Summer School: Are You Listening?

A brand‑new show. Made by young people, performed by you.

We’re looking for young people aged 11–16 to jump into an exciting week of theatre‑making and perform in an original new show called "Are You Listening?" at the Octagon.

Over five days, you’ll come together as an ensemble, build characters, explore movement and performance skills, and learn what it really takes to put a show on stage. You’ll have a say in how the show takes shape, working creatively as a company and discovering how all the pieces of theatre fit together.

Most importantly, it’s about having fun, making new friends and trying something new.

At the end of the week, you’ll take to the stage and premiere the show at the Octagon on 1 August, sharing your work with a live audience of friends and family. Participants will finish by 2pm on the Saturday.

We're giving young people an opportunity to help create this work during our Youth R&D (Research & Development) taking place in May half term. Please see the details below:

SUPPORTED PLACES

As a charity, we strive to keep our fees at an affordable cost so as many people as possible can take part. We also offer installment payment options to help participants spread the cost of fees.

We are sometimes able to offer financial assistance to participants experiencing financial hardship thanks to the generosity of our funders. We also acknowledge that there are communities currently underrepresented within the our participation groups and actively encourage applicants from Black, Asian and Global majority backgrounds.

There are a limited number of Supported Places available. To join the waiting list, please email participation@octagonbolton.co.uk