Chronicle The Roses’
Dear Friends,
With the year well underway, it feels like a wonderful moment to reflect on our progress and share what’s coming next for The Roses.
This issue focuses on what’s coming up. Now six months into our new artistic leadership, we’re excited to share the next steps in The Roses’ journey—the programmes we’re planning, the community we hope to grow, and the impact we aim to make for the town.
Across the UK, live theatre continues to flourish despite sectorwide pressures. According to the Society of London Theatre & UK Theatre 2026 report, at least 37 million people attended live theatre in 2025, demonstrating the enduring appeal of shared cultural experiences. The report also highlighted theatre’s social value—with 95% of venues delivering programmes that contribute to social good and 86% running workshops with local schools—and its economic impact, where every £1 spent on a ticket generates a further £1.40 in local activity.
These trends underline why community theatres like The Roses matter. As well as providing accessible cultural experiences, they nurture creativity, connection and wellbeing. At the same time, theatres face challenges including rising production, staffing and energy costs.
Thanks to your support in recent years, The Roses has stabilised, grown and is now thriving. The creativity and shared experiences of everyone involved in our programmes, performances and events continue to inspire us as we look ahead.
This strong foundation means The Roses is ready for its next step. We’re excited to announce that this will be the final edition of the quarterly Roses Chronicle, which will evolve into an annual impact report. This new format will offer a fuller picture of The Roses’ cultural, social, and economic contributions locally, regionally and nationally. We could not have reached this point without your support and belief in our work—thank you.
Warm wishes,
Grace End Development Manager
Shaping the Next Chapter at The Roses
SIX MONTHS OF NEW ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, DEREK BOND, AT THE ROSES THEATRE
Six months into his role as Artistic Director, Derek’s visionary leadership is beginning to take shape. The team has spent the first months of 2026 getting excited about what could come next whilst also planning how to physically fit it all in the calendar (and venue!) ensuring a balance of artistic ambition, community engagement and financial sustainability.
Earlier this year, the team stepped away from day-to-day activity to take stock of the programme, opportunities, and challenges ahead. The shared feeling was one of optimism: that The Roses is in one of its strongest positions in recent years, and that now is the moment to grow. There is a renewed focus on expanding and diversifying the programme, creating more work with and for the town, and
ensuring that entertainment, community engagement and family experiences remain central to everything we do.
New Productions and Creative Ambitions
This next phase brings an exciting commitment to developing new productions that speak directly to local audiences while opening up opportunities beyond Tewkesbury. By creating work in-house, The Roses aims not only to deepen its creative identity but also to generate income and build productions that can tour to other venues.
Among the projects in development are Wind in the Willows, envisioned as an outdoor summer production in Victoria Gardens in 2027, and a non-verbal adaptation of Tweedy & Fluff, designed to reach preschool audiences, the Special Educational Needs and
Disabilities (SEND) community and older adults living with dementia. Alongside this, plans are underway to launch the Roses Encore Creatives—a new theatre group for older adults—with workshops beginning this September. These initiatives will help nurture emerging talent, strengthen technical and creative skills within the organisation, and create meaningful opportunities for participation. Building on recent successes, The Future’s Now Festival will continue to grow, offering young people access to performance, film and creative development. Meanwhile, Bloomin’ Fest will return to Sun Street as part of Tewkesbury's Big Weekend, bringing music and joy directly into the heart of the town.
Tweedy & Fluff ◀
Bloomin' 50 Fest, 16th May 2025
Balancing Artistic Risk with Commercial Security
Taking creative risks is central to the role of a regional theatre, but it must sit alongside a clear and sustainable financial strategy. The Roses will continue to balance commercially successful programming with more ambitious, self-produced work—recognising both the risks and the long-term rewards.
Producing work in-house requires upfront investment and careful use of space and time, but it also creates greater artistic freedom, allows the theatre to retain a larger share of ticket income and opens the door to touring and Theatre Tax Relief. It also enables more flexible pricing models, including pay-itforward initiatives that can help make theatre more accessible while building new audiences.
To realise this ambition, The Roses will rely on a combination of trust and grant funding, alongside community fundraising initiatives such
as The Big Give and individual giving through new membership opportunities. While our commercial programme remains both vital and successful, the scale of our venue means that ticket income alone cannot sustain the full breadth of our work. It is only through charitable fundraised income that we can deliver our community and youth programmes, as well as develop new productions. This blended approach ensures we can continue to expand our creative and community offer while maintaining longterm financial resilience.
By bringing together artistic ambition, community engagement, and a balanced financial model, The Roses is well placed to grow its creative output, support new talent and deepen its connection with audiences—ensuring a vibrant and sustainable future for the theatre.
Upcoming Events
We hope you’ll join us to experience our upcoming in-house productions soon.
Roots and Reflections: Final Show & Exhibition
SUN 10 MAY 6.00PM
Bloomin’ Fest FRI 15 MAY 6.00-10.30PM
RYC: The Adventures of Peter Pan's Shadow (5-11yrs) THU 18 JUN 6.00PM
RYC: The Addams Family Musical (11-18yrs)
FRI 10 & SAT 11 JUL 6.00PM
The Roses Summer Choir Concert
WED 22 JUL 7.30PM
The Roses Summer Festival THU 30 JUL - SUN 2 AUG
Book online at rosestheatre.org
Nurturing the Next Generation of Talent
FEATURING INSPIRE, THE ROSES SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND DISABILITIES (SEND) THEATRE PROGRAMME, AND INSIGHTS FROM THE ROSES YOUTH PRODUCER
With family audiences in Tewkesbury continuing to grow, and the value of arts engagement for young people clearer than ever, expanding and deepening The Roses’ youth and family offer is a key priority. This means creating more work for families, opening up opportunities for young people to co-create on stage and behind the scenes and providing technical training and work experience to support the next generation of theatre-makers.
At the heart of this is the Inspire programme, a ten-week co-creative course for young people with SEND, focused on building confidence, creativity and self-expression. The final showcase, held just before Easter, captured the energy, imagination and personal growth that define the programme.
Georgia Shire, Youth Producer, shared her reflections about the performance, the programme’s approach, how it fits within our wider youth offer and what’s coming up next.
Can you tell us about the showcase?
“It was brilliant. The participants were so creative and playful— literally Bananas! They really embraced the silliness and fun of theatre. Some had been hesitant or very cautious in earlier sessions, but on stage they were fully engaged, exploring movement, interacting with the audience and sharing special moments with their support teachers. Seeing them step outside of their comfort zones and take risks creatively is exactly what Inspire is about.”
How does Inspire support young people compared with Roses Young Creatives (RYC)?
“With RYC, the focus is very much on developing technical theatre skills and performance craft. It’s a year-round programme that supports those who may want to pursue performance professionally, alongside building confidence, resilience and problem-solving. Inspire is the other way around: it focuses on the young person first. The programme gives them a space where they can be creative, try new things and learn without worrying about ‘doing it wrong.’ Both programmes value co-creation and youth voice, but Inspire is designed as a process-oriented space where personal growth comes first.”
How has Inspire evolved over the last couple of years?
“We piloted this approach last year, testing a youth-voice model where participants direct and navigate the process themselves, rather than following a rigid rehearsal structure.
That model worked so well that we continued it this year. Each group is very different, so we tailor the programme to their needs, but the objectives remain the same: creativity, confidence, teamwork and engagement. It’s incredibly rewarding to see participants build trust, take creative risks and support each other.”
What were some highlights from working with the groups this year?
“Some young people started off very cautious, sticking to familiar routines, but over the weeks they became more expressive, playful and willing to try new things. Others, initially shy or anxious, gradually opened up and fully engaged in the process. Those moments of growth, where you can see confidence bloom, are really powerful.”
