Performing Arts students deliver powerful performance in response to Netflix drama

Two talented Performing Arts students from New City College Ardleigh Green took to the stage in an emotionally-charged production inspired by the Netflix TV show Adolescence.

The students, Priscilla Oluwayemisi Fafowora and Chimwemwe Leonce, attended auditions and were selected for the special theatre event, Project 23: A Rapid Response to Adolescence, which took place at The McQueen’s Theatre in Wood Green.

Devised by emerging theatre and film talent Antoinette Jackman, from Ilford, the evening was a bold collaboration between arts and education, with six original pieces commissioned as rapid responses to the hard-hitting themes explored in the TV series, which starred actor Stephen Graham.

The six short plays were created in just one week, with each performer given only a single three-hour rehearsal.

The students Priscilla and Chimwemwe were cast in a piece titled Say Nothing, which tackled the challenges of social media and the pressures of life online.

Speaking about the experience, Chimwemwe said: “It was my first time doing a rapid response piece and it definitely kept me on my toes. The limited rehearsal time brought a real energy to the performance. Working alongside professionals and the director was so inspiring – it gave me a glimpse of what my future in acting could look like.”

Antoinette praised the students’ professionalism and talent, saying: “I saw Priscilla and Chim’s audition pieces and I was invested within the first 10 seconds! They were engaged, dedicated, and unafraid to challenge the material or offer their own ideas. They’re mature, instinctive performers with bright futures ahead.”

A writer, director and mother, Antoinette said she was inspired to create the plays after watching the hard-hitting show on Netflix. “I watched Adolescence, and it was a gut reaction as a mother first and a creative second to want to write something. I know the power of theatre and how it can incite change better than most mediums.”

The evening concluded with a panel of educators leading thought-provoking discussions around the issues raised in both the TV show and the student-led performances, encouraging critical conversations around adolescence, mental health, and identity.

New City College were proud to have two students involved in Project 23, delivering relevant work with themes that resonated deeply with the audience.

Useful resources for parents, carers and other adults on the themes explored in Adolescence can be found here

Do you have ambitions of being on the stage? Find out more and apply for one of our vocational Performing Arts courses or our A Level Drama and Performance courses today!

New City College has been graded Outstanding by Ofsted in their latest inspection, published on 1 May 2025.