Blackpool Grand Theatre’s groundbreaking Story-Led Resilience programme has won a trio of top industry awards for its revolutionary theatre arts-based community project initiative.
The Programme has scooped the Hearts and Minds award at the Northern Cultural Education Awards and follows the Grand taking the UK Theatre award for Excellence in Arts Education at the national Children and Young People Now awards.
The Resilience programme was developed using stories, presented on stage, to identify and explore resilience in young people, and has been described at the awards ceremonies as “a remarkable and unique initiative, using arts education to strengthen resilience and build confidence”.
Grand Theatre chief executive, Adam Knight, said : “All three awards have recognised the Grand’s continuing success in delivering opportunities for children, families, and young people.
“I’m incredibly proud of my talented colleagues; this award is reflective of all the contributions from the entire team for their support and collaboration, in making this programme the nationally-recognised success it is.”
The programme makes use of drama and arts as a gateway, through which young people can learn about resilience through the lens of on-stage characters’ challenges. Children and young people work out how best the characters can cope with life’s ups and downs – and participants also get to experience a professional performance of a production as a part of the learning experience.
The Grand is now working with producers PWL to offer workshops and accessible performances for the critically-acclaimed production of inspiring tale Wonder Boy, at the theatre (October 8-11), and will continue to support theatres across the UK on the forthcoming stage adaptation of Pig Heart Boy, which can be seen in May 2025 as part of an extensive national tour.
Head of creative development and learning, Celine Wyatt, said: “We are honoured to have won these awards and would like to acknowledge all the children and young people who have taken part, alongside my hardworking team, teachers and the artists."
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