Community Impact Report
About Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham
The Everyman Theatre is Gloucestershire’s leading live entertainment venue, presenting a wide range of productions year-round, including ballet, opera, drama, dance, comedy, live music and a traditional annual pantomime which attract 200,000 visitors each year. Opened in 1891, The Everyman Theatre is a Victorian masterpiece, with its magnificent main auditorium designed by esteemed architect Frank Matcham.
Off stage, The Everyman Theatre is proud to offer a leading education, community and outreach programme offering people of all ages the opportunity to engage with the arts.
Beyond the stage
The Everyman Theatre believes passionately that the arts have the power to change lives. Our Education and Community department’s mission is to widen access to arts and culture and enhance our local community’s day to day lives. We foster connections through creativity.
As a registered charity the theatre’s operating profits are re-invested into our education, community and access work, reaching over 20,000 people annually in our goal to make the arts accessible for all.
Our Impact at a glance 2024/25
“Everyman Theatre is doing more than staging plays –it’s transforming lives through inclusive arts.”
In 2024/25 our Education and Community work reached 22,264 individuals across Gloucestershire including:
11,000
Free or heavily subsidised Panto tickets for schools, charities and low-income households.
10,785
Children and young people accessing one of our workshops, projects or regular groups.
340
Children in hospital, or vulnerable adults in care homes watching our Christmas live-stream performance.
233
Young performers taking part in weekly Youth Theatre, and our Summer Schools.
1,889
Older adults (over 65) dancing, singing, creating and engaged in their local community.
1,345
Hours of creative education and community outreach delivery.
788
Young adults experiencing live theatre for free through our ‘16-25’ membership.
132
Community arts outreach sessions with less-advantaged communities in Cheltenham and Gloucester.
68
Young people achieving an Arts Awardcreative accredited qualifications supporting leadership, social and emotional development.
14
Specially adapted accessible performances including live audio described, BSL, captioned and relaxed (SEND and dementia friendly).
What We Do
The Everyman Theatre’s Education and Community department’s mission is to change lives through arts and culture. Through a huge variety of projects, workshops and regular activity we use art and performance to engage and inspire people of all ages and abilities.
Access – specially adapted accessible mainhouse performance, tours and talks including live audio described, BSL, captioned and relaxed (SEND and dementia friendly).
Artist Development – supporting local actors, writers, and practitioners through opportunities that build skills, foster collaboration, and nurture artistic growth.
Arts Awards – as an accredited provider we deliver and assess these unique set of qualifications that support children and young people to enjoy the arts and develop as artists and arts leaders.
BTEC – in partnership with Stagedoor Learning, we support their BTEC Level 3 Performing Arts students through industry experience and masterclasses with professional theatre makers.
Everyman Bursary scheme – fully funded bursaries for our Youth Theatre and Choirs for low-income households. We also fund 30 bursaries at TwoCan Inclusive Youth Theatre company.
Everyman Youth Theatre – weekly term time theatre groups for children and young people aged 4-18 that provides a safe, creative space to express themselves.
Everyvoice – our network of communitybased choirs, and outreach projects to share the joy of singing.
Casting On – a theatrical themed free knitting group where the only drama is on the stage!
Community Arts – creative outreach to reach less advantaged communities who may have barriers to arts and culture. Communities we’ve engaged with include those with complex learning disabilities, young carers, the homeless or vulnerably houses, sanctuary seekers, those living with dementia and their carers… the list goes on!
Golden Step – performing arts dance classes for older adults.
Intergenerational work – bringing older and younger people together through shared arts projects; fostering connection and creativity across generations.
Talks and Tours – sharing our passion for what we do and our beautiful grade II listed building!
Tickets – where possible, we offer subsidised or low-cost tickets to enable a wider diversity of audience to access the joy of theatre. The 16-25 membership allows young adults to access free tickets on selected performances.
Everyman Youth Theatre: A Place to Belong, Create, and Thrive
“As a single parent this bursary has meant that my son can attend an extra-curricular activity that he really enjoys.”
Since 1986, The Everyman Youth Theatre has been a space where young people aged 5 to 18 can be themselves, make friends, and explore the magic of performing arts.
We believe that everyone should have the chance to take part – no matter their background. That’s why our bursary scheme is so important. It helps make sure that money isn’t a barrier, and that every child who wants to join can be part of the experience.
My son has learnt so many skills in drama and has gained a lot of confidence. He has made an incredible friendship group and values every minute he is there!
“Receiving a bursary for Youth Theatre has been life-changing for my daughter. As a teenage girl with autism, it’s the one place she feels free to be completely herself. She looks forward to it every week and is always eager to go. She has made friends, learnt social and communication skills. It has ultimately done wonders for her confidence.
She often describes her sessions as her “drama family” and I know this is also a place that feels like home to her. Without the bursary, she wouldn’t have these opportunities.”
