Adults & Communities
People's Company
Build confidence, develop new skills and meet new people with the People’s Company.
We offer weekly workshops in our venues and out in the community, exploring theatre-making, singing, writing, storytelling and performance.
Join the People’s Company mailing list to find out about how you can get involved.
Join the People’s Company mailing list
Click here to view our Spring timetable
Summer Term
W/C Monday 24th April > W/E Friday 7th July
(Excluding half term: W/C 29.05.23)
Our Summer term offers opportunities to get involved with 4 fantastic courses; Voices, Stage Management, Playwrighting and Movement.
People’s Company Platform Event: Performer Callout
The People’s Company are looking to showcase local emerging local writers and performers for a new platform event that will be staged in the Drum Theatre, Theatre Royal Plymouth in July this year.
Looking to platform writers of all ages, this event will provide an opportunity for five scripts to be developed with support from writers Babs Horton, Laura Horton and Mich Sanderson.
People’s Company makes work with and for the People of Plymouth. Performance opportunities take place across the year and include small scale sharing’s and full scale, professionally supported productions.
The 21st March was #WorldPuppetryDay and also the last session of term for our 10-week People’s Company Puppetry group.
They shared with each other the puppets they made and mini performances they’ve been working on.
“We’ve all been knocked off our feet, doing drama helps you to reconnect with people” Project participant
“I get social anxiety, get really anxious around new people. But I’ve felt really comfortable coming here” Project participant
Our Space is a creative programme that works with adults with lived experience of homelessness, mental health issues, substance misuse, reoffending, or feel socially isolated for other reasons.
We’re pleased to announce that the National Lottery Community Fund are supporting Our Space again for the next four years. More info coming soon!
There are a number of ways to get involved in the Our Space programme:
Our Space [Community]
Taster sessions & creative community residencies in partnership with organisations working with adults with multiple & complex needs.
Weekly creative sessions at TR2, the Theatre’s Production & Learning Centre (transport is provided).
Our Space [Prison & Probation]
Weekly creative workshops in HMP Channings Wood & with partner services.
Our Space [Armed Forces] (funded by Veteran’s Foundation)
Creative opportunities & weekly workshops for service personnel, veterans’ & long-term wounded, injured & sick.
Our Space [Productions]
Collaborative, skills development sessions for longer-standing members to devise & present creative events & theatre productions.
Devising & presenting new work with prisoners in HMP Channings Wood.
Lost and Found
In March 2020 as the world ground to a halt, the Our Space programme transitioned, like so many, to an online existence, as they sought to stay connected and creative in lockdown.
They experimented with many kinds of games and exercises along the way, but what began to burn most brightly in the sessions was the weekly free-writing where they witnessed each other’s highs and lows and throughout the year, they wrote it all down.
Lost and Found is a small selection of what turned up on the page – raw and, for the most part, unedited. Proud of what was collectively achieved, Lost and Found is a fitting tribute to the journey through 2020 with an extraordinary group of people.
Sara Rhodes, Engagement Manager at Theatre Royal Plymouth said: “In an extraordinary year, where so many felt isolated and disconnected, Our Space provided a digital space for members to meet, share their highs and lows of lockdown and have a creative outlet, which mainly came in the form of free-writing. Lost and Found is a beautiful tribute to the incredible talent and creativity of this amazing group of people.”
Funky Llama is a platform for disabled adults to actively participate in the creation and delivery of activities and professional, inclusive arts events.
These develop well-being, promote multiple social networking opportunities, reduce isolation and enhance life skills.
Get Involved
Funky Llama, in association with Far Flung Dance Theatre, offers weekly workshops in drama, movement, sound and backstage. We are currently offering both online and in-person sessions.
Leadership and Training
Funky Llama offers opportunities for volunteering, work experience and training within theatre and events. This includes our Driving Force steering group who advise on all of our activity.
To find out how you can get involved email funkyllama@theatreroyal.com or call 07732488859.
Artist Mentoring
Theatre Royal Plymouth and Far Flung Dance Theatre offers bespoke mentoring for disabled artists in music, drama and dance.
Events
The Funky Llama Festival returned in 2021 with a fantastic line-up of national disabled and non-disabled artists, including Extraordinary Bodies show Human.
Acting Up is a programme for anyone over the age of 50. Join our free weekly session in the heart of Plymouth to meet new people, learn new skills and have fun in a creative and friendly environment. No previous experience required.
Our autumn term starts on Tuesday 10th January 2023.
For more information or to book your place email jodie.paget@theatreroyal.com
We are thrilled to be working in partnership with ElderTree.