Recent Projects
To support our work, please visit the donate page or get in touch with Ashleagh Williams (AshleaghWilliams@atgentertainment.com) to discuss further.
Relaxed Young Company
The Relaxed Young Company started in 2023 due to a lack of similar provision in the city, with thanks to support from Manchester City Council’s Youth and Play Team. This small nurturing group provides a safe space for young people aged 13 - 18 on the autism spectrum to develop their creative awareness at the same time as learning essential communicative skills, making friends and having fun through drama workshops, movement and singing. The group takes place at the Palace Theatre on Mondays and is open to welcoming new members each term.
Work in Theatre: ATG Creative Learning x Get Into Theatre
Funded by Arts Council England (ACE), Work In Theatre is a careers programme associated with Get Into Theatre, which seeks to improve access to theatre career pathways and information for underprivileged and underrepresented young people and emerging artists. Developed by Creative Learning in consultation with secondary school teachers across the UK, the Manchester team have, so far, delivered four courses offering 51 young people unprecedented access to explore the many roles involved in operating a theatre. 50% of young people on the first course attended with the support of a bursary place, with following courses offering further subsidies for young people to take part.
Show-Inspired Musical Theatre Masterclasses
The Trust is keen to provide unique opportunities for young people across Greater Manchester to take part, which led to the development of Musical Theatre Masterclasses. The programme includes half term and school holiday courses inspired by the world-class shows visiting the theatres' stages (Spongebob, 101 Dalmatians, Oliver!), and specific show-inspired workshops are led by industry partners (English National Ballet, Cameron Mackintosh Foundation, Disney Theatricals, My Fair Lady, Dream Girls and Dear Evan Hansen). The sessions are carefully crafted to support children to develop a range of performance skills, dance, vocal coaching and drama, to make for a comprehensive performance foundation, build confidence and have fun!
The trust is passionate about accessibility and each School Holiday Masterclass offers 20% of places subsidy for those who need it.
Family Days
Our family sessions are designed to support young children and their families in accessing our historic theatre buildings - opening up the Grade II heritage theatres as playgrounds for imagination and participation through site-specific mini performances based around visiting shows. The latest instalment was themed around our pantomime for the year, Cinderella, with 16 families taking part.
Manchester Day
A Manchester City council initiative which takes over the city centre, the 2024 Manchester Day was the first time that the Palace Theatre and Opera House have taken part, providing free-to-access creative activities for families on what was a jam-packed day.
We engaged with around 1,000 people of all ages and backgrounds on the day, from simply talking about the theatre to taking part in crafts and collectively making around 750 puppets for our portable theatre. The theatre model was a BIG hit, with families and young people playing with their characters on the stage for hours.