Bright & Wild 25 Young Artist Commissions
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In June 2025 Lyra presented our sixth edition of Bright & Wild – a festival with children and teens at its heart. 
Lyra’s Young Artists bravely stepped ‘into the night’ exploring possibilities for adventure after the lights go out...
The festival showcased four new productions, commissioned and performed by Lyra’s Young Artists (aged 8-18). The festival was produced and hosted by Lyra’s teenage Culture Crew.
The programme also included our first ever Brighter & Wilder wrap-around programme which included a range of performances, activities and discussions!
DREAM MAZE
Created by Jennifer Steele with the Wednesday Young Artists
Join the Night Knight on a journey into our dream maze. You'll be guided through strange, funny and sometimes bizarre dreams, meet odd characters and experience their world.
As you are serenaded to sleep you'll enter the maze. You'll travel through four unique dream worlds, each one taking place in a different space. Watch out for those silly characters, they may have some surprises in store for you! By working together with the Night Knight you'll hopefully find your way back to the real world, left wondering what's real and what's a dream?
WAY PAST MY BEDTIME
Created by Sally Charlton with the Thursday Young Artists  ​
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Way Past My Bedtime is a show about sleepovers, where the rules of the day don’t apply. Expect dance routines, whispered secrets, and midnight snacks. Leave your screen time limits, your broccoli, and your bedtimes at the door.
We’ll take you through sugar highs and shadowy fears, through pillow fights and late-night confessions. Stay with us until sunrise.
DON'T GO TO THE WOODS
Created by Jo Sharp with The Outline
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“Do you ever feel like someone is watching you? You want to look back and show them you are not afraid... but you can never quite meet their eyes”
In the depths of the forest, around a crackling fire, a group of teenagers camp alone—no adults, just spooky stories of the Ghillie Dhu. A trickster, a protector… but which will he be tonight? Will they find freedom in the forest or discover the dark side of going at it alone?
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Don’t Go to the Woods is an anti-Blair Witch Project where we show you just how capable teenagers are, and the fierce friendships that get us through the night.
FRANKIE & MAX'S NIGHTTIME ADVENTURE
Created by Mischa Stevens with Youth Music 
As the sun goes down over Arthurs Seat
And stars fill up the sky  
The monsters awaken and stomp their feet 
And party into the night
Blending drums, keyboards and guitars with electronic controllers, Youth Music have composed a soundtrack of dreamy songs and rhythms which journey through nocturnal soundscapes. From magical midnight ceilidhs to gentle lullabies and thrilling chase scenes to massive monster parties, join Youth Music as they bring the story of Frankie and Max’s Nighttime Adventure to life.
The Bright & Wild 25 Team
CHILDREN & TEENS
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Crew & Young Company: Tim, Amelia, Ava, Joshua, Max, Jamie, Brodie, Caitlin and Dara.
Dream Maze: Alex, Amelia, Ana, Chloe, Devesh, Eliana, Ema, Esmerelda, Franek, Hermione, Jagoda, Joseph, Kuba, Lilly, Muhammad, Natalia G, Natalia P, Orla, Shaylene, Siddarth, Toprak and Zahra
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Way Past My Bedtime: Antonia, Chloe, Ieva, Jagoda, Jasmina, Jaycub, Katia, Kushal, Laila, Lena, Lilly, Lily, Matthew, Melissa, Nina, Patrycja, Philip, Prashna, Rose, Sophie, Surya, Torkwase, Wesley, Zofia.
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Frankie & Max's Nighttime Adventure: Amelie, Angola, Deniz, Drew, Florian, Ibrahim, Isla, Kacper, Kamsiyochukwu, Laila, Leena, Lorena, Michel Mirzan, Odosa, Ola, Roliana, Scarlet, Sophie, Tahlia, Zoey D and Zoey S
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Don't Go to the Woods: Amelia, Carlos, Dhiya, Eduardo, Eunice, Fatoumata, Joshua, Justyna, Kieran, Lena, Michelle, Reagan and Zofia​​
ADULTS
Lead Artists: Jennifer Steele, Sally Charlton, Mischa Stevens, Jo Sharp
Guest Artists & Speakers: Caitlin Mulgrew, Minnie Crook, Florence Logan, Emma Lewis Jones, Matt Harrold, Tenzin Stephen, Lucas Chih-Peng Kao, Craig McCorquodale, Cynthia Cheung, Niall Moorjani, Ailsa Dixon, Lorna Caddick.
Engagement: Surayya Halliday, Kim Stronach, Ink Asher Hemp, Adam Rosa, Guy Woods, Kelsey Sullivan, Edviges Lima, Hannah McGregor, Elspeth Chapman, Niamh O'Donnell, Jack Dickson
Design: Katy Wilson & Val Reid
Volunteers: Basil Somers, Eleanor Ellis
Technical Manager: Sulie Wood
Technical/Stage Management: Emma Reid, Adam Ryan
Team Lyra:
Jo Timmins, James Preston, Anna Plasberg-Hill, Jenny Noble, Jo Sharp and Natalia Barua.
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With thanks to our partners:
University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh International Book Festival, A Place in Childhood, The Venchie, Edinburgh Food Social and Craigmillar Literacy Trust, Castlebrae Community Campus.
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Funded by Creative Scotland, National Lottery Community Fund, City of Edinburgh Council
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Supported by The Henry Smith Charity, The Bank of Scotland Foundation.
Walter Scott Giving Group, Youth Music Initiative, The Robertson Trust, Artemis Charitable Foundation, The Gannochy Trust, Scops Arts Trust, Pear Tree Fund for Music, Hugh Fraser Foundation, Education Institute of Scotland, Gordon Fraser Charitable Trust, John Watson’s Trust.