What’s happening at Elevator Arts
Sound ON: Reflecting on a Creative Year and Looking Ahead
Sound ON is back! After a joyful year of storytelling, crafts and puppet-making, our partnership project with South Essex Homes returns this September. This term the children will be stepping through PORTALS into brand-new worlds of their own creation. Discover how Sound ON empowers children living in temporary accommodation through creativity, imagination and play.
BLAST Youth Theatre Wraps Up 2024/25 with Found
This summer, BLAST Youth Theatre closed the 2024/25 year with Found — a magical play about Archibald, a lost puppet discovering where he belongs. Performed by young people aged 8–12, it celebrated belonging, identity, and community.
Excav8: Digging into History, Technology and Imagination
This summer, our Excav8 project came to a close with a vibrant exhibition showcasing the creativity, curiosity and hard work of a group of local young artists.
Meet the Creative Team Behind Found
We’re so excited to introduce the brilliant creative team behind Found, our brand-new production with BLAST Youth Theatre.
BLAST Youth Theatre Presents Found – Summer Update
Our young company at BLAST Youth Theatre are well into rehearsals for Found – and the energy is electric!
Excav8: Unearthing Time, Art, and Innovation with Southend’s Young Creatives
Our excav8 project is in full swing, with young people exploring time, art, and technology through inspiring sessions at Southend Museums. From ancient artefacts to modern exhibitions, they've uncovered stories and created responses using micro:bits, infrared cameras, and 3D scanning.
Celebrating ZineLab: Creativity, Confidence & Community
We recently wrapped up an inspiring 10-week journey with ZineLab — a creative project developed in partnership with Southend Libraries and Southend City Council Young Carers. A powerful new exhibition showcasing the creativity of young carers in Southend is now open to the public.
ZineLab: Creative Tech Project Launches
We’re excited to introduce Zine Lab, a brand-new creative project in partnership with Southend Libraries, designed especially for Southend Young Carers. Led by artist Connor Turansky, this innovative 10-week project invites young people to explore the world of pop-up zines with a digital twist!
Ripple Effect: Creativity Springs Into Action
We’re feeling incredibly inspired by the creativity and passion that has emerged during the development of Ripple Effect. This term, both groups of Blast Youth Theatre have explored powerful themes of migration, acceptance, and unity, using their unique voices to share their stories.
Sound ON: Empowering Young Lives Through Creativity
We’re thrilled to kick off the new year by returning to South Essex Homes’ Chaucer House with Sound ON, a project dedicated to supporting children and young people living in temporary accommodation. Through creativity and connection, Sound ON provides a vital outlet during challenging times.
Creative Exchange: Tackling The Big Questions
This November, we have successfully launched and begun delivering our new Creative Routes project, supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Find out more about our first Creative Exchange session.
Creative Minds: Shaping the Future of Teacher CPD
This November, we have successfully launched and begun delivering our new Creative Routes project, supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Read more about our first Creative Minds session.
Ripple Effect: A New Theatre Project with BLAST Youth Theatre
We’re thrilled to announce Ripple Effect, an inspiring new theatre project created by BLAST Youth Theatre and funded by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
Celebrating the Success of Our Summer Outdoor Drama Project: Tempest
As the sun sets on the summer holidays we reflect on our remarkable week of creativity, collaboration, and sheer dedication that was our summer outdoor drama project in partnership with Platform Theatre Arts, Tempest.
BLAST Youth Theatre Expands to Basildon This September!
Elevator Arts is thrilled to announce the expansion of our beloved BLAST Youth Theatre to Basildon this September! Building on the success of our Southend group, we are excited to bring our innovative and inclusive project to more young people in the South Essex area.
Arts Council Funds Elevator Arts’ Innovative Project: Creative Routes
We are thrilled to announce that Elevator Arts has been awarded funding by National Lottery through Arts Council England for our latest initiative, Creative Routes.
Celebrating Creativity and Collaboration: BLAST Youth Theatre’s End of Term Show
This past term has been a whirlwind of creativity, hard work, and joy for BLAST Youth Theatre. Last week, our talented members showcased their end-of-term performance to an enthusiastic audience of family and friends at Southend’s Twenty One.
Introducing Tempest this summer!
Embark on a thrilling 6-day journey into outdoor performance with Tempest, set amidst the picturesque backdrop of The Hive at Garon Park, Southend On Sea. This innovative project invites young people to immerse themselves in the magic of Shakespeare's timeless masterpiece, The Tempest.
Drama to Build Confidence and Connection at Southchurch High
Elevator Arts ran a drama intervention project with Year 7 and 8 students at Southchurch High School, helping them build confidence, express themselves, and connect with others. Through creative activities and group work, students overcame challenges, grew in confidence, and reflected positively on their experience.
Labour of Love: A Community Quilt Celebrates Motherhood in Southend-On-Sea
Labour of Love was a joyful participatory textiles project exploring the experience of motherhood through connection, conversation and creativity.