Hackney: Talent show that 'helps create unity' marks 25 years
A talent show where past winners have included singer Leona Lewis and dance group Diversity returned to north-east London to celebrate its 25th anniversary.Created by Hackney-based youth project The Crib, Boroughs United aims to bring young people together to try to combat postcode rivalry amid tensions in communities.Each year the show remembers young people in London who have been killed by gun and knife crime. Held at the Hackney Empire, the sell-out show sees dancers, singers, spoken word artists and MCs from all over London compete.
Host Jaydon Rhule, 19, said: "It's such a positive experience and it showcases young people striving to do good things and better themselves - some may even want to be professional artists."
Janette Collins MBE, founder of The Crib which is based on the De Beauvoir Estate in Dalston, said there were "a lot of tensions between different boroughs" and they started the production "to show you can bring people together"."We thought music and dance would interest most young people," she said.The Crib works with vulnerable young people and supports families affected by knife crime. Michelle McPhillips's son Jonathan, known as JJ, was killed in Islington in 2017. She helped open the weekend's show, telling the audience: "The Crib gives you place of home and safety in the community."
A video memorial was also shown of young people who had died from knife and gun crime last year in London."I've lost people to knife crime, so I feel it's a really important subject," said Tyrelle Johnson, 21, a dancer with a Waltham Forest youth group called Leaders Community."But dance brings everyone together. This is a safe space for everyone to do what we want to do, dance keeps me happy."One of the performances during this year's edition was a drumming and dance routine by Islington-based group Amberliegh."What the Crib do is amazing," said Amberliegh's artist director Laurette Josiah."The young people look forward to it every year. It boosts their confidence and gives them something to aim for."
The Crib also helps young people run the show on and off stage.Production manager Pembe Tokluhan, 27, started going to The Crib when she was 10 years old and now runs her own company, Petok Productions, which specialises in backstage and event management."Boroughs United was my first exposure to backstage work which inspired me to get into the industry," she said."It is still a real opportunity for young people. It helps them feel they are part of a family and a community."
Will it be going for another 25 years? Ms Collins hopes so."We have so much work to do but it's getting harder. Funding is a real challenge," she said."Boroughs United celebrates young people who lost their lives and those who want to make a difference. "It shows we can have unity in our communities - it's an important message."
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