Bright & Wild 26 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!
WEDNESDAY YOUNG ARTISTS
Working with the Lyra Ensemble and Kim Stronach
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?
Working with the Lyra Ensemble and Kim Stronach
THURSDAY YOUNG ARTISTS
Working with Hope Kennedy
For this year's Bright & Wild commission the Thursday Young Artists will be working with Hope Kennedy to create a performance inspired by Scottish folklore.
Alongside Hope, the Young Artists will be experimenting with devised movement, storytelling and reimagined myths to create a show full of magic, dream-like dance sequences and strange creatures from a time long ago!
SCAMPS
Working with the Lyra Ensemble and Katrine Turner
How can children change the world around them and make their voices heard? This year the Scamps will be taking on the role of Disruptors! Cover the grey wall with colourful posters! Seed bomb that bit of waste land! Tape Art the windows! They’ll be working with Katrine and the Lyra team on creative ways to make their mark in their local community.
Through play, art and activism, Scamps are going to be disrupting the status quo in and around Lyra!
THE OUTLINE
Working with Dan Brown
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.