We are currently undertaking a review of the Theatre's Learning and Participation offer for schools, community groups, individual young people and adults – we're really excited about the changes that are underway and the new projects that will be running from Autumn 2013 onwards. Please bear with us as we finalise our plans, and keep an eye on your inbox for details of our new programme. If you are not already on our mailing list please sign up here to receive information as soon as it is available.

The Royal Exchange Community programme is designed to give participants real ownership of this extraordinary building. A major priority for the work is to reach people who may not otherwise feel that theatre is for them, and to bring together diverse groups and individuals - a true reflection of the environment in which the Royal Exchange exists. Please see below for details about projects and opportunities currently available.

Since 2004, this programme has enabled us to work with 143 community groups, bringing 5,120 first-time theatregoers into the building, and working with 1,051 participants on longer term projects. Recent partners have included Valuing Older People, City South Manchester Housing Trust, Stepping Stone (a provider of housing, support and services for people who are homeless or at risk of losing their home in Rochdale, Trafford and Wigan) and Salford Youth Offending Team in partnership with TiPP.

COMMUNITY LINKS
Free theatre tickets, tours and introductory/taster workshops for organisations who have not previously worked with the Royal Exchange Theatre. The Community Links programme has been running for 3 years, and currently involves over 140 partner organisations from across Greater Manchester. Find out more here or pop along to one of our monthly Community Drop-In events, please click here for details. Please Note: Due to capacity, resources and our participation review this programme of work is not open to applications from new groups or organisations. 

COMMUNITY PROJECTS
Targeted at organisations who have taken part in ‘Community Links’ and who wish to further develop their relationship with the Theatre. They provide an opportunity to create an original, theatre-based piece of participative work, often for presentation in our Studio Theatre. Partner organisations for the forthcoming season include the Booth Centre (a homeless activity centre) and New Charter Housing in Tameside.

TRUTH ABOUT YOUTH

The Royal Exchange Theatre is one of seven organizations across Britain working in partnership with the Co-operative Foundation to deliver their major initiative, Truth about Youth, which challenges and changes negative perceptions about young people by supporting projects which enable them to work with adults, the media and the wider community. Throughout the year there are opportunities for both young people (aged 14 - 21) and adults, to sign up for a range of projects and one-off events which take place over school/college holidays, at weekends and on some evenings. Find out more here. If you are an organisation or group that works with young people who may need support to access the Truth About Youth programme please click here to find out about our Youth Links scheme. 

DROP-IN EVENTS & IN THE LOUNGE
The theatre holds regular Drop-In sessions for Community organisations as well as hosting Community Events each season. Please click here for details about upcoming Drop-In events and information about our regular In The Lounge sessions, a series of drop-in sessions with directors, designers, writers, actors, and members of the creative team from current productions.

SHOW-RELATED PROJECTS AND WORKSHOPS

A programme of pre-show talk and demonstration-based workshops for schools, community groups and individuals to accompany Royal Exchange productions in both the Theatre and The Studio. Please see Events for upcoming sessions.

RESOURCE ARCHIVE
Production and theatre-linked resources including films, behind the scenes diaries and interviews. Find out more here.

If you are interested in finding out more about the Community programme please contact Ben Turner on 0161 615 6792 or email ben.turner@royalexchange.co.uk.