As well as a board of trustees (a group made up of professionals with specific skills that guide the decisions of the theatre), the Coliseum also has a youth steering group which is made up of 15 under 26 year olds. The group is a key resource that influences the way in which the Coliseum attracts young people to the organisation.
The steering group was formed just over two years ago when the Coliseum received funding from the Big Lottery for a three year project to support the ideas and creative direction of young people in Oldham. The funding focused on ensuring young people influence the development opportunities available to them at the theatre. Our drama group TheatreLAB and digital theatre group DigiLAB were also a result of this funding as well as the steering group as well as Pathways, our career service for people looking for a job in the arts.
The group meet twice a month to talk through all aspects of the Coliseum, examining every element including production, education and outreach, front of house and marketing. It offers young people a platform from which they can voice their views about how the theatre works. Their ideas feed into the way we operate with the overall view of attracting more young people to the Coliseum.
All of the members of the steering group are involved in the Coliseum in some way or another – members of DigiLAB and TheatreLAB etc. As part of the group they attend the opening night of each production and talk to the audience about the steering group and how they’re involved in the theatre. Two elected youth reps also attend the organisation’s board meetings where they can offer advice on the strategic development of the company and also feedback their ideas directly to the board.
Different departments in the theatre also regularly consult with the group for their views on certain aspects of their own work. Last week the marketing team went in to speak to the group to get their opinion on the season brochure – whether it appealed to young people, what they thought of the front cover, what do they think of the content etc. This is really useful information that will inform the marketing team when they start putting the next season brochure together.
The steering group is a really valuable part of the Coliseum and as the funding from the Big Lottery comes to an end this year, we’re looking into ways to make sure the group is part of the Coliseum’s future.
See you out and about
Kevin Shaw
Artistic Director
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