Emma, Youth Theatre parent
Golden Step: Moving Together, Growing Together
“There’s something so special about being connected to a professional theatre company. They’re part of the Everyman. It’s so rewarding that these dancers are seen and appreciated by professionals in the industry.”
Golden Step is more than just a dance group – it’s a vibrant, supportive community where members come together to improve fitness, boost confidence, and share the joy of movement. The group is for those over 60 and is designed to support overall mobility and mental wellbeing; whilst benefitting from the high standard of dance education you’d expect from a professional theatre.
Their joy for dancing is infectious, and in the summer months, you’ll often find them performing at community events like Fiesta in the Park and charity fundraisers, proudly representing the Everyman. One of this year’s highlights was the group performing a Chicago-inspired number for Strictly Come Dancing star Kevin Clifton whilst he was at the Theatre as part of the Chicago UK tour – 10/10!
Beyond the dance floor, Golden Step fosters lasting friendships and a strong support network.
“As you get older and you give up work, you lose quite a lot of friends, companions, and for me personally, (through Golden Step) I’ve met the most wonderful group. The Everyman has become like a second home in a way!
When I moved to Cheltenham, I thought no one’s going to come and knock on my door. You’ve got to put yourself out there. I found this group and I would say they are my best friends now.”
Alysoun, Golden Step dancer
Community Arts: Supporting Sanctuary Seekers
“This work is an amazing example of what we can achieve to support, celebrate and lift up those who join our community seeking refuge.”
For over two decades, Camille, Community Arts Manager at The Everyman, has harnessed the power of creative activities to engage and uplift individuals seeking sanctuary in Gloucestershire. One of our most impactful initiatives is our ongoing partnership with Cheltenham Welcomes Refugees, supporting their weekly Hub for asylum seekers and monthly Welcome Café for families.
At the heart of this collaboration are the “Drama for English” workshops – a dynamic and inclusive session that blends language learning with creative expression. This initiative delivers dual benefits: participants gain practical English language skills through immersive, real-life scenarios, while also enjoying a fun, confidence-building experience that fosters social connection and emotional wellbeing.
“I don’t think people realise quite how much the Everyman does with the community. When we started this drop in for asylum seekers in collaboration with the Everyman, we realised how important it was for people to relax and be a bit silly. And that has been so important to people. They’ve said, “Here we laugh. All week we don’t laugh, but here we laugh.”
“Here you feel like your life is just getting better because you have, you know, a community that loves you and you will be around them. That’s really good.”
Maggie, Trustee & Volunteer at Cheltenham Welcomes Refugees
Arts for Impact: Aware they Care
“It’s made me feel that I’m not an outsider.”
In February 2025, we worked in collaboration with Gloucestershire Young Carers to create “Give Us a Break”, an illustrated video based on young carers’ experiences. In half-term young carers took part in a Creative Storytelling workshop led by our Head of Education and Community who worked alongside Gloucestershire based illustrator and maker Emma Evans to bring their experiences to life. The result is this beautifully illustrated video that offers a powerful glimpse into a ‘Day In The Life’ of a young carer.
Watch the full video here:
“We are so pleased with this collaborative film, and it is a such a great asset for us to use to spread awareness of young carers in our aim to identify those who are still hidden and without access to support.”
Hana Gill, Director of Development
Looking ahead – A Place to Create and Connect opening Spring 2026!
In November 2024, The Everyman Theatre purchased the Community Resource Centre on Grove Street in Cheltenham to be transformed into a dedicated creative arts education and community centre. Due to open Spring 2026, this is a big project for our charity but an even bigger step forward for inclusion in the arts for Cheltenham, and Gloucestershire as a whole.
For more information about the Grove Street Appeal, scan the QR code, or head to our website.
A Message from our Chief Executive:
As we reflect on the 2024/25 financial year, I’m delighted with all we’ve achieved together. The Everyman Theatre has continued to be a cultural cornerstone for Gloucestershire – welcoming over 250,000 through the doors for our acclaimed performances and reaching many more through our growing education and community programmes.
This year, our Education and Community team has expanded its reach, delivering more workshops, community performances, and participatory projects than ever before. We’ve seen young people find their voice through youth theatre, older adults reconnect through community choirs, and participants of all ages benefit from the power of creativity. These moments – often quiet, personal, and deeply moving—are at the heart of what we do.
But we know there’s more to be done.
Cheltenham is a town of contrasts, and we know for many, the arts still feel out of reach.
That’s why, in 2024, we rescued a community centre in West Cheltenham from closure.
This space will soon become the Everyman Education Centre, a new home for our outreach work, located in one of the town’s most underserved areas.
We look ahead with ambition, determination, and a deep belief in the power of the arts to make a difference. The Everyman Theatre has been part of Gloucestershire’s cultural fabric since 1960, and with your help, we will continue to grow our impact for generations to come.
Thank you for being part of our journey.
Mark Goucher
Cheltenhams’s Everyman Theatre Gloucestershire’s Everyman Theatre Your Everyman Theatre
