Arts & Culture

Tottenham Hotspur partners with ATG to bring theatre to local young people

Featured image credit: Kyle Head on Unsplash

Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur has partnered with Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) to enhance young people’s engagement with theatre in the London Borough of Haringey. 

West End in Tottenham will encompass a series of workshops for young people aged 11-18 to celebrate London’s arts and culture offerings. Workshops will focus on topics such as physicality and movement as well as beatboxing and hip-hop, and participants are also invited to attend a West End stage show.

Classes will take place at the London Academy of Excellence on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium campus throughout the current school term.

West End in Tottenham will offer performer workshops for young people aged 13-18, with the sessions designed to ignite participants’ passion for theatre, while also building up confidence and stage presence. These sessions will be led by a West End practitioner.

Beatbox and hip-hop theatre workshops for groups aged 11-15 and 16-18 will also take place, and will be led by theatre-maker, writer, director, rapper, beatboxer and singer Vaneeka Dadhria.

For ages 14-18, there will be interval workshops, which are targeted at those who traditionally engage in sports but may face barriers in gaining regular access to physical activity. These workshops will utilise ensemble and cardio-based exercises, while also focusing on theatre techniques such as voice and breath work.

Donna-Maria Cullen, executive director, Tottenham Hotspur, said: “We know that the wealth of talent that exists amongst young people on our doorstep extends far beyond sport – this is why partnering with ATG to bring the West End to Tottenham has the potential to be transformational.

“Some of the world’s biggest theatre productions take place just half an hour away from N17, yet dreams of one day being on the stage can seem so distant for young people in our neighbourhood.

“West End In Tottenham can change that and open the eyes of Tottenham teenagers to the world of performing arts through a series of engaging and inspiring workshops, held right here on our stadium campus.”

Connor Hunt, creative learning producer (West End), ATG, added: “Creative Learning at the Ambassador Theatre Group are thrilled to be working with Tottenham Hotspur on the West End in Tottenham programme.

“The programme offers a series of workshops, ranging from beatboxing to hip-hop theatre; supporting young people across Haringey to discover, create, and take part in live performances. We are committed to nurturing the next generation of artists and creators to see theatre as a space for them – bringing our West End expertise to the local community of Tottenham.”