Latest News
A Chester theatre company is developing exciting plans to bring together different communities and generations in a new film project to mark the Queen’s forthcoming Platinum Jubilee.
However, rather than the film just commemorating this milestone in our nation’s calendar, Theatre in the Quarter want to use this opportunity to allow the different generations and communities in our borough to reconnect after a time when they seem so disconnected. The project will enable people to talk to each other, collect wisdom from the generation who may still remember the Queen’s coronation, and together create a vision for a brighter future through new stories and anthems.
Following the success of recent film projects such as Christmas Street which engaged people with additional needs, the LGBT community and people of all ages, as well the VE Film We’ll Meet Again which reached a worldwide audience, this project is being supported through grants from Cheshire West and Chester Council. It has been successful in being accepted on the new Spacehive Crowdfunding scheme along with other very worthy projects in Cheshire West. Artistic Director Matt Baker is now appealing to the many communities to make a contribution to the project, however small, through the crowdfund appeal, in the hope that the organisation can begin to reach into care homes, village halls and schools in January to start the creation of this ambitious film.
Artistic Director Matt Baker says, "As a result of covid, it seems such a long time since we have been able to celebrate as a wider community. On a recent singing tour of residential homes I realised that we were performing to some of the most isolated people in our community, and yet they have so many stories to tell. Many of this generation will remember the Queen’s coronation and will have so much to tell of the lives they have led through the seventy years since.” He adds, "The forthcoming Jubilee offers the perfect opportunity for our diverse communities and generations in Cheshire to celebrate togetherness. With a legacy of previous memorable projects, Theatre in the Quarter will encourage people who may not normally communicate with each other to question, answer, debate, talk, laugh, cry, remember, sing, dance and celebrate by making a new inspirational and powerful film together"
The crowdfunding appeal was launched this week and had already received over £500 of pledges in the first day. The team hope that the full budget of £26,000 will be reached by the first week in December. If the crowdfunding appeal is successful, Matt hopes to provide the opportunity for our younger people to begin to collect and make sense of the older generations' stories, and, working with a team of artists, musicians and film makers, create a new film to mark this historic milestone. Matt concludes, “By involving children from schools across the borough and a community chorus of actors and singers, this will be an exciting new film for the people of Cheshire today, full of memories, song, wisdom from the past and a shared vision for our future. I really hope people will be able to make this once in a lifetime project. The Jubilee film aims to create a children’s choir, a Grandparents choir, and an anthem which brings all the generations together.
The film will be directed by John Young who also directed Christmas Street and has been appointed as the artistic director for the next major production of the Chester Mystery Plays 2023. It will involve a movement director, composer and a film company.
If anyone wishes to make a donation, they can click on the following link
https://www.spacehive.com/jubilee-community-film
Exciting plans for a new film to connect the generations and communities of Chester and beyond.
Latest News
A Chester theatre company is developing exciting plans to bring together different communities and generations in a new film project to mark the Queen’s forthcoming Platinum Jubilee.
However, rather than the film just commemorating this milestone in our nation’s calendar, Theatre in the Quarter want to use this opportunity to allow the different generations and communities in our borough to reconnect after a time when they seem so disconnected. The project will enable people to talk to each other, collect wisdom from the generation who may still remember the Queen’s coronation, and together create a vision for a brighter future through new stories and anthems.
Following the success of recent film projects such as Christmas Street which engaged people with additional needs, the LGBT community and people of all ages, as well the VE Film We’ll Meet Again which reached a worldwide audience, this project is being supported through grants from Cheshire West and Chester Council. It has been successful in being accepted on the new Spacehive Crowdfunding scheme along with other very worthy projects in Cheshire West. Artistic Director Matt Baker is now appealing to the many communities to make a contribution to the project, however small, through the crowdfund appeal, in the hope that the organisation can begin to reach into care homes, village halls and schools in January to start the creation of this ambitious film.
