The Torch Theatre, Milford Haven has an exciting autumn coming up with lots of ways to get involved and be creative. September sees the re-launch of all regular activities for adults and young people, as well as some new events for everyone to take part in.

The Torch is pleased to announce that its youth theatre participants will be involved in two national programmes. The seven to 11-year-olds will be working on two fantastic new plays commissioned as part of Positive Stories for Difficult Times in association with Wonder Fools, Traverse and Youth Theatre Arts Scotland. Whilst young people aged 15-18 will be taking part in the UK wide National Theatre Connections programme, which involves the performance of a brand-new play written specifically for their age group.

Torch Youth Theatre is for young people aged seven to 18 and meets each week during term time. They play games, create stories, and share work on the Torch stages. For many of the young people who attend it is their first time getting involved with theatre and their confidence grows throughout the weeks of activities in which their voices and opinions are valued.

The Torch is well known for its work with young people, but also offers fantastic activities for adults in our community too.

From late September, each Thursday evening will see the Torch Voices choir fill the rehearsal room with their wonderful melodies. This community choir is open to all levels of experience and is a place where people can have fun and make new friends alongside developing their singing skills. New members are always welcome, and no experience is necessary – you just need bundles of enthusiasm and a sense of fun. 

In addition, the Torch is offering a new short course in creative writing for performance. These fortnightly sessions will take place on a Thursday evening and will be led by the Torch’s professional in-house team, helping writers at all levels of experience discover what it is to write for the stage.

Alongside all of this, the ever-popular Clothes Swap will happen every two months, they’ll also have monthly Coffi Cymraeg sessions which provides opportunities for Welsh learners and speakers to come together to informally chat over a cup of tea and slice of cake.

The Torch Theatre is also proud to be relaunching its education provisions. At the heart of which is a sector leading collaborative process offering workshops relating to their upcoming production of Private Lives, and a brand-new engagement activity for their magical pantomime. Panto Pals sets up a pen pal relationship between classes from local schools and the actors in the production.

Finally, if you have any budding fashion designers in your house then they might like to try the Torch Theatre’s ‘Design a dress for Belle’ competition. The Creative Team would like to see what fantastic designs young people up to the age of 18 can come up with. One lucky winner will see their design transformed into Belle’s actual costume on stage for this year’s pantomime of Beauty and the Beast.

This wide-ranging number of opportunities is overseen by Tim Howe who is Torch Theatre’s Senior Manager - Youth and Community. Tim has only been in Milford Haven since January, and he has bought energy and enthusiasm not only to the Torch Theatre but also to the Pembrokeshire community.

“What a first six months it has been. I feel like I’ve hardly stopped! I’ve been all over the county, getting to know people, delivering workshops in schools, and understanding what our communities want from us here at the Torch – and there’s so many more people to meet. I have been made to feel so welcome by everyone I have met and have drunk too many coffees! But I am pleased to call Pembrokeshire my home, and I look forward to many more exciting projects and events,” said Tim who has a busy schedule running up to Christmas.   

The Torch Theatre team looks forward to meeting all of you very soon and getting creative.

For further information, contact: tim@torchtheatre.co.uk / 01646 694192.