Shine is Nottingham Playhouse’s flagship participation programme, working with community partners across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire to provide free theatre sessions for young people aged 4-25.

Our expert theatre practitioners deliver engaging drama workshops for participants, invite them to watch Nottingham Playhouse productions, and offer them opportunities to perform both in their community and on the Nottingham Playhouse main stage – all absolutely free for those taking part.

Our core aims for Shine are:

  • To develop confidence and promote wellbeing in participants.
  • To broaden cultural experiences, including theatre visits.
  • To build skills, particularly creative skills and transferrable life skills.
  • To offer advice to those keen to explore a career in the arts, and offer opportunities to link to our talent development programmes.

Where are Shine groups based?

Our Shine groups are a specifically targeted provision – we believe all young people should have access to cultural opportunities, and so our groups are located in areas where there are greater barriers to accessing culture and engaging with the arts.

We have groups in school settings and community locations. Groups in the community are open to any young person within the age-range that lives in, or has a strong connection to, that community.

Our current Shine community groups are suitable for any young person aged 7-16:

  • SHINE Aspley (based at Minver Crescent Sports Centre)
  • SHINE Beechdale and Bilborough (based at Beechdale Community Centre)
  • SHINE Carrington (based at Indian Community Centre Association)
  • SHINE The Meadows (based at Queens Walk Community Centre)
  • SHINE St Ann’s (based at Brendon Lawrence Sports Centre)

These groups welcome new participants all year round. Drop us an email with your postcode and child’s age to shine@nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk to find out more.

Our current Shine school groups are:

SHINE Chilwell, SHINE Mansfield, SHINE NEST, SHINE QMC, SHINE Radford, SHINE Rise Park and Top Valley, SHINE Pathways, and SHINE Sneinton.

Shine groups in schools are currently only open to students that attend that school.

Find out more about our individual groups below: