Young Hustlers: Sunday 25 October 2026
Families can take their babies and toddlers to their first gig when the popular multi-sensory theatre show, A Message for the Future, comes to Young Hustlers.
Designed for early years audiences aged zero to three and their families, the show combines live music, storytelling and an immersive art installation, engaging little ones through sound, touch, sight and smell.
Created by DIY punk poetry gig theatre artists Brigitte Aphrodite and Quiet Boy, A Message for the Future uses joyful rock ’n’ roll storytelling to explore nature, kindness and a hopeful future.
The production recently sold out its run at Lakeside Arts and has also played to sold-out audiences at artsdepot and Southbank Centre’s Imagine Festival, which commissioned the show in 2025.
Brigitte Aphrodite said:
“This feeling of freedom and fun is now something you can share with your child. It might even be their first gig.”
She described the production as a “show, a space, a feeling of community” and said having “a boogie with nature” was an act of “punk joyful explorative rebellion”.
The show creates an immersive theatrical space that celebrates creativity, community and the environment. Its set design and costumes are by internationally renowned designer and concept artist Xander Lo Lo Noble, whose work includes projects with Lady Gaga, Björk and MTV.
Families can experience A Message for the Future for free as part of Young Hustlers Festival on Sunday, October 25, with performances at Surface Gallery from 11am to noon and 1.30pm to 2.30pm.
The multi-sensory experience is designed for babies and toddlers and offers a different way for families to engage with music, art and storytelling. Families can reserve their places at Minor Oak.
Now in its ninth year, Young Hustlers is Nottingham’s city family arts festival, bringing creative activities, music and performance to venues around Sneinton Market.
This year’s Mash It Up theme celebrates cultural fusion, bringing together different musical genres, art forms and communities.
New venues joining the festival include Montana, Megan Crooks Textiles, Surface Gallery and Fisher Gate Point, adding to the compact area where families can explore the programme.
There will be plenty of opportunities for children and families to get creative, from Lego Club running from 11am to 5pm, to the Young Hustlers Family Rave from 2pm to 5pm at Bustler.
Families can also try Greek food workshops at Foragers’ Kitchen, DJ and sampling workshops at Can’t Stop Won’t Stop, and tote design workshops at Dizzy Ink, all available on a drop-in basis.
Visitors can contribute to the Mash It Up Mural along the Sneinton Market avenues before joining the Young Hustlers Family Parade, which leaves the market at 3pm.
A new collaboration with Nottingham Baby and Toddlers Connect (NBT Connect) will bring a dedicated Little Hustlers pop-up area to the festival, offering activities and play for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers.
Meanwhile, Devastation Station at Fisher Gate Point will offer a creative play session for children aged zero to five, with opportunities to explore a miniature version of Nottingham through play, sing-alongs and dancing.
Other activities include a Step N Groove workshop at 1pm, bringing R&B line dancing to the avenues with fans and accessories, alongside a Bhangra dance workshop and the Sing It Bold choir, giving everyone the chance to join in.
Accessibility remains an important part of Young Hustlers, with the festival working to create a welcoming environment for SEN and neurodivergent families.
Young Hustlers takes place on the same day as the multi-venue Hockley Hustle music and arts festival, giving families the opportunity to enjoy a day of creative activities alongside Nottingham’s wider music scene.
Young Hustler tickets for adults aged 18+ are £12.10 including booking fees and must be purchased alongside a child ticket. Child tickets for those aged 2 to 17 are £4.40 including booking fees.
For tickets, go to https://www.gigantic.com/hockley-hustle-tickets/nottingham-various-nottingham-venues/2026-10-25-11-00
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Image: ‘A Message for the Future’ performed at Turner Sims, University of Southampton Photography credit – Nosa Malcolm
Posted on 15 October 2026
