Community Arts Project at Bolton Gate Arts

New for 2024. Imprints: Tales from the New Wild is a brand new community-led arts project in collaboration with Artshill Performer Group and local puppet maker Redthing Creations. From May - August we will be conducting a series of workshops teaching new skills and telling the untold stories of the wild Moorland countryside. There will be multiple opportunities to get involved and at the end of it all we will be creating the very first site-specific theatre piece right here at Bolton Gate!

Project Themes

The Moorlands is teeming with fascinating geological landscapes, mythology, folklore, and untapped narratives of nature & the wild. But how does this impact us, the people that live there? Our relationship with such a beautiful natural landscape and what is the story waiting to be told?

Free Creative Workshops

Learn new skills & tell us your stories. Free creative workshops at Bolton Gate Arts and in targeted community locations across the Moorlands, bringing opportunities to your doorstep!Performance, creative writing, music, storytelling, puppet making, puppetry, prop making, nature walks, outdoor theatre, environmental workshops & more...Our workshops are for EVERYONE, so get involved!

Join our brand new volunteer performer group

Love being creative? Love outdoor theatre? If you love our workshops and want to do more, we will be recruiting a volunteer theatre group here in the Moorlands! Whether you love performing or you’re more of a behind the scenes type, get involved and help in the creation of our community-led theatre show...

Be Part of Bolton Gate Arts first ever, community-led theatre show

Communities in the Staffordshire Moorlands will have the opportunity to take part in our first community-led production here at Bolton Gate Arts. Opportunities available in acting, performing, music creation, stage design, puppetry, costume making & more. A chance to learn and develop skills alongside creative professionals, whilst celebrating the talent and innovation of the Moorlands.

Upcoming workshops...

We'll be conducting a number of workshops at Bolton Gate Arts and in selected community locations across the Moorlands. Workshops will explore different elements of the theatre making process, gathering stories and igniting imaginations for all the family. So look out for a workshop coming near you!

Storytelling and Prop-making Workshops

Saturday 22nd June

St Margaret's Church, Draycott-in-the-moors

Drop-in workshops 10am - 2pm

Join us for a range of family activities at the historical site of St Margaret's Church in Draycott-in-the-Moors where we'll be exploring history, folklore and the power of storytelling...

Story Stones:

Let your artistic side shine as you paint and decorate your own story stones. Fairies, castles, unicorns or whatever you decide a story needs, these stones can be used to tell stories old and new. No prior painting experience needed—just bring your creativity!This activity is open to all ages and skill levels. Your work can be taken home with you to treasure or added to our collection to be woven into new stories.

Wild head piece making:

Drop in workshop inventing your own creature and create a wild head piece to help bring your character to life! We’ll be thinking about wild, mythological and magical creatures that we might encounter in the Staffordshire Moorlands, that might feature in our community theatre show Imprints: Tales from the New Wild taking place at Bolton Gate Farm in August 2024

Guided History Walk with Levison Wood Sr.

Guided history walk with Levison Wood Sr. around St Margaret’s Church. Discover the fascinating local history of Draycott in the Moors, and the legends it inspires...

Limited to 20 spaces available, please sign up upon arrival.

Recommended for all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Bolton Gate Arts Community Theatre Group Session

Thursday 27th June

Bolton Gate Arts

Ever fancied being a part of an outdoor theatre show?

We are forming a BRAND NEW community theatre group made up of locals with a desire to get creative. Whether you're a performer or fancy trying a behind the scenes role, it'll be all hands on deck in the creation of our community theatre show. The group will work alongside the Artshill Performer Group and our professional cast and crew, with opportunities to shadow and learn skills in performance, music, puppetry, prop-making, costume design, stage management and more.

In our first session we'll be exploring working as an ensemble and discussing themes and ideas for the final show. We appreciate people have other commitments, so our relaxed group will mean you can be as involved as you'd like to be. Join us on the 27th to find out more!

Suitable for 16+

Making/Design Session

Tuesday 2nd July

Caverswall Creative hub, The Auctioneers Arms