hackney shed slam 2024

Read about UCL student Mia Magarian's experience attending the annual Hackney Shed Slam Final at Hackney Shed!

On Thursday 5th December the halls of City Academy’s drama department were abuzz, and not just because their end of term production was imminent. This was the day the final of Hackney Shed Slam would take place, with eight hopeful finalists from The City Academy Hackey, All Saints Catholic High School and Clapton Girls’ Academy all ready to take the stage.

Hackney Shed Slam is a speech and drama competition for Year 9 and 10 students around Hackney. Established in 2001, Hackney Shed is an independent charity and performing arts group for young people that offers many opportunities for aspiring practitioners. From October to December, Julia and other members of Hackney Shed’s committed team head to participating schools to work with students and teachers on their dramatic skills, supporting their creative process from speech selection to developing their physicality and oracy for the ultimate performance. This is not just a competition however, but an expression of community. Hackney Shed has longstanding partnerships with local businesses including Hackney Empire, Pages of Hackney bookshop, The Castle Cinema and Yard Sale Pizza Clapton, and this event showcases the role Hackney Shed plays within Hackney’s community.

This is not just a competition, but an expression of community.

When I first slipped into the auditorium, rehearsals were already well underway and there was palpable excitement in the air. After some particularly energised ice-breaker games, led by Hackney Shed’s infectiously enthusiastic host, Ozioma, the finalists had the chance for a final dress rehearsal. It was clear how much hard work had gone into these performances, not just from the young people but their teachers, Julia and Ozioma. Standards were high, with last minute tweaks to lighting and blocking made to ensure the best possible performances. However, the most revealing moments were those innocuous, blink and you’ll miss them ones. One finalist, Delaney, following his on-stage transformation into an East-End pub landlord, whispering to his teacher that he ‘could have done a lot better’. Or overhearing Timothy from City Academy and his drama teacher negotiate over sharing a packet of jaffa cakes. The thread running through all the interactions though was support, and I was genuinely moved watching the finalists and their friends turn into cheerleaders for everyone who faced the blinding glare of the spotlight.

At last, rehearsals were over. The judges, Nadia Musah from Hackney Empire, Mairi Hayes from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, actress and dancer Gabriela Flarys, and theatre director Christopher Holt, were ushered in and chatter was replaced with hushed anticipation. As the running order was announced it felt like a new competition had begun: who could bring the loudest school cheers.

What I hadn’t expected was the sheer range of talent and content that the finalists delivered. It was clear that these young people were not just performing but speaking from the heart. Coco from Clapton Girls delivered an impassioned monologue on the impossibility of being a woman, Faith from All Saints served a searing rebuke on race, unfairness and respect and Zoe Emma’s self-penned ‘Sticks and Stones’ emotively addressed sensitive themes around bullying and suicide. Equally impressive were the comedic talents of City Academy’s Timothy and Kiara, whose performances of a boy swimming for the first time and a girl explaining the steps to running away elicited laughter from judges and audience alike.

I was blown away not just by the precocious talent of the competition finalist but the musical acts on show. From The City Academy, we were offered loquacious and political rap, a tingling duet of ‘Feelin’ Good’ and, a most gleefully welcomed Hamilton ensemble performance. Adding to this the soloist from All Saints, who braved the stage armed only with her guitar and heartfelt vocals, it made for an impressively wide range of talent.

Interviewing the participants after the results were announced highlighted to me just how valuable Hackney Shed and the opportunities it provides are. The finalists spoke of how helpful the workshops were in honing their choice of material and performance and how the support and pointers they’d received from Julia had benefited them.  Alice, a finalist from Clapton Girls who’d delivered a committed rendition of a Sherlock excerpt, had been attending Hackney Shed’s sessions and workshops for years, graduating from their children to youth theatre programmes. Coco, also from Clapton Girls, spoke of the experience as ‘an extra kind of opportunity’ which ‘helped my confidence’, a sentiment shared by many of the participants. Eager to encourage other aspiring young performers to partake in Hackney Shed Slam next year, Zoe Emma emphasised, ‘Be creative, do something that resonates with you, so you can put all that emotion, anger, fear, whatever into it, because it’s a personal experience.’

I have to admit, I didn’t know what to expect from a day with teenagers, my own experience being within primary education. The passion and enthusiasm I saw has stayed in my mind, from seeing how much Ozioma inspired the young people with her confidence, vivacity (and dancing!) to the sheer knee-clapping, foot-thumping joy in response to ‘My Shot’. I felt aware that I was in a very special place, that offered the young people in it a chance to celebrate their voices and their talents.

A very special place that that offered young people a chance to celebrate their voices and talents.

This article is written by UCL student Mia Magarian, sharing her experience attending the annual Hackney Shed Slam Final at Hackney Shed.

What People Say About Hackney Shed

Testimonials

It's non competitive and encourages cooperation, collaboration and celebration of people's differing strengths.

Hackney Shed doesn't just support children and young people the benefits spill over to parents and carers too, especially around well being, knowing the 'shed' members are being well catered for.

“Hackney Shed provides a unique service to communities across Hackney which is financially accessible (unlike others). It's format is vital in respect of social cohesion and providing space for the development of young people in a way which is non judgemental and inclusive”

A really fun drama space where you could feel safe and comfortable expressing ideas. I've met so many cool people I wouldn't have without this.

Hackney Shed is a marvellous, shining example of genuine, meaningful inclusion.

“It is a rare and valuable opportunity to meet and make friends, socialise, develop his independence and feel rightly proud of himself”

“Hackney Shed is great and continues to wow - great for kids and parents.”

“Great energy. Inclusive for all. Creative teaching which allows children/young people opportunities to gain confidence”

"The best thing is that we have a proper theatre, with lights and costumes and musicians and everything, so when we do a show it feels like a real show, not just kids.”

"Hackney Shed enriches my child's life on so many levels. She is not only learning theatre skills, but so much more. She is learning about community and co-operation, and is gaining in confidence and self-worth."

"As a parent with a child with special needs I value the inclusivity over and above everything. This is from the point of view both of how good it is for him to feel included and valued but also from the point of view of my other two children who are able to see him and others with special needs being on an equal footing."

"We have been Hackney residents for nearly 20 years and have been very proud to find such an excellent opportunity for all children right on our doorstep."