Engage, the Theatre Royal Bath’s adult participation programme for everyone aged over 18, is back this autumn, continuing a long history of community participation at the Theatre Royal. Offering workshops, courses and dramatic delights to feed theatrical appetites, whether you are keen to meet like-minded people, hoping to build on your theatre training, looking to try something new, or if theatre is already your hobby – there are a host of ways to get involved with the programme on offer.
Starting at the end of September, Engage has created four new groups running for eight weeks - Acting, Elders, Community Theatre Group and Together – each offering the opportunity to connect with people, create space to discover and be part of the Engage community. In addition, Engage is offering a taster session as part of its Emerging Artists initiative and its new Masterclasses series starts with a one-day Stage Management course.
The Theatre Royal’s ongoing work in the community builds on the previous success of Engage, founded in 2010 and funded by the Beryl Billings Charitable Trust; and this year’s Elevate Festival, which celebrated community theatre by showcasing local talent in a fifteen-day event at the Theatre Royal in March.
Katherine Lazare, Head of Community Engagement at the Theatre Royal Bath, said:
“Engage offers all adults the opportunity to take part in workshops and plays. Run by professionals in the field, it encourages non-professionals to join in and try something new.
It doesn’t matter if you have previous experience or not, anyone can sign up and everyone is welcome, the programme is open to all. We’re proud of Engage’s legacy and everyone who created the awesome body of work so far – all of which was made possible by the generous support of the Beryl Billings Charitable Trust, who continue to support the Engage programme as we move forwards. We know Engage can have a long-term positive impact on the people who take part, and that’s what it’s all about: providing as many opportunities as possible, for as many people as possible, from all walks of life.”
Engage: Acting is open to anyone over the age of 18. Starting on Wednesday 27 September, the weekly acting classes will look at different approaches, exploring you as the actor and your craft. Led by theatre director Sophie Cottle, the eight workshop sessions tailored for all levels of experience, from beginners to seasoned pros, will take place at The Egg from 7pm – 9pm on Wednesday evenings. The eight-week term costs £120, and has bursary places available.
Engage: Elders is a new theatre group specifically for anyone over the age of 65 to connect and create, led by theatre director Caroline Garland. Perfect for those who would prefer a gentler approach to theatre-making, storytelling techniques and theatre games; no previous theatre experience is necessary, only life experience. Starting from Wednesday 27 September, the sessions will take place weekly at The Egg from 2pm to 3.30pm with free tea and coffee provided. Individual sessions cost £10 each, or it is possible to sign up for the eight-week term costing £80, which has bursary places available.
Engage: Community Theatre Group sees the Theatre Royal’s Engage programme team up with Creative Twerton, who work in the local community to develop confidence in existing skills, and the award-winning Kilter Theatre company. This group is open exclusively to residents from Twerton and Whiteway. No previous theatre experience is necessary to sign up for these free sessions, which offer an opportunity to learn about devising, storytelling and creating characters. Starting from Thursday 28 September, the eight-week course of evening sessions will be based at Creative Twerton’s hub on Twerton High Street. To enquire about joining, please contact Tracey at: engage@theatreroyal.org.uk
Engage: Together is a partnership between the Theatre Royal’s Engage and Achieve Together, one of the UK’s leading providers of support for people with learning disabilities, autism, PMLD, deafness, hearing loss and associated complex needs. Led by theatre director Sophie Cottle, these free sessions take place at Achieve Together’s Twerton base, starting from Wednesday 27 September. To enquire about joining, please contact Tracey at: engage@theatreroyal.org.uk
Also, this autumn, the Emerge: Masterclasses programme will offer access to inspiring creatives at the top of their game. The first one-day event, a Stage Management Masterclass, will take place on Sunday 5 November from 10am to 5pm. Whether you are keen to build on your backstage experience and training or an enthusiastic novice, this one-day masterclass led by Kath Montagu will build your knowledge whatever your level of experience. Open to anyone over the age of 18, tickets for the masterclass cost £50, with bursary places available.
Meanwhile, Engage: Emerging Artists, a group specifically for young adults, is offering a one-off taster session led by Bristol’s ground-breaking The Wardrobe Ensemble. Perfect for exploring your performance making skills, the workshop will take place on Tuesday 7 November from 7pm to 9pm at The Egg. Whether you studied Drama at school, college or university, or if you have no experience but would like to learn, this workshop session is open to anyone aged 18 to 26 years. Tickets for the taster session cost £15, with bursary places available.
The Theatre Royal is working to ensure that Engage is accessible to all. If the subscription cost presents a barrier to you taking part, you are encouraged to get in touch to find out about bursary places which are available for all elements of the programme.
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