Chol brings live story-making to people in their everyday communities.
We strive to work with children from all backgrounds and are passionate about finding ways to create new work with children who may not usually take part in theatre or story-making experiences. All of Chol's participants are valued as equal players, everyone is able to develop their potential and unlock their aspirations. Our unique equal players approach inspires democracy; imagination flourishes and communities are built.
Operating as usual
✨12 Days of Joy - Day 12✨
Our final day of joy is a round up of our year!
2022 you have been a blast! We can't wait to see what 2023 will bring... Happy New Year everyone!😍
Read all about what we've been up to: https://wearechol.co.uk/2022-in-review/
✨12 Days of Joy - Day 11✨
Check out 'Survivors' a mini film created as part of our Listen 52 project in 2022.
Written, created and starring:
Alfie Askham
Caitlin Pickering
Evie Kaisi
Lois Adamson
Maia Gaskell
Mani Latifi
Will Gabbitas
Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21ya4Zm8QMk
✨12 Days of Joy - Day 10✨
Today we go back in TIME to TimeCrashers, an online immersive event, part of our Tall Shadows project. Filmed during lockdown, TimeCrashers was a combination of live performance, filmed footage and escape-room style challenges set in Sheffield’s only time-travelling nightclub...
Watch the trailer below⬇
See the full TimeCrashers video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SipOL3CE3OE
✨12 Days of Joy - Day 9✨
Another stunning dance from a former Young Producer, Cinnamon. Enjoy Cinnamon's Art Challenge from 2021, this particular piece taking the shape of a duet with Olivia.
✨12 Days of Joy - Day 8✨
Help us to continue and grow our work with the young people of Yorkshire through regular/one-off donations.
⭐️£5 will provide funds for any young person who needs to access expenses to attend a workshop or session
⭐️£10 will contribute towards materials for a free outreach community workshop with the Cholavan
⭐️£50 will contribute towards a whole class workshop, engaging children and supporting learning
Find out more and donate here: https://localgiving.org/charity/chol-theatre/
✨12 Days of Joy - Day 6✨
'Children become engaged, they develop new friendships and new ways of working with peers. A noticeable difference is seen in children who may find traditional schooling that repetitively focuses on prescribed individual written tasks frustrating. The magic of Chol enables a very different sort of engagement which requires individuals to work as a whole group.'
Read more... 'Care in Imaginary Communities and the Role of the Teacher' by Dr Becky Parry: https://wearechol.co.uk/care-in-imaginary-communities-and-the-role-of-the-teacher/
✨12 Days of Joy - Day 5✨
Young producer Elendu introduces his cinematic project 'Warriors', created in 2021... enjoy!
✨12 Days of Joy - Day 4✨
Have you seen our 'Postcards of Success'? These are a short animation of the five important stages of Imaginary Communities:
⭐Idea generation
⭐Setting
⭐Characters
⭐Shared starting points
⭐Equal playmaker strategies
Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3ZLzSADH1c&t=9s
A short animation of the 5 stages of Imaginary Communities. For more information head over to our website www.wearechol.co.uk
✨12 Days of Joy - Day 2✨
Don't forget our Imaginary Communities handbook is available to order, featuring illustrations by the fantastic Ruth Dyer.
We are in the process of setting up a web page which will include all our previous and current publications available for purchase. For now, please email us via DM or to [email protected] if you would like to purchase the handbook, and we will be back in touch in early January 2023.
✨12 Days of Joy... Day 1✨
Start to embed the Imaginary Communities approach into your school.
Check out our free resources for schools, including world-building, character building, and so much more: https://wearechol.co.uk/imaginary-communities/imaginary-communities-resources/
Sending peace and love x
'Celebrating 175 years of arrivals at Huddersfield’s St George’s Square...'
Find out more about our second year of the Huddersfield High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) cultural and heritage programme, celebrating St George’s Square in Huddersfield and those who have passed through it.
HSHAZ is a government funded scheme led by Historic England and working in partnership with Kirklees Council.
📸Photo by Roger Kinder, courtesy of Huddersfield Local History Society
Read more⬇️
An exciting cultural and heritage programme celebrating St George’s Square and those who have passed through it is now nearing the end of its second year. The Huddersfield High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) – a government funded scheme...
'I leaned on art as an outlet to articulate and express what I was feeling... it provided an escape from reality and safe space where I could create.'
