Renowned dance-theatre company Northern Rascals are taking their raw and emotional show
Sunny Side on a UK tour this Spring. The Yorkshire-based company will seamlessly combine
theatre, contemporary dance and spoken word to explore the modern young male experience
and the struggles many men face from adolescent to adulthood. Touring in partnership with
Andy’s Man Club, a men’s suicide prevention charity, this deeply moving show will raise
awareness of the often-overlooked mental health crisis affecting young people across the UK.
Sunny Side centres around K as he navigates the tumultuous adolescent journey whilst
combatting his personal and social development after the world has been on pause. Set in an
unspecified Northern English town, K is increasingly losing his sense of identity and lacks
emotional support in the once familiar world around him. In this ever-changing and uncertain
environment, K travels through the past, present and future to reconnect.
Four years in the making, this powerful show delves into the very real mental health epidemic in
the UK. Sunny Side was developed using the real-life experiences of over 1,420 young people
aged 14 – 30-years-old across the UK. This testimony has been collected by Northern Rascals to
lead into an authentic and informative production where audiences can resonate with unspoken
narratives in society and highlights the company’s commitment to showcasing raw honesty and
creating socially impactful work. The show tackles sensitive issues surrounding mental health
using multiple disciplines to form an accurate portrayal of the modern youth experience. Sunny
Side opens conversations around these prevalent problems and encourages people to raise
awareness and reach out for support.
Co-Artistic Director Anna Holmes explains that “Sunny Side” is a reflection of both personal and collective experiences of young people growing up in the Calder Valley and similar regions across the North. Over four years, we have collaborated with more than 1,420 young individuals to explore what home means and how our nurturing environment influences the paths available to us. Our research revealed that young people feel anxious, trapped, and overwhelmed by an ever-evolving world where their future seems uncertain. “Sunny Side” addresses these concerns by sparking discussions on crucial issues such as the mental health crisis among youth, why suicide is the leading cause of death for those under 35—especially young men—and why this seems particularly pronounced in a small Yorkshire town known for its liberal and progressive nature. While “Sunny Side” may not offer definitive solutions, it stimulates dialogue and provides essential insights into the inner lives of our youth.