Theatre Club with Co-op Academy Nightingale
Improving access to the arts for young people is at the heart of a lot of what we do at Leeds Heritage Theatres. From youth theatre to schools tours and workshops, our Learning and Engagement team is always developing new ways to cultivate community around our venues. As a part of this, a pilot project has been carried out with Co-op Academy Nightingale – read on to find out what we’ve been up to!
Written by Sarah Winstanley. Video content by Ben Fletcher and Aaron Cawood
Project overview
One of our main aims in the Learning and Engagement Team at Leeds Heritage Theatres (LHT) is to engage and empower young people in our venues.
We’re passionate about creating spaces where children can explore, feel immersed, and experience a sense of belonging in the city they call home. There’s something truly magical about seeing a child’s face light up in a theatre for the first time, and we want as many young people as possible to experience that in an inclusive, exciting way.
Theatre Club launched in early 2025 through our partnership with Co-op Academy Nightingale in Harehills. Working with a group of 8–10‑year‑olds across the academic year – both in school and in our theatres – the project gives children the chance to take part in creative workshops and experience live performance first-hand.
Each week we deliver drama sessions and theatre visits that help young people grow in confidence, develop valuable transferable skills, and feel a genuine sense of belonging in our spaces. Along the way, they discover the heritage and stories woven into our venues while sharing their own experiences as part of the LHT community. Our aim is for them to see our buildings as vibrant, creative places full of opportunity – and perhaps even imagine a future for themselves within them.
We’ve loved getting to know the children and seeing their confidence and ownership flourish week by week. From the outset, Theatre Club has been about celebrating the extraordinary stories of the ordinary people who pass through LHT every day, ensuring young voices are heard as the next generation of theatre‑goers, makers and future colleagues.
With this in mind, we welcomed a brand‑new cohort in September 2025 and have been keeping a log of our adventures together so far this year.
Getting started
Since the group included both returning students from last year and new members, we began the first session by creating a set of shared promises to ensure everyone felt safe, included, and ready to participate. Only last year’s cohort had ever visited the theatre – and just three had seen a live show – so for most, this session marked the beginning of their theatre journey. We closed with a call‑and‑response game led by the young people, celebrating their ideas, languages, and cultures.
In session two, we became a theatre company! The group confidently recalled their promises, then dived into devising games, transforming everyday objects through imagination, character, and emotion. ‘Building a Shed’ had them saying yes to each other’s ideas and working as a team, while ‘Un, Deux, Trois, Soleil’ brought the whole group moving together as one. It was brilliant to see them already bonding, building new skills, and beginning to feel like a real company.
Curious students during a visit to The Grand. Credit Ben Fletcher
LGYT's Oompah Loompahs making Augustus into fudge. Credit Chris Coote
Co-op Academy Nightingale students in The Grand foyer. Credit Ben Fletcher
A trip to The Grand
In our third session, we explored why stories matter – the young people said they’re for fun, inspiration, and entertainment. Theatre comes naturally to them because they still know how to play, and by joining in and being silly ourselves, we showed that play isn’t just for kids; it can shape their futures too.
We then moved into the theme of trust. After sharing our “10‑second news” to practise positive, focused listening, we played Blind Cars, where one person is guided only by gentle touch signals. Their concentration, teamwork, and trust in one another were incredible to watch.
And then came the big reveal: a visit to Leeds Grand Theatre. The cheer said everything!
Their first visit was a huge moment. After warm‑ups and a tour, they filled every corner of the building with stories, rehearsing short scenes and performing them in promenade. With props, costumes, and boundless imagination, they brought to life ghouls of The Grand, extraordinary audience members, and even Wilson Barrett, Queen Victoria, and Prince Albert. They embraced every challenge with excitement, focus, and creativity – making the entire theatre buzz with energy.
A student performing at The Grand. Credit Ben Fletcher
Co-op Academy Nightingale's trip to The Grand. Credit Ben Fletcher
Students at Theatre Club in costume. Credit: Ben Fletcher.
Preparing for panto
In the lead‑up to our trip to Aladdin: The Rock ’n’ Roll Panto, we explored archetypes and stock characters – the dame, villain, hero etc. The young people threw themselves into each role with brilliant energy. We then became costume designers, revisiting classic panto characters and looking at how costume shapes personality. They loved examining real panto costumes worn by our casts over the years – trying pieces on, experimenting with movement, and creating mood‑board designs that matched their characters. The room was full of creativity, laughter, and some excellent poses.
Then came the big moment: seeing the panto itself. For many, it was their first ever live theatre experience, and they were fantastic audience members — laughing, booing, cheering, and embracing every moment of audience participation. Everything they’d learned helped them feel confident and at home in the venue, and it made the experience even more special. Interval ice creams were a hit, and fellow audience members even complimented them on their enthusiasm.
Students ready to watch the panto. Credit: Ben Fletcher
Lucy Wells (Genie) in Aladdin The Rock 'n' Roll Panto. Credit Ant Robling
Art inspired by our Genie!
Reflections
All that was left was to share and reflect on the term. The young people loved talking about their panto visit, drawing their favourite characters, and recreating scenes as freeze frames. Their excitement was infectious – especially when we told them we’ll be working together for the rest of the year!
In January 2026, Theatre Club shifted focus to building concentration and teamwork as the children prepared for their first-ever sharing with an audience. Over several weeks, we rehearsed for an open session for parents, giving them a glimpse into our games, stories and the drama tools we use to become a strong theatre company.
The children’s teamwork, focus and enthusiasm shone throughout. Parents were incredibly proud (as were we!), and the children received some truly wonderful feedback: “[Our young person] has gained so much confidence throughout the course of drama sessions, I really admire the equality and participation of the children. The games look fantastic, children really understand them. [They] spoke up and were brimming with confidence.”
This final term of the year will focus on the children devising their own pieces of theatre to perform for an audience, and we can’t wait to see what they come up with to showcase their progress an dedication to this wonderful project.
We’re incredibly proud of everything they’ve achieved so far and excited to keep building on their skills each week. Their visit to The Grand and the panto, combined with our weekly school sessions, really highlight how the arts enrich young people’s lives. Watching their confidence grow – along with their teamwork, listening, and ability to share – has been truly inspiring.
Leeds Heritage Theatres is delighted to be working alongside the Centre for Cultural Value at the University of Leeds to conduct more research which will provide us with rich data enabling us to continue providing meaningful experiences with young people.
Leeds Heritage Theatres Engagement Fund
Every year, we work with over 10,000 young people across the city, in schools, youth groups and other sessions to help them build skills, confidence and pride through our creative learning and engagement programme. All donations to this fund will help us to continue our work and reach more people across the Leeds City Region.