Check out this incredibly moving & inspiring TED talk from the AMAZING Natasha Clarke Art, who created our Windrush Mural in early 2022. So proud of you Natasha 🧡
Watch ⬇️
Natasha believes that 'Art is for Everyone, In her TEDx Doncaster Talk, Natasha presents the idea that art should be made and celebrated by all cultures, eco...
✨12 Days of Joy✨
Join us on social media daily from 19 Dec - 31 Dec (not including 25 December of course!) for '12 Days of Joy', where we'll be sharing all sorts of little treats, from short videos to useful resources for schools.
Sending love,
The Chol team 💕
We love working with the very enthusiastic and fantastic Bowling Park Primary School! 😍
One of the many perks of being the Imaginary Communities artist in residence - you get to attend the Christmas panto trip! Can highly recommend Lawrence Batley Theatre's Jack and the Beanstalk, festive fun for all the family!
Hooray!👏✨
🌷Giving Tuesday🌷
On we would like to highlight our Local Giving page. Firstly, a huge thank you to everyone who has donated to so far, we hugely appreciate your support. To anyone who'd like to donate, please do so via the link below. As a charity, your donations, big or small, enable us to continue our important work.
If you can't donate but would like to support us, even just sharing our page will increase our reach and enable us to engage with more children and young people through theatre.
if you already donate to us, or would like to, here's an insight as to what your money might go towards.
⭐️£5 will provide funds for any young person who needs to access expenses to attend a workshop or session
⭐️£10 will contribute towards materials for a free outreach community workshop with the Cholavan
⭐️£50 will contribute towards a whole class workshop, engaging children and supporting learning
Find out more and donate here: https://localgiving.org/charity/chol-theatre/
We believe that local is better. By connecting grassroots organisations with donations, fundraising and grants plus resources and support, we are proud to help thousands of UK community groups do amazing things every day.
Are you aged 16-24 and interested in getting involved with music, art and creative events happening in Kirklees?
Join the Future Creative volunteer team with our friends at Evoke. You can volunteer in your local community or get involved from home. Expenses are paid and you will receive training and support.
Volunteers will get the opportunity to meet professionals, access events for free, update your CV, gain a reference, make friends, improve your wellbeing and make an impact.
Please register your interest here: https://tslkirklees.org.uk/volunteering-roles/entry/event-volunteer-future-creative-team-16-24-years-8382/
Did you know in 2025 Rotherham will become the world’s first Children’s Capital of Culture?!
We are so excited to be producing Childrens Capital of Culture: Making It Happen Manifesto launch event in January!
Carly has been at Gullivers Valley today working up ideas for the launch…we can’t wait for this! Check out the story so far here -
https://youtu.be/q5yMfbmgl1Y
We made a short film about Rotherham becoming the first ever Children’s Capital of Culture in 2025, and the young people making it happen. Please watch it an...
🌼World Children's Day🌼
Today is and the theme this year is 'Inclusion, For Every Child'.
In our work we are constantly striving towards creating safe, inclusive spaces for children and young people, allowing them to get creative, use their imaginations and develop transferable skills.
We have recently started our second year of work with Bowling Park Primary School, working across their two sites to kickstart Year 2 of the Empowering Voice project, part of our Imaginary Communities framework. The project, run by Story Makers Company at Leeds Beckett University, has been developed alongside Bowling Park Primary and the BD5 network and looks at building children’s oracy and communication skills through drama.
Find out more: https://wearechol.co.uk/chol-enters-year-2-of-the-empowering-voice-project/
‼️The Civic Theatre in Rotherham are hiring ‼️
Civic Theatre Rotherham are looking for techies to join their team!
To find out more and how to apply look here - https://www.rotherhamtheatres.co.uk/about/vacancies/
Vacancies Technical Manager £27,852 – £30,151, dependent on experience Permanent, 37 Hours Per Week, Full Time The Technical Manager is key operational role within the team, responsible for the safe production of a range of shows within Rotherham Civic Theatre. The Technical Manager will be a st...
🤞Fingers Crossed Selfie Day🤞
It’s and we're feeling thankful to everyone who plays the National Lottery and our amazing young producers who we've been able to work with on a variety of projects, with thanks to National Lottery funding.
Here is one of our Young Producers Maia with her . Maia recently achieved her Silver Arts Award alongside Lois and we're so proud of them both!
Sending huge to all players whose financial contributions have have helped these incredible young women to achieve their potential.
