for Black & Global Majority Creatives
Black Lives Natter presents the SpeakEasy programme which brings together a year-long series of events for Black & Global Majority individuals. The programme includes SpeakEasy Po’JaM, Po’JaM Co’LaB and SpeakEasy Page-to-Stage. Po’JaM is a bi-monthly music and spoken word open mic night, Co’LaB a monthly creative drop-in, and Page-to-Stage is a series of writing workshops. We are building a thriving creative ecosystem through writing, performance and community connection. Below are details on how to get involved with our programme of free and low cost events.
Explore contemporary performance to develop your creativity, critical thinking and practical skills for a career in creative industries and beyond.
Drama in the School of Arts and Humanities provides an exciting and challenging programme with an emphasis on contemporary performance practices. Our approach to teaching and learning integrates theories and practices of performance in order to extend our understanding of Drama as an art form in its social, political and cultural contexts.
Our expert lecturing staff are internationally-recognised researchers with a range of industry-related experience. Students are able to take advantage of our nationally-acknowledged teaching expertise and will have opportunities to extend their experience of contemporary performance practices through contact with part-time staff and key visiting lecturers. The Drama programmes benefit from extensive links with theatre practitioners and key Irish theatre companies, who use our spaces for performances and delivering practice-based workshops.
Drama allows students to learn in a rigorous and stimulating environment where they are encouraged to develop essential skills as thinking creative practitioners.
Our programme of work for primary age audiences is as varied as they are.
From one-man interactive musicals, to time-honoured theatrical extravaganzas, to outdoor family shows – our aim is always to entertain, give children an experience to remember and open their eyes to the wonders of their own imaginations.
Connecting with Teenage Audiences. Our audiences aged 12-18 are our big thinkers.
Figuring out who they are, what they believe and their place in the world. We want to figure it out with them. Theatre is a great way to explore ideas and hear other people’s perspectives and we bring teenagers shows which start conversations, stretch their horizons, and hopefully inspire their own creativity and aspirations.
Following the announcement of Creative Wales’ investment in our innovative digital platform, we’re excited to begin exploring its potential and create a high quality, online experience for young people led by young creative voices across Wales.
We believe music is a potent creative force that feeds self-expression, personal development, and wellbeing, and with your help the Anthem Gateway can provide an essential bridge for young people to the music industry.
This month we’re starting the process of commissioning new music creators, in both English and Welsh, and offering paid opportunities to develop our next round of resources.
Whether you’re a musician or local promoter with insights to share, a community music-minded fundraiser, budding marketeer or just have something to say about the state of music today, we’re looking for young people from all backgrounds across Wales to help us tackle subjects that are relevant to you.
The Belfast School of Performing Arts (BSPA) is Northern Ireland’s leading theatre School for 6-19 year olds and strives to deliver the highest level of training possible to every individual student.
As well as providing an exceptionally high standard of theatre tuition we endeavour to offer our students many unforgettable experiences. We have unique contacts with WestEnd & Broadway Performers, TV & theatre casting agencies (including our own in-house casting agency) and theatre professionals. Through these opportunities, our students gain experience and learn more about performance and communicating with others.
Under the guidance of our Artistic Director, Peter Corry, we focus on helping our students grow in confidence so they can excel within the performing arts world and develop their social skills along the way. There is a strong emphasis on fun while we learn and we have a positive, creative, happy environment where our students develop friendships for life.
Every Saturday Morning from 10am – 1pm
Experience the magic of pantomime from behind the scenes!
Discover the magic that goes into creating our award- winning pantomimes. From costumes and props to stage secrets, it will be a unique glimpse into the world of theatre.
Take a picture of yourself in our pantomime set, see out wonderful costumes up close as you enjoy an exclusive backstage tour.
Our backstage tours are suitable for all ages to enjoy.
Dates:
Friday 12 December - 3.30pm & 4.15pm
Sunday 14 December - 11.45am
Tour lasts a maximum of 40mins.
Please bear in mind that there is no step free access on theatre tours.
This September, The Quay Theatre is re-launching its Youth Theatre groups, providing weekly drama workshops for young people aged seven to 15 years.
The new groups provide an exciting opportunity for local young people to engage with the craft of theatre in a professional space, with a focus on all manner of acting skills, as well as collaboration and creative communication.
The aim is to give young people somewhere they can feel safe to explore their creative expression - and have plenty of fun too!
Attendees will also have the opportunity to perform in The Quay Theatre itself, taking full advantage of its extensive professional facilities. Their termly showcase will be fully kitted out with lights, sound, costumes and more – a great experience for budding creatives.
Mortal Fools Youth Theatre is open to young people aged 5–19 years. We run weekly Youth Theatre groups, split by age in Ashington.
At Mortal Fools, we focus on supporting children and young people’s creativity, wellbeing, and self-belief, using the medium of drama. We believe youth theatre can be a brilliant a vehicle to help young people to build their confidence and skills, support their mental heath, and to make sense of the world around them.
There are no auditions, no drama experience necessary, and no fees (although donations are welcome!). All we ask for is a willingness to give things a go, passion for performing, and lots of curious creativity.
We’re pleased to announce that Arts and Homelessness International (AHI) in collaboration with One Roof ODAC will be starting regular scratch nights to be held at Old Diorama Arts Centre (ODAC). The first event will take place on Friday 12th September 2025.
A scratch night is an event where artists/creatives with lived experience of homelessness can show work that is still in progress. This might be a song, a poem, a fragment of a play, or a visual artwork that isn’t yet finished. It’s a space to try things out, to explore, and to begin conversations around work that’s still forming.
These scratch nights are open to artists/creatived with lived experience as well as AHI & One Roof ODAC communities with lived experience of homelessness, creating a safe and supportive environment for artists/creatives at different stages of their careers to share and discuss their work. Discussion will play a huge part in these events.
We are especially keen for creatives and artists with lived experience of homelessness to attend; whether as performers or audience members as your voices and perspectives are at the heart of this programme.
All conversations will be guided by the Critical Response Process developed by artist Liz Lerman. This is a kind and supportive structure for group discussion, enabling valuable feedback from the audience without overwhelming artists with harsh criticism or unhelpful praise. It’s about going deeper, helping artists learn more about their own work and the processes of others.
Each night will feature three or four artists. The work could take many forms—performance, visual sketches, ideas, a few lines of a poem or song lyrics. After each presentation, there’ll be a structured discussion, and then we’ll move on to the next artist.
The atmosphere will be relaxed and informal, with plenty of opportunities to socialise and enjoy refreshments.We hope this scratch nights will become a regular feature of our community calendar—an opportunity to connect, collaborate, and support each other, artistically and socially.
