded so good
In August 2023, we brought together over 50 young creatives to stage a brand-new musical on our main stage in just 10 days! UNmuted explores the power of a group of young people standing up for what they believe in.
In a world not so different from our own, a new law has been passed making music illegal. By chance, a group of young people find a safe space, a secret space, where music can exist again, and begin plans to fight the power.
Check out the full film of the show above and listen to the soundtrack by clicking here.
River Stage 2022 & 2023
Over the last two years, our Young Producers have been invited to programme a whole weekend at the National Theatre's River Stage, giving a platform to some of the most exciting young creatives in London. The last two years have seen the likes of Girls of Grime, Tracks on Tap, Kali Claire, BAC Beatbox Academy, Creative Futures alumi and many more take to the stage on the Southbank, with two weekends packed full of pure vibes.
Limitless
Since 2013, Limitless has brought together an inclusive group of 40 young people aged 14 to 25-years-old on a five-day intensive creative arts programme every summer. Limitless focusses on young people with Special Educational Needs and/or neurodiversities but is open to anyone who is passionate about collaborating with others.
The programme creates a safe and supportive atmosphere where participants work with creative practitioners to explore issues that matter to them and turn that into a new piece of performance. The performance often includes singing, movement and BSL and is shared with an invited audience of 100 parents, carers and friends.
Limitless has previously been delivered in partnership with the Huddlestone Centre, and is now a collaboration between Hackney Empire and Hackney Shed.
Entry For All
Launched during the Covid-19 Pandemic, Entry For All is our scheme that is designed to support young people from Hackney and wider London to access sensational live performance and art & culture. Every year we programme a high-profile performance as part of Entry For All and all tickets are free for young people.
In 2022, for example, we brought Battersea Arts Centre and the BAC Beatbox Academy's production of Frankenstein: How To Make A Monster to Hackney, with over 1,000 young people experiencing the show for free. Watch the video above to see how the night panned out.
Entry for All is made possible by Hackney Council's Hackney Community Fund.
Compulsory Subjects
In the summer of 2020, Creative Futures set out to create space for young creative entrepreneurs, arts activists and emerging artists to connect with and learn from some of most inspirational, impactful and recognisable figures and organisations from the worlds of arts, activism, business, entrepreneurship, psychology and sociology. Compulsory Subjects was designed to give participants better understanding of how to develop their own practice, expand their network, and create their own opportunities; filling in the gaps that the education system has ignored for too long.
Now in its third year, Compulsory Subjects continues to facilitate the most urgent conversations, working in collaboration with organisations such as the BBC, the Kofi Annan Foundation, EMI, the FA, TedX, and Netflix.