Arts Council England
We recently shared our newsletter which contained lots of very exciting news - read it here: https://mailchi.mp/497a66d738a5/chol-november
To receive our news and updates sign up here: https://wearechol.co.uk/sign-up-to-our-newsletter/
Yesterday certainly called for bubbles.
Congratulations to all the runners & riders.
Heart goes out to the less lucky in this round.
🥳🎊🎉NPO Announcement 🎉🎊🥳
We are delighted to announce that we have been successful in our bid for Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) funding. We want to take this opportunity to thank the communities we work with, our partners,
supporters and friends. Chol wouldn’t exist without you!
We are extremely excited for what’s next to come for us. Read the full announcement here: https://wearechol.co.uk/npo-announcement-2022/
Sending love, the Chol team x
Department of Culture Media & Sport
Yesterday was the start of our exciting planning process with Becky Parry & XR Stories, to create an immersive, digital theatre piece set in a fairground, centring on the myth of Cassandra - exploring what it is to not be believed.
More to come soon - watch this space!✨
We had so much fun on Monday at The Glass Works in Barnsley as we hunted down the mythical Eldon Street Beast and began creating the card-game...
Thank you to everyone who came along, here's a few pics from the day ✨
Barnsley Museums & Heritage Trust Historic England Story Trails
Photos from Story Trails's post
Join us TOMORROW at our Cholavan outside the Glass Works in Barnsley to help us find that pesky Eldon Street Beast & discover a mysterious world of myth and magic...
🗓10am-4pm, Monday 24 October
Recommended for young people aged 4-11 and their families.
Story Trails Fusion - Barnsley’s Cultural Education Partnership Barnsley Events
We had the most inspiring evening last night with Chula education at our Her Voice event at Arts Catalyst space in Sheffield.
We had amazing conversations and discussions with a group of courageous young women exploring what it is to be a woman in today’s society.
Watch this space for the next stage of this project... 👀
Join us at our Cholavan on Monday 24 October outside the Glass Works in Barnsley to help us find that pesky Eldon Street Beast...
Uh-oh... the Eldon Street Beast is missing!
But what does it look like? Where has it been spotted and what other mythical creatures in the area might know something of its whereabouts?
Find us at our Cholavan outside the Glass Works in Barnsley from 10am-4pm on Monday 24 October, and help us uncover the mysterious hidden world of myth and magic lurking right under your nose...
Recommended for young people aged 4-11 and their families.
Story Trails Fusion - Barnsley’s Cultural Education Partnership Barnsley Events
TOMORROW! 🔥🔥🔥
Join us at Soft Ground, Sheffield (Arts Catalyst) for a drop-in session exploring what it's like to be female in this challenging world.
Hosted with Chula education, the session will give you a chance to make some noise and really talk about what makes you feel... angry, through creative workshops and discussion.
🍪☕️Free drinks and snacks also included, what's not to like?
🗓4-7pm, 20 October
🎟Book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hervoice-whats-changed-tickets-439663373987
There's still time to share with us which famous girl/woman in history or present day has inspired you. This can be for any reason, big or small.
Please feel free to write in the comments or if you'd prefer, email us on [email protected].
Your responses will play a role in our 'Her Voice' drop-in session on Thursday 20 October with Chula education.
Thank you everyone🦋
Uh-oh... the Eldon Street Beast is missing!
But what does it look like? Where has it been spotted and what other mythical creatures in the area might know something of its whereabouts?
Find us at our Cholavan outside the Glass Works in Barnsley from 10am-4pm on Monday 24 October, and help us uncover the mysterious hidden world of myth and magic lurking right under your nose...
Recommended for young people aged 4-11 and their families.
Story Trails Fusion - Barnsley’s Cultural Education Partnership Barnsley Events
There's so much going on in Yorkshire this October for Black History Month, this year themed: Time for Change: Action Not Words
See what's on: https://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/listings/region/yorkshire/
We'd also like to make a special shout out to our friends at Conscious Youth C.I.C, who are today (from 10am-5pm) running a number of free activities and events for all the family to get involved in.
Find out more: https://consciousyouth.co.uk/back-to-our-roots/creatives-culture-market/
Talk to us! 🗣
Ahead of our 'Her Voice' drop-in session on Thursday 20 October with Chula education, we're thinking about any women in history or present day who have inspired us.
