Arts Centre Washington – Unbound: Our Freedom

Unbound: Our Freedom Cabaret was a bold and evocative exploration of what freedom meant to different people – personally, politically, emotionally, and collectively. Presented at Arts Centre Washington, the project brought together storytelling, music, theatre, film, soundscape and visual art in an unforgettable evening that many audience members described as “absolutely fantastic… really engaging and funny… a pleasure to watch.” The event invited people to reflect on the fragile, powerful and deeply human nature of freedom, and left a lasting impression on those who experienced it.

Created by intergenerational community groups working alongside theatre‑maker Liv Hunt, the multimedia performance united participants from Washington Youth Theatre, Washington Young Film Makers, Right Track Young Musicians, Creative Age and Washington Community Podcasters. Through original scenes, live music, recorded oral histories and projected visuals, the performance wove together real stories from Washington and Sunderland with imagined futures shaped by young artists. Audiences praised the young performers as “inspirational” and celebrated the way the work “brought to light some very important issues.”

Developed in collaboration with local artists and heritage partners, the project was rooted in lived experience. Drawing upon archival materials, personal memories and diverse contemporary viewpoints, the production offered a vibrant and emotionally resonant journey into how individuals and communities had understood and experienced freedom, both historically and in the present day. Many viewers highlighted the emotional impact of this approach, calling the show “explosive… thought‑provoking… absolutely brilliant production.”

At the heart of the performance was a central provocation: What was freedom – and who had the right to experience it? This question shaped the work across its many scenes, from lively cabaret moments to unsettling dystopian theatre pieces. The opening script set the tone with humour and self‑awareness:

Emcee 2: “We are introducing a Cabaret inspired by the poem Freedom Road. We are putting freedom under the microscope and asking: What does freedom mean today? And what will it look like in the future?”

Emcee 1: “We have music! We have drama! We have soundscape and film!”

Emcee 2: “We have free Roblox gift cards!”

Emcee 1: “No we don’t – don’t say that!”

From there, the work deepened. Youth Theatre pieces confronted themes such as surveillance, coercion, identity, political control, and personal agency. Right Track musicians performed original pieces exploring freedom of movement, expression and thought. A moving epilogue reinforced the idea that freedom is rarely defined by one grand moment – it often begins with small acts of courage, resistance, or self‑belief. Audience members responded strongly to this blend of humour and depth, noting how the “thoughts and brilliant performances of young people” were complemented by the surrounding gallery exhibition.

Watch Liv Hunt speaking ahead of the Cabaret

Watch the final Cabaret performance

Spotlight: Washington Open Exhibition 2025 (Friday 14 November – Saturday 20 December 2025)

Running alongside the cabaret, the Washington Open Exhibition 2025 placed a spotlight on the creativity of artists living and working in the region. An open call invited artists to respond to the theme of Freedom, directly inspired by the Our Freedom project.

Artists were encouraged to reflect on key questions:

• How had freedom shaped the community?
• What happened when freedom was taken away?
• How did we understand freedom today—and what might it mean in the future?

The selected artworks showcased a powerful range of responses. From painting and sculpture to textiles, photography and digital media, each piece offered a distinct perspective – whether personal, political, social, or creatively interpretative. Together, the exhibition and the cabaret created a rich dialogue about agency, belonging, identity, and the inequalities that shaped lives across generations.

Unbound: Our Freedom Podcast

The project also expanded into audio storytelling through the creation of the Unbound: Our Freedom Podcast. Members of The Crocodile Collective went out into the Washington community to speak with people about what freedom meant to them. It was not an easy question for many – especially when asked without warning – yet after a moment’s thought, participants of all ages shared insightful, surprising, and often deeply personal reflections. The resulting podcast captured these voices, offering a mosaic of perspectives from young people, older residents, and everyone in between. It became an audio time capsule of Washington’s thoughts on freedom: its meaning, its absence, its complexity, and its importance. The podcast is set to be released across major platforms and YouTube, enabling the wider community to listen, reflect and contribute to the ongoing conversation around freedom.

Legacy

Our Freedom at Arts Centre Washington became more than a performance. It was a conversation, a provocation, and a celebration of community voices. Through humour, honesty, creative risk‑taking and collaboration, the project invited audiences to consider what freedom meant to them – and what they were willing to do to protect it.