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NWT recognises that culture plays a significant role in building and sustaining communities. We believe in the power of the creative potential in each of us, and strive to provide communities from every part of Ipswich with opportunities to participate in, make and enjoy culture.
Creative Communities is our programme of productions, projects, activities and opportunities for young people, local communities, and the education sector.
Some of our recent work includes:
Our Creative Communities work also includes supporting the education sector to engage with our produced work; offering creative careers focused opportunities to young people and community hires in our main auditorium.
We run seven term time Youth Theatre groups, including our new Young Company offer for 16-21 year olds who are emerging theatre makers. There are 150 spaces for young people to take part across the year which includes our Youth Theatre Plus and Squared offer for disabled and neurodivergent young people.
Alongside our own projects we regularly collaborate with other organisations and support the work of a wide range of local groups including Aspire Black Suffolk (advocacy), Volunteering Matters (social action), UnScene Suffolk (a community arts organisation for visually impaired adults), Ipswich Youth Steel Band and Suffolk Refugee Support, by hosting them in NW2. Having communities, staff, practitioners, and artists in the same space provides fertile ground for future creative collaborations ensuring NWT is truly representative of Ipswich.
After the success of our 2024 Schools touring show ’Hare and Tortoise’, by Brendan Murray. We are excited to announce the return of the show with a new creative team and cast in the spring of 2025.
Hare and Tortoise is a fun, fast (and slow) show for 4 to 8 year olds. This show will support the teaching of a range of areas of the KS1&2 curriculum but specifically Science, English and Relationship and Health education.
We are touring Hare and Tortoise to Schools in the Suffolk and North Essex region from 27th February to 21st March 2025.
We will be touring Hare and Tortoise to Schools in the Suffolk and North Essex region from 27th February to 21st March 2025.
The fee for a single performance in your school is £250+VAT.
NW2 is a modern, purpose built community space that sits directly in front of our main theatre in Theatre Square. All of the New Wolsey Theatre’s Youth Theatres take place in NW2 and we regularly use the large participation space for our Creative Communities projects. NW2 is available for hire on a regular, or one off basis and we offer a discounted hire rate to local community groups.
A few groups who have hired NW2:
NW2 has a small kitchen, foyer area and accessible toilet with adult changing facilities, which are all included in the hire. We cannot offer parking but there a number of car parks a short walking distance away. We will provide a Duty Manager for all bookings to welcome you to the building, be the first point of contact and responsible for First Aid.
NW2 is available to hire during working hours (9am-5pm), outside of these times, there would be an additional fee for the Duty Manager. All hires are subject to availability.
Feedback
‘As BME communities who often feel marginalised, we have been made to feel equal, welcome, and heard! We work with a wide range of adults with differing, diverse, and often complex needs. NW has listened and responded in a way which is inclusive and enabling.’
If you are a community group or local organisation and are looking for a creative, modern and welcoming space in the heart of Ipswich, please contact our Creative Communities Administrator Kemi Edonmi on kedonmi@wolseytheatre.co.uk. We look forward to hearing from you.
Tell Your Story is a twelve-session well-being programme, led by professional artists. In a safe, playful and supportive environment, you will have the chance o learn new and creative skills and express yourself.
No experience necessary and all equipment will be provided
Learn new skills, share your work, join a group of like-minded people and get inspired!
Session information
Location: Sessions will be held in NW2, Civic Drive, Ipswich, IP1 2AS.
NW2 is the building directly in front of The New Wolsey Theatre with the gold roof.
Are you eligible?
To be eligible you will need to meet certain NHS criteria. For more information please contact cdavis@wolseytheatre.co.uk.
The programme is aimed at people aged over 18 living in the Ipswich or East Suffolk area. You will also meet two or more of the following:
Get in touch!
If you think this programme might be for you, please contact Chloe Davis on: cdavis@wolseytheatre.co.uk or phone 01473 295918.
Delivered by the Creative Communities team and working with professional artists, our Youth Theatres sit at the heart of the New Wolsey Theatres offer to young people in Suffolk. We currently provide opportunities to people aged 7-21 to join us for weekly sessions during term time to make friends, explore creativity, and develop theatre-making skills.
We’d love applications from people of all backgrounds, especially from Black, Asian and ethnically diverse backgrounds, those who identify as deaf and disabled people, neurodivergent people, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds. You do not have to have any drama or Youth Theatre experience – just a willingness to get involved and explore your creativity!
‘Youth theatre is the highlight of my week. I absolutely love unwinding and being challenged in an environment of passionate and committed people who all love to do the same thing. Youth theatre has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember and has really improved my confidence’ – Current Youth Theatre member
Applications for Youth Theatre’s 2, 3 & 4 are now closed but you are welcome to apply to the waiting list by clicking the button below. We are still welcoming applications to Youth Theatre 1. Those who have put in an application before Monday 1st July will hear from the Creative Communities team by the end of July.
All Youth Theatre groups take place at NW2, The New Wolsey Theatre’s participation space and home to the Creative Communities Team. The building sits directly in front of the Theatre on Civic Drive and is fully accessible.
There are a range of payment options including bursary (free) places- please see the table below and contact us if you have any queries:
Applications
are now open for Youth Theatre 2024- 2025 and close on Monday 1st July 2024.
Click the link
below to access the online application form, fill this in and submit it by
Monday 1st July before 10am. The email address you use on the application
will be our main point of contact with you, please check your settings to
ensure emails from the New Wolsey Theatre are on the safe list and will not go
to spam/junk folder.
If you need any
assistance with filling in the form, get in touch with Kemi Edonmi on kedonmi@wolseytheatre.co.uk or call 01473 295 930.
You will receive a copy of your application via email- this is your confirmation that we have safely received it.
We have a limited number of spaces, so we are running an application and selection process. You will receive an email by the beginning of August to let you know if your application has been successful. This selection process is based upon our obligation as a publicly funded organisation to reflect the diversity of Suffolk in the membership of our Youth Theatres.
If you are invited to join Youth Theatre, you will be a member for the academic year (September 2024-July 2025). We ask for full commitment to your group so you will need to be available to attend weekly term-time sessions.
Whilst our aspiration is for you to stay with us and progress up through the Youth Theatre groups, our numbers are limited and we cannot guarantee that we will be able to invite you to join the following year.
If you have any questions or would like to have a friendly chat with one of the Creative Communities team about any of our Youth Theatre groups, please get in touch:
Call us on: 01473 295930 Monday- Friday 9am- 5pm.
Email us on: creativecommunities@wolseytheatre.co.uk
Youth Theatre Plus is specifically for autistic young people aged 11-16 (School years 7+) who will benefit from a more supported environment, and with less people in the space than our other youth theatre groups. Sessions provide fun and engaging opportunities to explore creativity, build confidence, aid communication and raise aspirations in a relaxed environment. The group is led by professional theatre practitioners with experience in making inclusive theatre. Each session looks at different ways to explore creative theatre making, and we aim to provide opportunities throughout the year to share work made with friends and family.
‘Having autism means I sometimes struggle to make sense of life – Youth Theatre helps me to connect and understand. It gives me a space where I feel I belong.’ – current Youth Theatre member
Youth Theatre Squared is specifically for disabled or neurodivergent young people aged 16-25 who want to explore theatre making and develop their creativity. Sessions enable participants to explore the world around them, build their confidence and develop their theatre making skills all through fun and creatively engaging activity in a supportive environment. The group is led by professional theatre practitioners with experience in making inclusive theatre.
‘I have made many friends who I like seeing each week. Youth theatre makes me feel happy and it helps bring out my confidence and enthusiasm in myself.’- current Youth Theatre member
Youth Theatre Plus and Squared take place at NW2, The New Wolsey Theatre’s participation space and home to the Creative Communities Team. The building sits directly in front of the Theatre on Civic Drive and is accessible.
