Aim: A Fairy Tale: Empowering Young People Through Creativity
Why this matters:
Young people deserve the space to imagine bigger futures. But with arts funding cut and schools stretched, many don’t get the chance to be creative. A Fairy Tale is a project to change that - free, creative workshops that help young people build confidence, explore their imaginations, and see their stories brought to life on stage and screen.
I’m Ella Robson Guilfoyle, a choreographer who makes circus shows with dancing, writing, and storytelling. I’ve been working with young people for over twenty years, and they constantly inspire my work. A Fairy Tale puts their voices at the heart of the creative process - because their ideas matter.
What inspired us?
We talked about fairy tales and what role they play in our lives. I connect with the writing of Angela Carter because I love the way she takes stories that we know and places them in real life, subverting the roles of their female protagonists giving them control and power. That we can do this with our imagination feels important and I wondered how I could work with young people to sprinkle magic on their memories so that they can imagine new possibilities.
What is A Fairy Tale?
It’s a creative research project offering free storytelling and movement workshops to young people in Croydon and London. Together, we’ll turn their memories into modern-day fairy tales - giving them the tools to shape their own stories and futures.
These workshops develop:
Last year, I ran workshops at Orchard Park High School and with students at the National Centre for Circus Arts. Their ideas became choreography, cassette recordings, and beautiful opening scenes for a new show. They blew me away. But schools don’t have budgets to pay for these enriching experiences. That’s where you come in.
What’s happening next?
This summer, I’ll run:
This isn’t just for fun (though it is fun!). It’s a step towards making a full-length professional dance circus show, shaped by young people’s voices made with with project partner the Roundhouse.
Why I need your help:
I’ve applied twice to Arts Council England for funding, but competition is fierce and funds are tight. The Roundhouse provided a reduced rate on their a purpose built circus creation space that provides access to aerial rigging, but I need help covering costs for the space, equipment, and filming.
With your support, we can:
What will you get?
Stretch target?
If we raise more than the target: I’ll hire a producer to help develop the next phase - meaning more schools, more workshops, more opportunities for young people.
About me:
I’ve made sell-out shows with Barely Methodical Troupe at the Roundhouse, Platform Theatre, The Peacock, and toured internationally. I’ve collaborated with cutting-edge creatives like United Visual Artists and worked on fashion campaigns with photographers like Julien Martinez Leclerc. I believe that creativity builds stronger, healthier societies.
Follow along on my website and Instagram - I’d love for you to be part of A Fairy Tale.
Support creativity. Support young people. Help us make A Fairy Tale come true.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 15th July 2025 at 10:02am