Our work with local communities uses performing arts to enhance the lives of those who need it the most.

We create bespoke projects with identified at-risk groups including socially isolated older people, adults working to improve their mental wellbeing and asylum seekers and refugees. In October 2019 we were awarded Theatre of Sanctuary status from the City of Sanctuary which acknowledges Theatre Royal Wakefield as a place of safety, welcome and support for refugees and asylum seekers.

Conversation Café

Come along for a chat at Conversation Café.

Here you can increase your confidence in speaking English and make new friends over a cup of tea and a biscuit.

Find out more here

Stepping Out

Stepping Out is a weekly musical theatre-focussed group that acts as a creative, supportive space for older people to work with our experienced facilitators, as well as a much valued space for social interactions.

Find out more here

Wakey Wakey!

Storytelling fun for young children and their families on Saturday mornings.

Find out more here.

Past Projects

Letters from a Teenage Dreamer

During Spring 2021 we wrote a series of letters from ‘Jack’, a fictionalized teenage boy who was dealing with lockdowns, zoom lessons and making a big decision about his future. The character of ‘Jack’ was created by writer Tina Shuker-Abell, and based on her interviews with students from our youth training programme, Performance Academy.

These letters were sent to 39 older people across the Wakefield District who had signed up to the project. They were encouraged to reflect on their own teenage years and to send advice, drawings and song recommendations to ‘Jack’.

These responses were then turned into a performance featuring the young people from the initial interviews. Due to Covid restrictions at the time we weren’t able to perform to a live audience, but the performance was filmed and sent to the letter recipients.

In Autumn 2021 the letter recipients were invited to a series of workshops with the writer, where they used memories, music and movement to connect with new friends and reflect further on their teenage dreams.

Thank you for the generous support of the project funders.

Raise Your Voice

Raise Your Voice was a series of confidence building workshops that were developed and delivered in partnership with the Community Harmony Project and the Art House and took place for the first time in Autumn 2019.

Raise Your Voice was aimed at migrant women who wanted to develop their confidence, including their confidence in speaking English in public. The workshops supported women to find and use their voice; to celebrate their own strength through the support of other women. .

Stories

Stories was an integrated drama project working with a group of settled refugees and older people working in partnership with Horbury Senior Citizens Support Group, The Refugee Council and City of Sanctuary.

We ran 10 sessions with 22 participants and 86% felt more confident socialising after this project.

We will share information on upcoming integrated sessions here.