The Chainers Youth Theatres
We have 2 inclusive youth theatres, The Chainers and the Junior Chainers, that develops young people’s skills and confidence through performance! We provide a safe and nurturing environment for young people of all abilities, with a “no fees, no audition” policy.
The Junior Chainers is a new group for young people from the ages of 10+, having fun and learning new skills through performance! They are currently working on a project about local heroine Margaret Catchpole as part of our Our Town project funded by Suffolk County Council
The Chainers is a young company for ages 15+, providing high quality training and experiences creating new and exciting theatre projects. They are about to perform their new original play Tuppence A Week about Henry Tooley’s Almshouses on Foundation Street. This project has been funded by Historic England.
Being part of the Chainers youth theatres also gives young people the opportunity to volunteer on our professional productions at The Avenue Theatre and Theatre in the Forest. We also offer young people work placements, developing their skills in different elements of productions, from making costumes to operating the box office!
The Junior Chainers and Chainers meet weekly on Wednesday evenings. If you are interested in joining and want to find out more, email rei@redrosechain.com
COMING UP!
PREVIOUS PRODUCTIONS
THE WADE EXPERIENCE
by the Chainers | 2024
“For the first time in history, Wade the Wayfarer invites members of the public to an exclusive peek into the day to day adventures of the world’s mightiest crew.”
When Anglo Saxon hero Wade and his crew of adventurers find themselves thrown into a Roman invasion, they soon discover that the situation is more complicated than they ever could have anticipated…
Following their hugely successful show Happy Families in 2023, The Wade Experience,written and performed by The Chainers youth theatre, combined their newfound passion for immersive theatre with the vibrant storytelling of their past productions to explore this unique and powerful mythological heritage story.
This production was supported by National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of our wider Wingelock project.
THE GREAT CREATOR
by the Junior Chainers | 2024
“It wasn’t enough. Weyland still wanted to learn more.”
THE GREAT CREATOR was a new play devised and performed by The Junior ChainersYouth Theatre, exploring the origins of the mythological Anglo Saxon blacksmith, Wayland the Smith.
Living in the shadow of his heroic father Wade, Wayland seeks to find his own purpose by becoming the world’s greatest blacksmith. The young boy discovers that the path to success isn’t easy, meanwhile trouble is brewing in the dwarven mines he trains in…
This debut piece by The Junior Chainers and funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund explored what it means to pave your own future, and how the people that surround you impact the person you become.
HAPPY FAMILIES
by the Chainers | 2023
“I don’t blame her for abandoning us, but I don’t know why she did.”
HAPPY FAMILIES was a historical play by The Chainers Youth Theatre, telling the life of Emma Hawes, a Victorian woman trying to get by in poverty stricken Ipswich.
Emma’s daughter, Mary, voices how unsure she is about attending her mother’s funeral. While listening too often contradictory and downright ridiculous tales delivered by her family and friends, she discovers that despite being surrounded by calamity, Emma might not have been as bad as she thought.
This exciting take on local heritage explored how people were, and still are, quick to judge those who have fallen on hard times. The play takes its historical storytelling to the extreme, with a cast of colourful characters and unique styles of storytelling.
