About

The four OT Community Companies have devised responses to Poor Clare, each focusing the themes of the play through a different lens. From our 6-11 Youth Theatre to our Friday Company for over-60s, each will present their piece over the Community Takeover Festival weekend.

All box office income for the Community Takeover Festival goes to support the OT’s Community programme. Tickets are Pay What You Can, to ensure everyone can access these performances. 

 

The Woeful Worlds of Wizzam

Presented by the OT 6-11 Youth Theatre

Sat 26 July • 3.30pm

Once upon a time, there were different worlds. All of these worlds were united under the power of the magical star, Wizzam. But one night Wizzam was stolen and all the planets began to collapse and separate… 

Follow a group of adventurous Space Cadets as they travel across time and space to save the people of Wizzam. As they encounter conflict and unkindness, will the Space Cadets be able to gather everyone to Mission Control and sort things out once and for all? 

Inspired by Poor Clare’s account of one individual bridging two seemingly opposing communities, the show takes a creative look at opposing worlds coming together and journeying towards mutual understanding. 

Presented as a double bill with Generations.

Generations

Presented by the OT 12-14 Youth Theatre

Sat 26 July • 3.30pm

In 1889, thousands of children across England and Scotland walk out in protest against corporal punishment and excessive workloads. In 1971, 800 pupils at a school in Stepney walk out and win reinstatement of a teacher sacked for publishing a book of pupils’ poetry. In 2023, TikTok spreads the word of school protests against uniform and toilet regulations. 

 In 2025, the 12-14 Orange Tree Youth Theatre presents Generations: a devised show about how it feels to be a teenager today. 

Inspired by Poor Clare, especially Clare’s forming of her own belief system, the show explores teenage rebellion and young people’s drive to form themselves.  

Presented as a double bill with The Woeful Worlds of Wizzam.

The Heartbeat Players

Presented by the OT Friday Company

Sun 27 July • 4.30pm

Join the Heartbeat Players – a rag tag band of thespians who travel the world sharing stories. Accompanied by live music, the group conjures classic tales from the past, interrogating why we keep telling them.  

The Friday Company was inspired by Poor Clare’s transposing of an old story to a modern context. Their show explores how stories are passed on, why we re-tell stories again and again, and why storytelling is an important way to remember those who are no longer with us.  

Duck Syndrome

Presented by the OT 18-25 Young Company

Sat 26 and Sun 27 July • 7.30pm

You could be a saint, a boss bitch, an icon, a real G, a diva, a hustler, a grinder. You could be all of that. But you should probably start trying. Because there is a better version of you and it’s waiting just beyond your reach. Just beyond, but it really is there and it’s a bit embarrassing that you’re not getting there just yet.

In the modern day we don’t just look up to icons, we put pressure on ourselves to become them.

Taking Poor Clare’s saintly origin story, Duck Syndrome is an exploration of grind culture, and what happens when we keep trying to be better.