Charity: Chickenshed (UK)

Chickenshed is a company that makes beautiful and inspirational theatre, where imagination translates into empowerment. By bringing together people of all ages and from all backgrounds we produce outstanding theatre that entertains, inspires, challenges and educates both audiences and participants alike. By using the power of performing arts Chickenshed helps people reach their full potential and feel accepted. We create a truly inclusive environment where people don’t stigmatise, label or disregard, but accept and welcome difference. Chickenshed’s vision is a society that celebrates diversity and enables every individual to flourish. Chickenshed started in 1974 in an disused chicken barn. Forty-four years later our inclusive creative process is renowned nationally and internationally. Our purpose-built venue plays host to a huge range of productions and activities across the whole year, offering a welcoming, creative hub to the community. We create in-house productions that take place on our main stage, the Rayne Theatre. We also present regular interactive shows for very young children, new and smaller scale work for adults and families in our intimate Studio Theatre and have a busy programme of live music and comedy events in the Bar. But that’s not all - we run weekly sessions for our Children’s and Youth Theatre members, Saturday and holiday activity workshops for 5-12s, with performance and singing workshops for adults too. We also offer a unique opportunity to learn and perform in a working theatre. We run three nationally accredited education courses at Foundation Degree, BTEC and BA level - and are rated 'Outstanding' by OFSTED.