Art reflects life in this fascinating production created with our partners the Port of Tilbury and the Royal Opera House and young people from Thurrock. Totally Tilbury was performed in October 2011 in the dramatic surroundings of the London Cruise Terminal in Tilbury.

Ashley cooks, cleans, washes; Ashley looks after Mum, goes to school and at night she climbs high into the sky! Ashley’s in Trouble, she needs help! Eddie looks out for his friends, Eddie can help…

Based on Gillian Cross’s popular novel, Tilbury Tightrope tells the story of 14 yr old Ashley, daredevil, heroine, young carer and brilliant graffiti artist. It is a timely modern day parable illustrating the power of art and self-determination to enlighten and unite fragmented communities.

Using hip hop as a base, but exploding into lindy hop, songwriting, and visual arts – whatever forms tell the story – the talented young performers put their community at the centre of this unique dramatic production.

Thanks to partnerships with The Port of Tilbury, the Royal Opera House and The Gateway Academy, Tilbury Tightrope gave young performers the rare opportunity to work with an artistic team which combined extensive professional experience with exciting emerging artists. Lead by director, Stuart Mullins; writer Anna Reynolds; designer, choreographer Helen Parlor, with the urban artists from it’s our theatre.

Building on an it’s our theatre project, funded by Thurrock Council, the production process included developmental workshops and rehearsals to help the work to take on a distinct shape.teacher, Sunsun; singer/songwriter David Harks; and Sri Mackinnon, one of Britain’s few female graffiti artists.