The fall session of Maine Inside Out’s youth theater projects culminated in late 2024 with original performances at King Middle School followed by community dialogues between the performers and the audiences! The youth artists said their favorite parts of these projects were friendships, the mentors and facilitators, sharing their stories, and sharing their voices.

At King, the performances of “An Unempathetic World” and “What Happens After” explored relationships and moments of conflict between youth and adults and between peers. Two groups of King eighth-graders have been working together since the sixth grade with Maine Inside Out, a Lewiston-based organization that creates theater to inform and engage the community in dialogue about social change.

During the King performances, the audience responded deeply to the scenes that showed young people repeatedly not getting the support they needed from adults. Youth asking for help and not getting it, not being allowed to explain a situation, being blamed, being hurt, being judged, losing trust. The post-performance dialogue was honest and vulnerable, and hopeful for change.

This project took place in partnership with King Middle School and the Portland Public Schools. Maine Inside Out is thankful for their support and collaboration!

Photo: King Middle School Maine Inside Out theater project participants and facilitators.