Kontakt @ The Pierhead

The Pierhead Sessions, a new festival hosted by the National Assembly for Wales, begins this Thursday in Cardiff Bay and kicks off with a groundbreaking theatre project that brings together young people from throughout South Wales with politicians and decision makers from the Welsh capital.

Created by The Sherman Cymru Youth Theatre, Kontakt is a unique social experiment that explores how we communicate and learn from one another by allowing young people and adults to have meaningful interaction and conversation. Two of the participants taking part include Chris Franks AM and 22 year old George Goding from Cardiff.

George has been involved with the Kontakt project since its inception two years ago including a successful tour around the UK. "When we took it to the Birmingham Rep Youth Theatre I had the most amazing experience" said George. "I was sitting across from this really stocky bloke and we were talking about our favourite books. He started to tell me about a book he was reading, which his grandfather had given him, when he started to cry. After we finished talking, I asked him if he wanted a hug, and he said yes. It was incredible."

Cardiff born Plaid Cymru AM Chris Franks said: "It was a pleasure to meet George. I’m looking forward in March to meet more young people like him. I am delighted to be part of this groundbreaking project which will help decision makers and teenagers work together. Young people are quite rightly feeling angry and let down by the same old politics, particularly after the expenses scandal. It is important that Welsh politicians engage with young people and offer something different. By listening we can learn from the young people taking part in the scheme. I hope it will spur them on to participate in politics as we move to an era where elected representatives in Wales have more powers and the tools to do the job.

With the special version of Kontakt at the Pierhead Sessions festival George says he wants to ask the politicians and decision makers (including the Chief Executive of the British Council Wales and the Muslim Council for Wales) more about themselves, and less about their jobs, in order to understand their motivations. "I don’t think young people are that disillusioned with politics as they aren’t educated enough to know what politicians are trying to achieve" says George. "Most young people are just unaware of what’s going on, which makes projects like Kontakt all the more important because it’s a great way for both sides to find out more about each other and have a really meaningful one to one conversation."