National Theatre partnership

Thames Reach and the National Theatre will run a series of workshops and rehearsals for service users at the Employment Academy

National Theatre partnership

Thames Reach has entered into partnership with the National Theatre to run a series of workshops and rehearsals for service users at the Employment Academy in Camberwell.

Public Acts sees Thames Reach join another six London based community organisations, to empower service users through the act of creating theatre together.

The project culminates in the performance of a brand new musical production of Shakespeare’s Pericles on the National Theatre’s Olivier Stage at London’s South Bank next August Bank Holiday.

Service users involved with the first workshops have expressed how much they are enjoying it, and how it is helping them to grow in confidence. One service user said: “I am not normally comfortable with groups; I don’t find it easy speaking, but here I feel like part of a team, and I feel comfortable being in the group and expressing myself.”

Rufus Norris, Director of the National Theatre, said: “I’ve been passionate about making theatre with communities since long before I became Director of the National Theatre in 2015, and one of the first decisions I took was that this work should become part of our DNA.

“We’re really excited about working with all our community partners over the next two years coming together as a community of people and of organisations who might otherwise not have met, sharing experiences and learning together through the act of creating theatre.”

The project is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies and The Sackler Trust, founding supporters of Public Acts. The first three years of Public Acts is also supported by Arts Council England’s Strategic Touring Fund.

Read about Thames Reach employment and skills services