Young people across Boston are being invited to discover what happens both on stage and behind the scenes as Blackfriars Theatre launches a new 10-week programme this September.
Theatre Unlocked, part of Blackfriars Theatre Academy, is aimed at young people aged 5 to 18 and will combine performance with practical experience of how a working theatre operates.
Rather than spending the whole term rehearsing towards a single production, students will explore a range of theatre skills including acting, singing, movement, character, stagecraft, blocking, rehearsal practice, cues and technical theatre.
The programme is suitable for complete beginners as well as young people who already have performance experience, with four Saturday groups tailored to different ages.
Sessions will take place inside Blackfriars Theatre itself, giving students the opportunity to learn and create in the same spaces used for professional and community productions.
The course will be led by experienced freelance theatre practitioners, with students also having opportunities to learn from people bringing different areas of specialist experience into the programme.
Blackfriars Executive and Artistic Director Adey Ramsel said: “One of the biggest advantages we have at Blackfriars is that young people aren’t learning theatre in a classroom. They are learning it inside a real working theatre.
“We want them to enjoy performing, but we also want to open the door to everything else that makes theatre happen. There are so many different skills, roles and opportunities within this industry, and Theatre Unlocked gives young people the chance to start discovering them.”
The four Theatre Unlocked groups are Stage Star for ages 5 to 7, Spotlight for ages 8 to 11, Company for ages 12 to 14 and Studio Pro for ages 15 to 18, with fees for the full 10-week term starting from £85.
Students will receive learning materials throughout the programme, maintain their own Skills Record and receive end-of-term feedback and a Theatre Unlocked certificate.
A Theatre Unlocked Finale will take place in December, bringing the different age groups together to celebrate the work and skills developed during the term. Taking part in the performance will be optional, with Blackfriars stressing that students do not need to perform in the finale to complete the programme or receive their certificate.
Families who would like to find out more before signing up are also being invited to Theatre Unlocked: Backstage Pass on Saturday 5th September from 5.30pm to 8.30pm.
The relaxed drop-in event will give young people the chance to step onto the Blackfriars stage, explore behind the scenes, take part in theatre games and challenges, join theatre tours and test their musical theatre knowledge in a quiz with prizes.
There is no need to have already registered for Theatre Unlocked to attend the event.
Full information and registration of interest is available at blackfriarstheatre.co.uk/theatreunlocked.
