A theatre company which took over the 113-year-old Burgess Park library and baths building has won Arts Council England funding for its community projects.
Theatre Delicatessen swung open the grade-II-listed Passmore Edwards Library’s doors in August, and with a £15,000 grant, have announced a programme of arts and theatre activities for young people.
From November until April 2017, Theatre Deli’s ‘Performers in the Park’ programme will open up opportunities for local people to develop their skills and talent in music, comedy and theatre through after-school and evening courses.
For young aspiring actors and actresses, Theatre Deli has said it will work with the group Scaffold State to create a Performers in the Park company for six to ten year olds, eleven to fifteen year olds, and sixteen to eighteen year olds. Meeting on Sunday afternoons, they will work alongside each other to develop everything from drama, to clowning, to singing, to mask work.
Budding comics have the opportunity to hone their craft with Hoopla, who will work with eleven to fifteen year olds and sixteen to eighteen year olds on Wednesdays from 5pm-7pm.
Roland Smith, co-artistic director of Theatre Deli, said: “This Arts Council support is fantastic news for the Old Library and our plans to develop a space for arts and theatre in Burgess Park.
“It creates the opportunity for people from across Camberwell, Elephant and Castle and the Aylesbury Estate to get involved in developing their skills and creating performances. Our aim is that this pilot programme will provide a foundation for building really exciting collaborations in the future.”