MSO Announces: STUCK

In Multi-Story Orchestra’s latest musical work, two individuals from the same community react differently to the threat of change. The younger, more aware and more mobile of the two looks elsewhere to base his life, while his uncle, more aged and infirm, has nowhere to turn. This is a story of individuals, portrayed exceptionally by lead actors Tobias Adetula and Yinka Awoniyi, but clearly it’s also one of a painfully familiar universal concern - and felt especially strongly in Peckham, an area which is known to have transformed almost beyond recognition due to processes of gentrification and displacement. It’s no surprise that such experiences continue to resonate in the imaginations of young people today—and in this new work by the Multi-Story Orchestra, they are given voice.

For 15 years since its inception, the Multi-Story Orchestra (MSO) has committed to centring young people in its creative process. As a result, and as audiences have come to expect, Multi-Story productions feature orchestral music grounded in contemporary realism - an original score encompassing many forms of modern music, together with a youth-driven narrative. STUCK’s premiere will take place at Bold Tendencies, Peckham on Thursday 3rd July at 7pm. After a second performance the following day, the production then moves to Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall (as part of Southbank’s renowned Autumn/Winter Classical Season) on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at 7:00 PM. Finally, there will be single, closing performance at Fairfield Halls, Croydon, on Friday, October 24, 2025, at 7:00 PM. The approximate run time is 1 hour and 15 minutes.

STUCK is centred around the complex relationship between an ambitious young man and his barber uncle, whose shared way of life is threatened by a looming redevelopment project. The arrival of a letter from the council, promising a bright new future for the area, reveals a striking clash of perspectives between the two. As the uncle's early dementia brings hidden struggles to the surface, the nephew is compelled to confront the true meaning of home and belonging before it disappears forever. Altogether what we find in STUCK is a deeply moving account of diminishing relationships, at the same time as an sharp depiction of familial and platial dynamics.

“Our mission is to bring together professional musicians and young people to collectively create music in ways that tell real life stories and challenge systemic inequity.

Our vision is for a world where music amplifies unheard voices.

Our values are creativity, collaboration, and change.”

The Multi-Story Orchestra has earned a reputation for taking classical music beyond traditional concert halls, performing in some of London’s most unique and iconic spaces that include the Bold Tendencies in Peckham, the Southbank Centre and Fairfield Halls, Croydon, all of which are set to host STUCK this year. The choice to stage its productions in such a wide variety of spaces reflects a wider commitment to diversifying and de-formalising orchestral music which has been Multi-Story’s raison d’etre since forming in 2011. Highlights since this time include the first BBC Proms performance from a car park in 2016 and performances across the UK, in car parks from Birmingham to Portsmouth. In 2024 Multi-Story won a prestigious RPS Award for our moving performance piece The Endz, which was then performed at Salzburg State Theatre in Austria in 2025. MSO became an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation in 2023.

Tickets for "STUCK" are available starting from £6.00 for Bold Tendencies performances and £12.00 for the Southbank Centre. They can be purchased via the venues’ websites.

For further information on The Multi-Story Orchestra and its ongoing programmes, please visit the Multi-Story Orchestra Website, multi-story.org.uk.

Notes to Editors:

Multi-Story Orchestra

Multi-story Orchestra is a charity connecting young people from South London with opportunities to compose, produce and perform orchestral music in a uniquely collaborative way: as songwriters, story-writers, composers, and musicians, our young creatives work together to create original music that engages with the world around them.

Kate Whitley

Composer Kate Whitley, born in 1989, studied at King’s College, Cambridge. In 2023 she received an award from the Royal Philharmonic Society for her contribution to contemporary music. She is known for both her orchestral work and for founding the Multi-Story Orchestra, which performs in schools, community spaces, and non-traditional venues such as car parks. Much of her work focuses on accessibility, collaboration, and engaging with younger audiences.

Media Contact:

Oliver McKenzie /ollie@multi-story.org.uk / 07896 003227