Let’s Create Showcase takes Centre Stage

On 31 July 2024, the Cornwall Playhouse played host to a triumphant community showcase. The event celebrated phase 1 of Hall for Cornwall’s (HfC) Community Culture Club, a scheme which was reignited in 2022 thanks to Levelling Up funding and a crowd-funded ticket bank.

The show included performances by Painted Horses, Trelya Dance, Drama Express, Shallal, VIVA and Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change, Cornwall Deaf Community Centre, Inner Ground Dance Company and Emily Alden, Vocal Presence, Propeller, Sing Choir and HfC’s own Playhouse Players.

The Community Culture Club enables under-represented groups to experience transformative cultural moments in Cornwall – from seeing a show to meeting artists and making their own work. The scheme has begun a quiet revolution, challenging barriers including isolation, poverty and rurality and links to the theatre. In the last 10 years, and through a pilot project backed by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, we identified and engaged groups across Cornwall to join the Community Culture Club, enjoying positive mental health benefits, building confidence and sparking creativity. More recently, thanks to funding from the Shared Prosperity Fund and a Crowd-Funded Ticket Bank, we've spent the last two years working closely with these communities, harnessing the power of arts and culture to break down barriers.

Since 2022, under-represented groups from across the Duchy have met artists and experienced live performances from the likes of Rambert Dance, Motionhouse, West End touring companies, and Cornwall Playhouse Productions’ annual Christmas Show!

The renewed scheme has brought some notable reflections - dance has proved popular, with stories told through movement and music providing widely accessible, regardless of background and language.

“As a charity, we’re here for everyone in Cornwall, and the Community Culture Club is part of our commitment to that pledge. It isn’t an initiative we tend to shout about – we just want to connect under-represented members of our community with the positive benefits of our stage programme. I’m delighted to see the impact, and the showcase event was an absolute triumph.”

- CEO and Creative Director Julien Boast

“This showcase was an absolute triumph and I’m so proud of every single performer and participant! At one point tonight, the number of performers on our stage reached its legal capacity...which is well over 100! The night is one that so many will never forget and is a fitting tribute to this really crucial scheme.” 

- Deputy Creative Director Helen Tiplady

Photos by Hugh Hastings.