For the next three years the Academy, delivered by the Octagon Theatre, will engage with over 100 young people in Bolton. Each cohort of 35 young people will create, produce and tour a piece of theatre over a nine month project.

Now in its seventh year, the Academy works to raise the aspirations and confidence of young people in Bolton aged 14-21 through weekly workshops with industry professionals. Helping young people identify the skills they want to develop, the project offers opportunities for young people to gain industry experience in the theatres new writing, communications and production departments.

The Academy unites young people from a wide range of different experiences and backgrounds to create a piece of theatre together. Fostering their talent and enthusiasm, fantastic relationships are forged within the group who then take their piece out into the community.

The Academy will work in partnership with Bolton Youth Offending Team and will also recruit care leavers, care givers and other young people who would not ordinarily have access to theatre.

This year the Academy produced a piece of theatre that toured to 13 venues reaching over 1000 people in Bolton’s schools, Young People’s Centres and Housing Schemes.