The Marlowe Youth Company offers creative acting classes for children in Canterbury

Children with a love of theatre and a desire to act are being encouraged to join the new term at a theatre's youth company.

The Marlowe Youth Company in Canterbury welcomes children as young as five.

Linked to the city's Marlowe Theatre, the creative classes help budding performers take their first steps into acting, theatre and performing arts.

Alongside developing confidence, teaching them new key theatrical skills, learning to work as an ensemble and making new friends along the way, the sessions have a focus on fun - through drama games, scene making, physical theatre and storytelling.

The regular workshops are based at The Marlowe Kit in Stour Street.

Mentoring and guidance from professional actors and theatre-makers is also provided, as well as structured progression through the companies as children get older.

There are also regular opportunities to perform on The Marlowe’s stages in larger scale performances, working alongside people of all ages and showcasing new found skills to family and friends.

Theatre practitioner Stacy Golding leads The Marlowe Youth Company for 13 to 15-year-olds.

She explained: “We work in a way that reflects the professional rehearsal room, so participants can expect to be treated as a professional actor would. It’s fast-paced, but fun. I think that makes it a much more rewarding experience, particularly as many of our participants are considering careers in theatre.

"Of course; we welcome everyone to the session; not just those who would like to be professionals.”

Class members have had opportunities to perform on the main stage, in The Studio space, in front of Canterbury Cathedral and at Dover Marine Station in a huge project to mark the centenary of the Armistice.
The Marlowe’s associate director (Learning and Participation), Paul Ainsworth, said: “Our Creative Companies have an exciting year of activity coming up.

"We can’t wait to welcome back our existing company members and welcome new participants of all ages.”

To learn more about The Marlowe Youth Company, its classes and signing up visit marlowetheatre.com/create or call 01227 787787.

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