The Norwich Nine

A project developed by Bootworks Theatre Co., The Norwich Nine brought together a group of nine-year-old children at The Garage in Norwich to collaborate and create a performance piece for Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2025.

Over the course of a week, Bootworks worked with and listened to their young collaborators. Together, they created a performance – part-theatre, part vox-pops – that explored that unique space, halfway between birth and adulthood, occupied by nine-year-olds.

How often are the perspectives of children considered in our society? Norwich Nine was a project designed to counter the prevailing ‘adultist state’, in which the opinions of our young people are often overlooked. It provided a platform for children to tell it how it is, how it was… and how it could be.

A short film about the performance will be published on our website later in the summer.

‘Everyone was so kind and it felt like a safe space. I made new friends and liked taking part in it.’ – Participant, Norwich Nine

‘Thank you. It was such a beautiful, exuberant and emotional show. I’m so glad (our child) got to be a part of such a special project. It has given her a huge boost.’ – Parent, Norwich Nine participant

Artist

Bootworks Theatre Co.

Location

Norwich

Participants

Nine nine-year-olds

Partners

The Garage, Norwich