Introduction

PLAY

WYP Touring

Storymakers

Creative Education Week

Sound Play

SPARK

Work Experience

First Floor

Whole New Worlds

Next year West Yorkshire Playhouse will open a brand new arts space in Leeds dedicated to young people. Facilities will include large visual and performing arts studios. Activities there will encourage young people to discover new talents and interests whilst providing practical support and opportunities for gaining qualifications and careers guidance.

First Floor will:

• be for all young people aged 12 to 25
• operate during the school day, evenings, weekends and holidays
• offer sessions during the day for young people not engaged in school
• offer ‘drop in’ and taster activities as well as accredited courses
• help young people who are at risk
• make a massive difference to young people’s lives

WHERE WILL IT BE?

The Playhouse already owns the premises for conversion, namely the first floor of St Peter’s Building, which is adjacent to the theatre and home to one or our rehearsal rooms, our Costume Hire department and The Wardrobe bar and nightclub. St Peter’s is a c1890 former textile factory, which was purchased by Leeds Theatre Trust in the 1980s. The first floor was for many years used for set storage but it has now been cleared to make way for the new First Floor centre.

Plans have been drawn up and David Bye of leading Leeds firm Brewster Bye Architects is seeing the building project through to its conclusion. The premises for First Floor measure 4,395 sq ft. Facilities will comprise: large and flexible visual and performing arts workshop spaces, large reception/meeting area, office space, a ‘hang out’ or green room and changing/WC facilities.

View floor plan (1Mb PDF document)

WHAT WILL IT OFFER?

A wide range of visual and performing arts activities will be offered at First Floor during the school day to statutory groups (eg through Education Leeds, Youth Offending Team and Positive Activities for Young People) and during evenings, weekends and holidays to all young people. Many activities will be accredited, enabling participants to gain awards and qualifications such as Arts Council England’s Arts Awards, Open College Network credits and BTEC. The centre will also be fully accessible to young people with severe mental and physical disabilities, providing creative opportunities in mainstream venue which they would otherwise be unable to access.

Activities will be delivered by a team of specially recruited, trained staff and in partnership with other arts organisations and agencies in Leeds. A Key Worker and other support staff will offer support to young people, helping them make the most of the opportunities on offer. Mentoring and career counselling will be part of the provision at First Floor, including help in accessing further participatory, placement, apprenticeship, training and employment opportunities.

PATRONS

The Playhouse is enormously grateful for the ongoing, energetic support of its Patrons:
Hilary Benn MP
Christopher Eccleston
Jack Shepherd

first floor needs your support

The Playhouse is currently immersed in a major fundraising campaign in order to raise the £578,000 needed to convert the premises and get it ready for the first groups of young people in Spring 2008. A substantial amount has already been raised towards this total with grants from Arts Council England, various Trusts and Foundations and private donations. There is now the chance for members of the public and businesses to contribute towards the project too. There are several different ways to contribute to First Floor:

Donations

You can make a donation to the First Floor money box in the Playhouse foyer, send us a cheque, or round up the cost of your tickets when booking with the Box Office or online. If every audience member gave just £1 when buying a ticket we would reach our target for the public giving campaign in just 8 months!


Don't forget that if you are a UK tax payer you can increase the value of your donation by 28% by completing a Gift Aid declaration. These are available from Box Office, Reception or can be completed online.

Download the donations form.

Donate online

Sponsorship

Businesses and individuals can sponsor a particular element of the refurbishment and the Playhouse would be delighted to negotiate a tailor made sponsorship package with corporate sponsors. This could include PR opportunities and ways of getting staff involved as well as tickets and hospitality at the Playhouse. Naming rights are available.

In-kind support

If you or the company you work for can offer an in-kind donation to the development of the First Floor centre - be it the supply of timber for flooring, furniture or paint - we would be delighted to hear from you.

If you would like to discuss your ideas for supporting First Floor please contact Sam Perkins, Director of Arts Development on 0113 213 7289 or sam.perkins@wyp.org.uk