Blackpool Grand Theatre takes the spotlight as it delights in being Nominated throughout the UK for the ‘Community Project of the Year Award at the prestigious Stage Awards 2023!

A team from The Grand were thrilled to attend a stunning ceremony at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London today (January 30, 2023) for the annual The Stage Awards in association with Tysers Insurance Brokers and were delighted to be nominated for this year’s 2023 ‘Community Project of The Year Award’ title for the theatre’s innovative Story-led Resilience Programme.

Adam Knight, Grand Theatre CEO, said:

I am delighted that all the theatre’s hard work and determination in continuing to forge important community links and working so closely with our local and regional schools, has been underlined with such special recognition. Being nominated for a Stage Award at the beginning of 2023 will, I am sure, be a highlight of our year ahead!

Celine Wyatt, The Grand Theatre’s Head of Creative Learning, said: “We are absolutely delighted that our Story-led Resilience Programme has been recognised nationally and by such a prominent theatrical publication. The Programme has been developed over the past six years and I want to thank my team, Blackpool’s young people and partners who have supported me and Blackpool Grand Theatre on this transformative journey.”

In addition, the Grand Theatre along with all UK theatre’s Front of House team members were presented with the accolade of ‘Unsung Hero’, sponsored by Kindred Partners

Think of Blackpool and you think of the Illuminations, candyfloss and holidaymakers enjoying themselves. But behind the bright lights is another story of a place where young people can face considerable challenges as they grow up in a town where there are high levels of deprivation and more children entering the social care system than in any other part of the country.

Blackpool Grand Theatre has been addressing these issues with the award-winning Story-led Resilience Programme which harnesses the power of stories and storytelling. The project also emphasises the importance of telling your own story to build the capacity to cope with life’s challenges and helps show young people how to better express themselves and their feelings.

The Grand draws on the stories the Programme creates and uses them as a way into drama-based activities and theatre and dance residencies and leads to participants presenting their stories on the Grand stage, within the community and on digital platforms. But the transformation runs deeper than that, creating increased confidence, greater resilience, and better skills.

The theatre has worked with a wide range of artists and theatre companies to deliver these activities, and more than 700 young people have benefited from an initiative that has been rigorously evaluated and proves that this project is no ‘sticking plaster’ but embeds real change.

For further information on the Blackpool Grand Theatres’ vital education and community work please visit www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk