Phase 1: Pilot (2025 - 2026)
We’re beginning with three exciting pilot projects:
Bulwell: Share your local stories and heritage in weekly workshops at Bulwell Academy Community Hub, and help create a new outdoor celebration for Nottingham Light Night 2026. .
Sneinton: Young people aged 8 - 13 can join our after-school theatre-making club at the Greenway Centre, exploring storytelling, teamwork, and performance, finishing with a new show for Nottingham Light Night 2026.
The Meadows: Adults are gathering at AMC Gardens to share stories through music, song, and storytelling, leading to a community performance on 2nd May 2026 as part of the May Day Celebrations.
Phase 2: (Spring - Summer 2026)
After Easter 2026, Stage the City will grow to work with three groups in each area, offering more people the chance to get involved and explore their creativity.
This phase will build on the ideas, stories and performances developed during the pilot projects, giving the opportunity to develop drama making skills, collaborate with communities and explore their creativity in an inspiring environment.
Together, we will continue developing new community-led theatre and performances which will be shared and celebrated as part of local arts festivals in summer 2026.
Phase 3: The City Celebration (2027)
In 2027, Nottingham will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Little John, its iconic Council House bell, which chimes every 15 minutes and can be heard up to seven miles away.
To mark this centenary, all the ideas, performances and stories developed across the three communities will culminate in a spectacular city-centre performance in 2027 in the Old Market Square.
This grand event will bring together hundreds of people from across the city to participate in a large-scale performance to truly Stage the City!
Stage the City is supported by Esmée Fairbairn Foundation as part of their Creative, Confident Communities fund, with in-kind support from One Vision Partnership (Bulwell).
WAYS TO GET INVOLVED
Here are different ways you can get involved in Stage the City
Communities & Theatre Enthusiasts
We’re kicking off our pilot sessions this November, and we want YOU to get involved!
If you’re based in Bulwell, Sneinton, or The Meadows and would love to take part in creative drama and theatre-making sessions, click the buttons below to learn more about what’s happening in each area and how to sign up.
Bulwell | Sneinton | The Meadows (coming soon)
Also make sure to sign up to our Stage the City Newsletter to keep up to date with Stage the City updates!
Community Champions
Are you passionate about your local area and want to make sure your community’s voice is heard as part of Stage the City?
We’re looking for Community Champions to join our steering group meetings as local representatives. You’ll help shape ideas, strengthen connections, and support the long-term sustainability of creative groups in Bulwell, Sneinton, and The Meadows.
If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you! Drop our Community Engagement Producer Caroline Rowland a line on caroline@nonsuchstudios.co.uk
Partners
We’re also looking to connect with organisations, artists, schools, libraries, faith groups, community hubs, and youth clubs to help us deliver this ambitious project across Nottingham.
Become a Stage the City Partner and work with us to bring creative workshops and performance opportunities to the people you work with and support.
If you are interested, please contact our Community Engagement Producer to set up a meeting or find out more:
Caroline Rowland
caroline@nonsuchstudios.co.uk
0115 8371950
