Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk stages inclusive Bloom Festival offering free workshops and masterclasses, working with industry experts and theatre practitioners

A new theatre festival featuring an array of free workshops and masterclasses for adults and young people is coming to the Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds.

The Bloom Festival will run from March 25 to April 6 and is part of the theatre’s ongoing mission to make theatre accessible to everyone. It’s an opportunity for members of the community to participate in a variety of workshops free of charge, led by industry experts and skilled theatre practitioners.

Designed to ignite creativity, foster artistic growth, and encourage personal development, activities cover a range of disciplines such as playwriting, improvisation, directing, stagecraft, and much more. Attendees will have the chance to learn from seasoned professionals, exchange ideas with fellow theatre enthusiasts, and unleash their hidden talents.

Whether you’re an aspiring actor seeking guidance, a curious novice hoping to dabble in the arts, or even a seasoned theatre veteran looking to expand your repertoire or pick up new tips and tricks, Bloom Festival has something for everyone.

The festival’s inclusive ethos ensures that no one is excluded based on experience or monetary constraints.

In addition to the workshops, it will feature performances from the theatre’s Youth Theatre groups in an exclusive double bill of Kaspar The Wild and Second Person Narrative – two plays in one performance.

Kaspar the Wild, perfromed by eight to 11-year-olds, is the story of a mystery wild boy, found wandering wearing scruffy clothes and trainers, who joins Year 6 classmates in a sleepy village school. The 12-16 group will perform Second Person Narrative – You’re born a girl. You grow up. You grow old. You die. But along the way can you really forge your own identity? Can you choose your own destiny? And who is genuinely in control of your story?

Tickets to this inspiring double bill start from just £5 as part of the theatre’s Pay What You Can scheme.

HERE’S WHAT’S ON OFFER:

Arts and Crafts (3+), March 25

An Introduction To Directing with Owen Calvert-Lyons (18+), March 25

An Introduction to Playwriting (18+), March 25

Story Time With Hatty Ashton (ages 2-6), March 26

Act Your Age: Open Session (55+), March 26

How To Develop A Character (18+), March 28

SENsory Creative Play (ages 6-12), April 2

SENsory Creative Play (ages 13-18), April 2

Spoken Word Masterclass with Alice d’Lumiere (18+), April 2

Kaspar The Wild and Second Person Narrative Double Bill, April 2-6

Children’s Theatre Tour, April 3

An Introduction to Playwriting For Young People (12+), April 3

Choir Masterclass with Tom Appleton (8+), April 4

Improvisation Masterclass with Michael Lambourne (12+), April 4

An Introduction to Directing For Young People (12+), April 5

Youth Voice: Have Your Say (ages 10-18), April 6

Dance Masterclass With Rosy May (8+), April 6

For more information and to book, see www.theatreroyal.org