Building cohesive communities through inclusive theatre

Chicken Shed is the UK's leading inclusive theatre company and welcomes over a thousand children and young people through the doors of its north London theatre complex on a weekly basis.

As well as being one of the largest theatre companies in the UK, Chicken Shed is supported by many well-known stars of the stage including NICVA's president Kenneth Branagh, Dame Judi Dench, Pauline Collins and Emma Bunton.

In addition to the work at its home theatre, Chicken Shed is delivering a national outreach programme extending opportunities for young people from special educational and mainstream backgrounds across London and beyond.

The aim of a Chicken Shed project - which takes 16 months - is to leave communities with a viable Children's and Youth Theatre group that members of the community then take forward at their own pace, as a new model of social enterprise.

Through the outreach programme the company is tackling social exclusion and supporting the regeneration of communities by building permanent community theatre companies.

Chicken Shed's work within the inclusive performing arts develops self confidence and self esteem in young people and in the long term raises aspirations and paves the way for communities to communicate with one another, including those who have been traditionally excluded from mainstream activity.

Projects are already thriving in eleven regional areas including Milton Keynes, Gravesham in Kent and greater Manchester and 2004 will see Chicken Shed establish other new outreach projects in three inner London Boroughs; Islington, Southwark and Lambeth.

For more information visit Chicken Shed's website at www.chickenshed.org.uk to read about its guiding principles, previous projects and 30th Anniversary celebrations. Or contact Suzi Clark-Britton on:

020 8351 6161 ext 210
suzic@chickenshed.org.uk