Our next moment comes from the New Charter group’s Somerset House in Tameside, who have partnered up with Oldham Coliseum to allow some of their tenants and up-and-coming actors opportunities within the theatre. They tell us about their moment here…
“A new group of up and coming actors from New Charter Group’s Somerset House have just presented their own inspired production at Oldham Coliseum Theatre.

Somerset House is an eleven bedroomed supported housing scheme in Tameside for people of all ages with varying degrees of learning difficulties, which benefits from 24 hour support provided in partnership with Alternative Futures Group and TMBC.

In partnership with Aksa and New Charter Homes, the Coliseum is working with tenants at Somerset House to deliver a series of theatre workshops through in-house sessions, complemented by trips to the theatre.

The three tenants involved: Michael Mark, Austin Milne and Josh Haughton, have been working alongside the Coliseum’s Head of Learning and Engagement, Carly Henderson.

The show was presented in the education suite at the Coliseum and was watched by staff and actors performing in the Coliseum’s critically acclaimed production of Jumpers for Goalposts, which is on at the theatre until the 22nd October. The tenants then had the opportunity to watch the matinee performance of Jumpers for Goalposts that afternoon.

The focus of this work is to bring the tenants together and promote self-confidence and independence whilst addressing isolation.”

New Charter Group’s Deputy Chief Executive, Tony Powell said:

“Our partnership with the Coliseum is about providing opportunities for community groups to engage in areas that have not been open to them before. This activity at Somerset House has been very successful and helps to develop and strengthen relationships in the communities”

Carly Henderson, Head of Learning and Engagement at Oldham Coliseum said:

“It has been an absolute pleasure working with JJ, Mickey G and Big A as they are known in their production. It was left to them to decide what they wanted to focus on and it was a ‘school’ theme that they came up with, the emphasis being on school dinners”

A big thank you to the New Charter Group for sending us their moment!