Where do you see Inspire going next?
“Moving forward, we want to expand the programme, meeting young people in schools earlier so they can dive straight into creative work when they join us. We’re also growing technical opportunities—work experience, backstage training and stagecraft intensives. We get a
huge volume of work experience requests especially for technical skills and this is an exciting area for growth. Inspire sits alongside RYC as part of a wider strategy at The Roses to develop young people both on stage and behind the scenes, providing specialist support, creative development and technical training to support the next generation of theatre makers.”
Inspire is funded by The Roses core fundraising and is made possible through donations. We would be delighted to welcome an individual or business to champion this programme either via The Roses' new Creative Circle or Business Sponsorship. If this is something you would like to learn more about, please get in touch.
Inspire leader, Sam, workshopping with the group
Inspire performing their final showcase ◀
Exterior of The Roses ◀
Theatre at the Heart of Community
EXPLORING THEATRE’S SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND WELLBEING IMPACT—AND THE ROSES’ ROLE IN TEWKESBURY
Our new Artistic Director, Derek Bond shares his vision for a bold, imaginative and community–rooted future for The Roses. Theatre and the wider UK arts sector generate impact far beyond the stage. Audience engagement creates both social and economic value, with recent reports confirming that for every £1 spent on theatre, an additional £1.40 is spent in the local economy—in cafés, restaurants, shops and transport—as audiences make an occasion of their visit.
Beyond economic contribution, the arts play a vital role in supporting wellbeing. A growing body of research links creative participation with improved mental health, reduced loneliness and stronger social connection. Whether attending a performance or taking part in creative activity, individuals benefit not only culturally, but personally. As the arts sector continues to innovate and adapt, these outcomes remain a powerful reminder of the importance of live performance.
At The Roses, these national trends are reflected in meaningful, everyday impact:
• Roses Young Creatives (RYC) provides weekly opportunities for over 100 young people aged 3–18 the opportunity to build confidence, develop teamwork skills and explore their creativity.
• The Inspire programme continues to grow as a co-creative space for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), supporting expressive and collaborative theatre-making.
• The Roses Community and Wellbeing Programmes such as dementia-friendly film screenings and memory café offer opportunities for connection and reduce pressure on local services.
• Over the past year, The Roses welcomed approximately 80,714 visits across theatre performances, film screenings, workshops and community events. These visits not only bring cultural vibrancy to the town but also support local businesses as audiences spend time on the high street and in local hospitality venues.
• Community events such as The Future’s Now Festival and Bloomin’ Fest on Sun Street extend our reach beyond the theatre building, bringing creativity into public spaces and encouraging participation from families, schools, and residents who may not otherwise engage with formal theatre programming.
Together, these strands demonstrate how theatre can act as both a cultural destination and a community hub, stimulating economic activity, enriching local creative life and creating shared experiences.
The Roses is proud to work in partnership with local businesses, organisations, and volunteers across the town. Through these collaborations we have been able to strengthen our programme, develop new productions and expand our community reach. This generosity, whether through funding or in-kind support continues to play a crucial role in sustaining and growing Tewkesbury’s cultural life.
We look forward to continuing the conversation with you, our supporters, partners and community at upcoming events and in our annual impact report, to be published this autumn.
The Roses Team Challenge Events – Thank You
A huge congratulations and thank you to our Artistic Director Derek and Programming Manager Caroline, who have both recently completed incredible fundraising challenges to support The Roses.
Derek took on the Tewkesbury Half Marathon, while Caroline conquered the Twin Peaks Challenge—raising vital funds in support of the theatre’s work.
We’re so grateful for their efforts and everyone who supported them along the way.
Arts for Impact – Big Give Success!
We’re thrilled to share that The Roses Theatre has smashed its £7,500 target as part of the Big Give Arts for Impact campaign, with support from The Big Give Champion Fund.
