THEATRE IS… - a national registered arts-led charity based in Luton, Bedfordshire - worked with up to 4,000 youngpeople aged 13 to 25 across England each year, creating environments where they can risk, challenge, learn and succeed towards discovering and reaching their full potential as individuals and as members of the wider social and economic community.
We passionately believe that theatre is for everyone, and our aim is to break down the barriers to participation and broaden involvement by young people, with special emphasis on those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Our work opens the arts as a route to self-expression and to support the next generation of creative entrepreneurs.
We use diverse art forms of Contemporary Urban Theatre, engaging young people in innovative roadshows, workshops, training, events, discussions and performances which speak to their interests and issues and those of their communities, develop their aspirations, and enable them to:
- Broaden their participation in the arts;
- Discover, develop and showcase their often hidden or overlooked talents;
- Increase confidence and self-esteem;
- Develop creative, communication, team-work and leadership skills;
- Re-engage with and prepare for further education, training and employment;
- Gain nationally recognised Arts and Leadership qualifications;
- Reconnect with and give back to the wider community;
- Develop as artists and arts leaders;
- Progress towards a career in the creative industries
Project impacts extend beyond the young people we directly engage with, because of significant contact with their families and communities at events where the young people showcase their work.
Since our inception in 2006, we have:
- Engaged over 20,000 people in our work – most from areas of disadvantage or low cultural engagement (as defined by Arts Council England)
- Run 300+ workshops for over 6,500 young participants
- Accredited 267 young people with the nationally recognised Trinity College Arts Award
- Awarded 14 It’s Your Future Bursaries to support young people in leading creative community projects and developing their skills
- Delivered over 345 performances – many to new audiences
- Collaborated with over 80 professional artists, 40 venues, and 50 schools
- Partnered with local authorities, arts organisations, funders, schools, youth clubs and agencies concerned with young people’s welfare, in areas as diverse as
Birmingham, Bedfordshire, Essex, Manchester, Norfolk, Hertfordshire, Bristol and Northamptonshire - Received core investment from Arts Council England, and have ourselves levered in significant additional funding and in-kind contributions.