A MASH-UP of puppetry, poetry and hip hop music is heading to Bolton’s Octagon Theatre.

But despite the Broke ‘n’ Beat Collective’s youthful appearance, there is nothing soft about this first-time production, which infuses a mix of gripping tales, transfixing poetry and hip-hop puppetry to create a show unlike any other.

Billed as a raw, gritty, funny and moving gig that explores the hardships faced by young people in the UK today, the show brings together four artists – beat-boxer Hobbit, b-boy Ryan LoGisTic Harston, singer/rapper Elektric, and puppeteer Mohsen Nouri – to form the Broke ‘n’ Beat Collective.

Created by 20 Stories High and Theatre-Rites, the show premiered in Liverpool on February 4 and will land in the Octagon Theatre for a three-night run on February 25, 26 and 27.

Co-director and co-writer Keith Saha said: “It’s a hip hop music and theatre show mashed up into one. It’s aimed at young adult audiences, but of course everyone is welcome to go. It’s for puppetry, spoken word, live music and dancing, and tells the story of four young people on a fictitious estate, and the issues that they’re going through.

“It’s the first time the show has toured, so it’s very exciting because we have been developing it for 18 months. We have been working for young people, asking them about the challenges in their areas and the kinds of things that affect them has been included in the content of the show. Things like tuition fees, youth unemployment – things that are apparent now.”

Despite being aimed at young people, the show – co-created by Keith and Sue Buckmaster – has “a little something for everyone”, featuring music inspired by reggae, dubstep and hip hop.

Keith said: “The puppets depict four young people – one is a hoodie boy who is fed up of being judged for what he’s wearing, another is a boom box boy whose story is he never knows when to tune out of his party music and into world events.

“We cover some quite sensitive subjects too – one of the puppets is called paper girl and she has problems with self-harming, so what we say to people is we are going to sensitive places, but there is always hope.”

To book tickets, call the Octagon Theatre box office on 01204 520661.