The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation has given a grant of £13,920 over two years to South Shields’ Customs House to support an aspirational theatre development programme for 50 young people aged 15 to 25, including drama workshops, creating a bespoke play and mentoring.
A delighted Fiona Martin, Deputy Director (Learning and Participation), said that the grant will enable the theatre to bring together all the strands of its work in theatre with young people and expand it.
Already the Learning and Participation team runs three youth theatres, two in the South Shields building and one in Jarrow, and organises the Takeover Festival, a series of events, competitions, films and performances for young people which, this year for the first time, includes the appointment of a young writer in residence. The festival is linked to the Takeover Day national initiative, encouraging young artists from the region to take on key roles as part of The Takeover Team.
“We also want to train up a new assistant for the Youth Theatres,” she said, “and provide training and opportunities so that young practitioners under 25 can develop their skills to the greatest extent.”
The Customs House was the only organisation in the North East to receive a grant from the ALW Foundation. It was one of 22 grants worth a total of £630,060 to projects across the UK and beyond, grants which aim to ensure access to high quality arts education, nurture skills to ensure the preservation of heritage, and support emerging artists at the early stages of their careers.
“This latest round of grants reflects my passion for the importance of arts education, increasing diversity on and off stage and ensuring that the next generation is equipped to champion and preserve our heritage,” said Andrew Lloyd Webber. “Many of the projects require matched funding and I urge other philanthropists, foundations and government to recognise the benefits and step up to support the life-enhancing effects of the arts and heritage.”
The 22 organisations which received grants are Ballet Black, Bath Festivals, Burnley Youth Group, Creative & Cultural Skills, Dark Horse Theatre, Hall for Cornwall, Iris Theatre, Little Kids Rock, National Theatre Wales, Nevill Holt Community Arts, Nottingham Music Service, Paddington Development Trust, The Prince's Foundation, Royal Court Theatre, Tamasha Theatre Company, The Customs House Trust Ltd, Theatre Peckham, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Ulster Youth Orchestra, Watermill Theatre, West Yorkshire Playhouse and Women and Theatre.