Stepping Into the Spotlight: Our Creative Leaders Visit Hope Mill Theatre

For all of our group, this was their very first time stepping inside Hope Mill Theatre. Outreach Manager, Naomi Dent, gave everyone a warm welcome before MADE kicked things off with some icebreakers. A ball-passing name game got everyone practising their underarm throws, followed by a lively round of 'Four Corners'. (Each corner was an answer to a question, with the aim of the game to go to the corner with the answer you most identified with. ) The group bonded quickly over questions like which animal best matched their energy, what superpower they’d choose, and - most importantly - which unusual objects they’d swap their hands for!

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Once everyone was warmed up, Naomi took the group on a tour of the theatre, including a front-row view inside the auditorium where Little Shop of Horrors was currently playing.

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She talked the group through the behind-the-scenes magic, breaking down the difference between touring shows and in-house productions, and highlighted the wide variety of careers that bring a theatre to life. After a Q&A, our Creative Leaders headed to the Learning Studio, where Naomi shared her own inspiring career journey in the arts.

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After refuelling with some snacks, the afternoon was all about exploring Creativity in Leadership through interactive Forum Theatre techniques.

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To get things started, there was a team-building challenge: navigating across the room without touching the floor, and building a stack of cups without touching them, using only scarves and circular mats, alongside the cups! The exercises sparked great discussions about teamwork, problem-solving, and the natural roles we step into when working together.

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Next up, working in small teams, the group used freeze-frame exercises to embody concepts like creativity, innovation, and leadership. One group created a pose where two members lifted a third into the air, explaining: "We lift each other up - the people carrying the others are the leaders because a good leader always supports their team."

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Following a well-deserved pizza break, the ultimate test began: a simulated emergency scenario! The teams were put in charge of Hope Mill Theatre for the day and given a list of major crises to handle all at once. These included: a lead actor being sick, the stage lights blowing out, and the pizza oven stopping working!

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Unfazed, the young people put their heads together to build recovery plans and pitched their creative solutions back to the rest of the group. It was a fantastic day that put creativity right at the heart of leadership, giving our young Creative Leaders an unforgettable look into the world of theatre.

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A huge thank you to Naomi and the whole team at Hope Mill Theatre for hosting us for this wonderful second session of our programme!