Which famous woman has inspired you and why? Please share in the comments section below - we'd love to hear your thoughts ❤️
8 Queen Street
Huddersfield
HD12
Chol welcomes enquiries from interested artists, participants and partner organisations. We encourage everyone, from emerging artists to experienced professionals, to achieve their full creative potential. Chol responds to the world by creating work that changes and evolves. We are always happy to discuss new ideas and approaches in making theatre that bring people together for exciting, real, shared live experiences.
Check our website for full details
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THAT’S A WRAP! We have just finished our last Summer ‘22 camp with The Childrens Art School at The Greenwood Centre and what a summer it has been! We’ve worked with over 400 children, during 10 camps in 6 different locations across Kirklees. The young people have been AMAZING and we’ve been utterly blown away by their imaginations, energy and readiness. The future looks BRIGHT knowing this is the next generation. Thanks you Kirklees Council and #HAF2022 for enabling these sessions to go ahead, thank you to all our wonderful helpers but most of all thank you to all the young people and families who have made this summer the best one yet!
IT’S SHOW DAY! Come and see what’s happening in St George’s square, Huddersfield from 1pm! Let's Go Yorkshire
📣Reminder for anyone interested in performing in our brand new play📣 Come and find out more, tonight at Maker World, 5.30-7pm If you have any questions or would like more information email [email protected]
❌Due to illness this evenings session in Woodlaithes is cancelled❌ We’re really sorry about this - but we will see you at the same time next week for more fun summer sessions! Find our Woodlaithes summer schedule here ➡️ https://wearechol.co.uk/summer-sessions-in-woodlaithes/
Another animation from today!
An Animation created today at Barnsley Libraries as part of our drop in sessions!
Eid Mubarak to all of our friends celebrating! We hope you have a wonderful day of celebrations 🌙
🐣Happy Easter!🐣 The Chol team are having some much deserved time off over the Easter weekend, hopefully featuring lots of chocolate! We hope you have a lovely, long bank holiday weekend and we'll see you soon!
The Joy of A Roar community photography project can now be found in and around St George's Square - with a special focus on Station Street. HUGE thanks to the 100+ participants and everyone who helped to support this wild project. Devised and created by Christopher Marsden and Laura Mateescu, and funded by Historic England's High Street Heritage Action Zone programme with support from Kirklees Council Thanks to Historic England Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport National Lottery Heritage Fund, Kirklees Temporary Contemporary Bargain Box (UK) Ltd, Calder Graphics Clear Channel UK, Queensgate Ironmongers and Sovereign Sports of Marsh. Partners Active Bodies, The Basement Recovery Project, HIVE Community and Cafe Piazza Centre, Platform One, S2R and the University Of Huddersfield Club balls courtesy of Huddersfield Giants and HTFC The Joy of a Roar: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1404774246615250 #JoyOfARoar #HuddsHSHAZ #HistoricHighStreets
Join us TOMORROW for the next Angry Girls session, taking place 5-6.30pm at Maker World, Piazza Shopping Centre, Huddersfield, for girls aged 16-21. This next session is based around creative writing. Please book your FREE place here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/angry-girls-tickets-264123028087
Happy #ChineseNewYear from all of us at Chol! Welcome to the #YearOfTheTiger 🐅🐅🐅🐅🐅🐅🐅🐅🐅🐅 #tiger #lunarnewyear #chinesenewyear2022
We're so delighted to announce LISTEN 52 - our brand new, year-long social art project in #Sheffield We'll be sharing loads of information over the coming weeks, but for now, we'd just like to say a massive THANK YOU to Arts Council England, the lovely lottery players and all of our project supporters. We can't wait to get started! #Listen52 #ACESupported #NationalLottery Arts Council England Site Gallery The Leadmill Save Walkley Library Zest Create Sheffield: Sheffield's Cultural Education Partnership Sheff Col Emma Rachel Williams
Our September newsletter has dropped! Don't subscribe? No problem! You can read the online version here ➡️ http://ow.ly/VKtk50G4ZcA
Exhibitions at the Lawrence Batley Theatre
Queen's SquareSilk School of Dance Huddersfield
Queens Square Business ParkSt Matthews Theatrical Society
Church Street, Brighouse
Bernadette Heys School of Theatre Dance
Peel Street
Exhibitions at the Lawrence Batley Theatre
Queen's Square
Silk School of Dance Huddersfield
Queens Square Business Park