What’s happening at Elevator Arts
Shine On: A Creative Space for Young Carers to Be Themselves
Shine On is a free weekly drama and puppetry project for young carers aged 7–12 (Years 3–7) in Southend. Running on Friday evenings at the Civic Centre, the sessions offer a safe, fun space to make friends, build confidence and enjoy creativity away from caring responsibilities.
Stories, Culture and Creativity at BLAST Youth Theatre
This autumn, BLAST Youth Theatre launched Gather & Tell, our Arts Council–funded storytelling project. Through folk tales from around the world, shared feast days, and imaginative drama and design sessions, young people have been celebrating culture, creativity and community. Read more about our journey so far.
Be Bold at Chalkwell Hall Junior School
Find out more about BE BOLD: a 10-week drama intervention project for Year 6 girls at Chalkwell Hall Junior School.
BLAST Youth Theatre awarded BBC Children in Need funding
We are thrilled to announce that BLAST Youth Theatre has been awarded funding from BBC Children in Need to support our work with vulnerable young people in Southend and Basildon.
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.
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.