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60,000 Reasons to be Cheerful – Youth Theatre Boost for Wigan Borough
Photo Call: Wigan Pier Youth Theatre Group
in Platt Bridge will be celebrating the funding boost at 4.30pm on
Monday 16th October at Holy Family Primary School, Wigan Street, Platt
Bridge. Contact Chris Dunbar on 01942 486937.
Community theatre activity in Wigan has been boosted by a near £60,000
cash injection into the youth theatres organised by Wigan Pier Theatre
Company.
Thanks to the funding the theatre company, part of Wigan Leisure and
Culture Trust, are now running nine theatre groups across Wigan Borough
for those aged between 8 and 20, as well as two regular adult community
theatre groups.
The funding comes from three main areas. The Community Foundation has
confirmed £8,447 worth of funding through the Abram Fair Shares Trust to
support the creation of two new youth theatre groups in Platt Bridge
this autumn.
A £15,651 from Arts Council England North West will help to fund a local
Youth Theatre Festival due to take place in July 2007. The festival will
bring together all of Wigan Pier Theatre Company’s youth groups and
organisers hope to include the work of other community theatre groups
too.
Finally, a £34,000 contribution by the Coalfield Generation Trust’s
“Communities that Work” scheme, means the Company can continue drama
workshops and theatre performances over the next three years on the
Higher Folds estate in Leigh.
Stewart Aitken, Wigan Pier Theatre Company's Artistic Director, said,
"Wigan Pier Theatre Company's outreach youth theatre work has expanded
over recent years thanks to the funding we have obtained from different
sources. Lots of free opportunities have been created enabling young
people to take part in drama activities within their local
neighbourhoods. Working with professional theatre workers can really
build confidence and it is an opportunity to make new friends in an
inclusive and creative environment.”
As well as the newly-formed groups at Platt Bridge and the ongoing work
at Higher Folds, a new youth theatre group has been formed in Hindley
and the group that meets at Wigan Pier has expanded its age range to
include 15 to 20 year olds. There are also hopes for a theatre group to
be set up in Lowton before the end of the year.
Stewart continues, “There is something available for all abilities and
ages now right across the borough. I would urge anyone interested in
acting or the theatre to come along and take advantage of this wonderful
opportunity to be part of something exciting, vibrant and very
fulfilling."
All of Wigan Pier Theatre Company’s groups take place during normal term
time at the following hours:
|
Group |
Day |
Time |
Venue |
|
Abram
Age 8 – 11
Age 12 – 15 |
Monday |
4.30 – 5.30pm
5.30 – 7.00pm |
Holy Family
Primary School, Wigan Street, Platt Bridge |
|
Worsley Mesnes
Age 8 – 11
Age 12 – 15 |
Tuesday |
6.30 – 7.30pm
7.30 – 9.00pm |
Hawkley Hall
High School, Carr Lane, Wigan |
|
Wigan Pier
Age 15 – 20 |
Wednesday |
5.30 – 7.00pm |
The Way We Were
museum, Wallgate, Wigan |
|
Community
Theatre
Adults 20 plus |
Wednesday |
7.00 – 9.00pm |
The Way We Were
museum, Wallgate, Wigan |
|
Shevington
Age 12 – 15 |
Wednesday
|
7.00 – 8.30pm |
Youth Club,
Highfield Avenue, Shevington |
|
Higher Folds
Age 8 – 11
Age 12 – 15 |
Thursday |
6.00 – 7.00pm
7.00 – 8.30pm |
Community
Centre, Stirling Close, Leigh |
|
Higher Folds
Community
Theatre
Adults 16 plus |
Friday |
7.00 – 9.00pm |
Community
Centre, Stirling Close, Leigh |
|
Hindley
12 – 15
|
Friday |
5.00 – 6.30pm |
Hindley Sports
Centre, Borsdane Avenue, Hindley |
If you would like any further information
about the youth or adult theatre groups, please telephone Martin Green
or Stewart Aitken on 01942 709305 during office hours or e-mail
s.aitken@wlct.org.
-ends-
NOTES TO EDITORS: For further information on this News Release please
contact Chris Dunbar, Public Relations Officer, Wigan Leisure and
Culture Trust on 01942 486937 or at
c.dunbar@wlct.org.
Wigan Pier Theatre Company: Wigan Pier Theatre Company is the resident
professional Theatre Company for the Wigan Borough. The company creates
and delivers high quality theatre events and participative activity to
engage local people and visitors with the borough’s culture and
heritage.
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust: Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust is a
charitable trust working on behalf of Wigan Council to manage and
support leisure and cultural facilities, initiatives and events for over
300,000 residents in the Wigan Borough. See
www.wlct.org
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