Artistic Director Matt Baker says, "As a result of covid, it seems such a long time since we have been able to celebrate as a wider community. On a recent singing tour of residential homes I realised that we were performing to some of the most isolated people in our community, and yet they have so many stories to tell. Many of this generation will remember the Queen’s coronation and will have so much to tell of the lives they have led through the seventy years since.” He adds, "The forthcoming Jubilee offers the perfect opportunity for our diverse communities and generations in Cheshire to celebrate togetherness. With a legacy of previous memorable projects, Theatre in the Quarter will encourage people who may not normally communicate with each other to question, answer, debate, talk, laugh, cry, remember, sing, dance and celebrate by making a new inspirational and powerful film together"
The crowdfunding appeal was launched this week and had already received over £500 of pledges in the first day. The team hope that the full budget of £26,000 will be reached by the first week in December. If the crowdfunding appeal is successful, Matt hopes to provide the opportunity for our younger people to begin to collect and make sense of the older generations' stories, and, working with a team of artists, musicians and film makers, create a new film to mark this historic milestone. Matt concludes, “By involving children from schools across the borough and a community chorus of actors and singers, this will be an exciting new film for the people of Cheshire today, full of memories, song, wisdom from the past and a shared vision for our future. I really hope people will be able to make this once in a lifetime project. The Jubilee film aims to create a children’s choir, a Grandparents choir, and an anthem which brings all the generations together.
The film will be directed by John Young who also directed Christmas Street and has been appointed as the artistic director for the next major production of the Chester Mystery Plays 2023. It will involve a movement director, composer and a film company.
If anyone wishes to make a donation, they can click on the following link
https://www.spacehive.com/jubilee-community-film
Exciting plans for a new film to connect the generations and communities of Chester and beyond.
Welcome to Theatre in the Quarter
transforming lives through theatre
Theatre in the Quarter is a leading creator of new and quality music theatre, producing work with professional artists and communities, and in doing so making a lasting contribution to all those involved.
Its original productions draw inspiration from the lives and experiences of the people with whom it works. It creates work in exciting places - from cathedrals to railway stations, palaces to village halls. The company’s work is supported primarily by Arts Council England and Cheshire West and Chester Council. Theatre in The Quarter also works with other arts organisations to make exciting projects happen.
Category: Community Performing Arts
Winner: Best Days of our Lives
With children working alongside professional artists, Best Days of Our Lives was performed at Chester Cathedral and told the story of “growing up and going to school in Blacon”. The project was collaboration between Homegrown Dance Theatre, Theatre in the Quarter and Dee Video, in association with Blacon schools and the Blacon Education Village (BEV).
Told through the eyes of a nine year old boy and his parents, ‘A story about George’ highlights the impact that leading theatre company Theatre in the Quarter has had on this little boy's life and his hopes and dreams for a better future.
Ten years of Theatre in the Quarter.
A decade of our work in less than a minute!
TRANSFORMING REAL LIVES
for the WHOLE community
across ALL age groups
the story so far…
• 18 young peoples plays
• 6 collaborations
• 75 artists and actors
• hundreds of adults
• thousands of children
• over 200 workshops
• 5-star national review
…want to help?
BRINGING TOGETHER
Youth and Experience
Inspiration and Performance
Theatre and Community
Young People and Community
A vibrant core to the company’s work is its theatre programmes for young people.
These include three year-round groups:
JIGSAW
creative music theatre group for 7-12 year olds
QUARTZ
vibrant and dynamic youth theatre for 13+ year olds
REWIND
an innovative theatre and movement group for the young people of Blacon
(co-delivered with Cheshire Dance)
FIND OUT MORE
Theatre in the Quarter also runs exciting SUMMER THEATRE SCHOOLS at St Mary’s Creative Space in Chester.
For adults who wish to sing, perform or play instruments there is the TiQ CHORUS, which is run alongside our various theatre productions.
Saint Mary’s Creative Space
Our go-to venue for workshops, rehearsals and performances, Saint Mary’s Creative Space is a fantastic building in the heart of Chester. See the St Mary’s What’s On page HERE for details of all of their up-coming events, including our own.
