Opening of the Republic of Childhood Youth Forum
Today we celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on November 20, 1989.<br><br>Today and for the next two days we witness the voice and agency of children and youth and recommit ourselves to listen, empower and stand with them in their calls to action for social justice that is our birthright.<br><br>Now is the time!
Featuring
• A drumming circle by students
• Performance of the play "12", co-created by 10 students and Kristina Watt
• Conversation with Guest Speaker Kathleen Gallagher, Kristina Watt and young performers
• Special address by former Senator Landon Pearson, a tireless advocate for children’s rights.
About 12
12 is a new theatre creation that gives voice to youth with regards to the Climate Crisis and the future they have inherited. The text is built from writings/conversations with 10 Ottawa teens, interviews they had with family/friends and people they met, actual text from COP24 in Poland, and words spoken by global youth activists such as Boyan Slat, Greta Thunberg, and the Australian high school kids who were told to be "less activist." 12 is not a teen rant. It dares to ask questions, including to each other, of what it actually means to take action at the 11th hour.
A 100 Watt Production in collaboration with the Ottawa Children's Theatre
Creation & Direction:
Kristina Watt
Performers and Co-Creators:
Savva Boguslavskiy
Anna Carsley-Jones
Sebastien Cimpaye
Sophie Dean
Quinn Lesaux
Jaya Matiation
Olivia Smith
Ethan Whidden
Kaatje Yates
Paige Young
Production Assistants:
Thalia Paterson
Quinn Melenchuk