This funding will support the youngest in our community enabling us to deliver RYC Minis, CineMinis and to commission a new theatre adaptation of Tweedy & Fluff—a nonverbal puppet show designed for young audiences (0–5), Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) communities, and those with dementia and, to be honest, everyone in between!
Thank you to everyone who donated and made this possible.
Move to Improve – The Roses & Isbourne Arts Winchcombe
Following the success of creative wellbeing initiatives over the past year, The Roses is pleased to be partnering with Isbourne Arts on Move to Improve, a new spring course designed to support people to feel stronger, more confident and more active through gentle, accessible movement.
This six-week programme offers simple, enjoyable exercises to improve flexibility, mobility and overall wellbeing, helping participants build confidence and develop a gentle routine over time. It is specifically designed for older people and requires no prior experience. More info on how to book here: isbournearts. org/move-to-improve
Move to Improve is free to all participants thanks to Tewkesbury Borough Council’s Active Communities grant.
New Lighting Desk
The Roses is excited to announce the arrival of a new lighting desk, made possible with support from Gloucestershire County Council Grassroots Neighbourhood Fund. This investment will enhance the quality of live performances, while also creating new opportunities to train the next generation of technical professionals.
New Technical Manager
Bringing a wealth of experience we are excited to welcome Martin to the team as our new Technical Manager. Martin will lead on technical delivery across the programme, as well as supporting the development of technical training opportunities.
Grant Boost for Youth Theatre & Wellbeing Programme
We are delighted to share that we have received an £800 grant from the Honourable Company of Gloucestershire. This funding will support the development of a brand-new programme for young people aged 11–16 navigating social, emotional and mental health (SEMH). The project will provide a safe, inclusive and empowering space where participants can build communication skills, resilience, confidence and social connection through creative play. Through the power of theatre, participants will not only find their voice but also discover new ways to connect, cope and thrive.
CineMinis Returns
Following the success of our Arts for Impact campaign, The Roses is excited to announce the return of CineMinis. These relaxed, welcoming screenings are designed especially for parents, carers and little ones.
Find out more in our latest brochure or online. rosestheatre.org/cineminis
Caroline training for The Twin Peaks Challenge
Derek Bond, Artistic Director and CEO (Left) with Peter Lachecki, Trustee of HCG
Members Discount!
FRIENDS AND PATRONS GET £2 OFF UP TO TWO TICKETS ON ALL OF THESE SHOWS & SCREENINGS!
The King's Voice
FRI 8 MAY 7.30PM
Gordon Hendricks has crafted an impressive career as an Elvis Presley tribute artist, deeply inspired from a young age by the rock 'n' roll legend.
Tickets £36
Tomorrow THU 14 MAY 7.30PM
Explosive and quietly devastating, the show explores masculinity, mental health and the human connections that sustain us.
Tickets £20
Michael
MON 25 - FRI 29 MAY
Antoine Fuqua’s sweeping biographical musical charts the life of Michael Jackson from his early days with the Jackson 5 through the groundbreaking albums that reshaped global pop culture.
Tickets £5-£12
Being Ola
WED 27 - SUN 31 MAY
This warm, quietly affecting Norwegian documentary follows Ola Henningsen, a man with a mild learning disability living in the inclusive village community of Vidaråsen.
Tickets £5-£12
Exhibition on Screen: Frida Kahlo
WED 20 - MON 25 MAY
Award-winning Exhibition on Screen’s film, FRIDA KAHLO – first released during covid to a restricted audience – is back by popular demand with exciting new footage
Tickets £5-£12
Julie July Band
SAT 26 SEP 7.30PM
Immerse yourself in the timeless tunes of the legendary Sandy Denny as talented performers bring her music to life.
Tickets £22-£27
Please Keep Spreading the Word
If you enjoyed this edition of The Roses Chronicle, please pass it along to a friend. Or better yet—bring them with you next time you visit!
We’re always looking to grow our community, and there’s no better recommendation than yours. Thank you for your continued support and for spreading the word.