Award recognises innovative partnerships, support for young people and vulnerable communities with further expansion plans on the horizon.
Cheltenham’s Everyman Theatre is proudly celebrating a double triumph after winning the Circle 2 Success Community Award for the second consecutive year.
The award celebrates the theatre’s far-reaching and inclusive education and community work, which aims to break down barriers and make theatre and the arts accessible to everyone, regardless of background or circumstance.
This year’s Circle 2 Success South West Business Awards saw over 300 entries. With just six deserving finalists in each category, it was the most competitive year to date. The Community Award was sponsored by Caring For Communities and People (CCP), who reviewed each submission alongside a panel of over 40 expert judges and named the Everyman Theatre as the winner.
The Everyman’s community programme continues to grow, delivering impactful projects in partnership with local organisations. So far this year the theatre has collaborated with numerous community partners, including National Star College, Sue Ryder, Nelson’s Trust Women’s Centre, No Child Left Behind, Gloucestershire Young Carers, and a number of local schools.
One of the theatre’s newest initiatives, Golden Voices, is a monthly choir offering uplifting and supportive sessions for people living with dementia, as well as their carers or families. The Everyman Youth Theatre continues to thrive with 150 members, and a fully funded bursary ensures household income isn’t a barrier to young people accessing performing arts.
Another innovative project led by the theatre’s community team is ‘Drama for English,’ a series of workshops with Cheltenham Welcomes Refugees (CWR) and Gloucestershire Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (GARAS), which supports those seeking sanctuary in the UK and helps them to settle into the local community and develop confidence and communication skills through creative expression.
Much of this important work is made possible thanks to the support of Arts Council England, Cheltenham Borough Council, and the theatre’s corporate partners and supporters.
“To win the C2S Community Award for a second year is a truly proud moment for the theatre,” said Jessica Price, Head of Education and Community at the Everyman Theatre. “The award is a wonderful recognition of the hard work and dedication shown by our Education and Community team, as well as the freelance creative practitioners who bring so much talent, passion, and care to the work we do.”
Mark Goucher, Chief Executive of the Everyman Theatre, added, “This award is a celebration of everyone involved in our mission to make theatre a welcoming and accessible space for everyone. And there’s more to come, with an exciting new development set to broaden our outreach and expand our community work even further.”
 | For more information, or to find out how you can support the Everyman’s community projects, please visit https://www.everymantheatre.org.uk/get-involved/community-engagement/ |