There are a range of payment options including bursary (free) places- please see the table below and contact us if you have any queries:
Applications are now open for Youth Theatre 2024- 2025 and close on Monday 1st July 2024 although we welcome applications throughout the year.
Click the link below to access the online application form, fill this in and submit it by Monday 1st July before 10am. The email address you use on the application will be our main point of contact with you, please check your settings to ensure emails from the New Wolsey Theatre are on the safe list and will not go to spam/junk folder.
If you need any assistance with filling in the form, get in touch with Kemi Edonmi on kedonmi@wolseytheatre.co.uk or call 01473 295 930.
You will receive a copy of your application via email- this is your confirmation that we have safely received it.
We have a limited number of spaces, so we are running an application and selection process. You will receive an email by the beginning of August to let you know if your application has been successful. This selection process is based upon our obligation as a publicly funded organisation to reflect the diversity of Suffolk in the membership of our Youth Theatres.
If you are invited to join Youth Theatre, you will be a member for the academic year (September 2024-July 2025). We ask for full commitment to your group so you will need to be available to attend weekly term-time sessions.
Whilst our aspiration is for you to stay with us and progress up through the Youth Theatre groups, our numbers are limited and we cannot guarantee that we will be able to invite you to join the following year.
If you have any questions or would like to have a friendly chat with one of the Creative Communities team about any of our Youth Theatre groups, please get in touch:
Call us on: 01473 295930 Monday- Friday 9am- 5pm.
Email us on: creativecommunities@wolseytheatre.co.uk
Youth Theatre Plus and Squared take place at NW2, The New Wolsey Theatre’s participation space and home to the Creative Communities Team. The building sits directly in front of the Theatre on Civic Drive and is accessible.
There are a range of payment options including bursary (free) places- please see the table below and contact us if you have any queries:
You will receive a copy of your application via email- this is your confirmation that we have safely received it. If you do not receive an email, please contact us to check it has been received. After the closing date, everyone will be invited to an informal group audition at the start of the autumn term.
Date: Saturday 7th September 2024
Venue: NW2, Civic Drive, Ipswich, IP1 2AS
Timings: Either am or pm for approx 2 hours
If you are unable to attend on this audition date, please let us know in your application and alternative arrangement will be made. At the point of offering you an audition, we will ask for a photograph of yourself (headshot). This does not need to be a professional photo, just a clear and recent shot of your face.
We have a limited number of spaces in Young Company. You will receive an email during the week following your audition to let you know if you have been successful and the Autumn term will start on Wednesday 18 September 2024.
If you have any questions or would like to have a friendly chat with one of the Creative Communities team about Young Company, please get in touch:
Call us on: 01473 295930 Monday- Friday 9am- 5pm.
Email us on: creativecommunities@wolseytheatre.co.uk
Arts Award is a range of unique nationally recognised qualifications for anyone up to the age of 25. It encourages the growth of artists and arts leaders, and inspires participants to connect with the wider arts world.
We are an Arts Award Supporter – meaning that we don’t run the Arts Award ourselves, but support schools and other organisations who are registered as centres, taking young people through their Arts Award.
Many of the workshops we offer could be part of building your students’ Arts Award portfolios. Get in touch to find out more: Rebecca Hall, Creative Communities Producer, rhall@wolseytheatre.co.uk or call 01473 295930
The New Wolsey Theatre is proud to be working in partnership with schools and settings on their Artsmark Award journey. By supporting Artsmark settings, we’re helping put the arts at the heart of education, inspiring young people to create, experience and participate in high quality arts and culture.
Find out more about Artsmark here
To find out how the New Wolsey Theatre can support your Artsmark journey, contact Rebecca Hall, Creative Communities Producer, by emailing rhall@wolseytheatre.co.uk or call 01473 295930
Phone 01473 295900
Email tickets@wolseytheatre.co.uk
The New Wolsey Theatre
Civic Drive, Ipswich, Suffolk
IP1 2AS
VAT No: 765325812
Charity No: 1082016
© 2024 New Wolsey Theatre
