resides within the Clwyd Theatr Cymru structure, and has a delegated autonomy through the Associate Director, responsible directly to the Director of Clwyd Theatr Cymru.
It is funded by a combination of Arts Council Wales revenue grant aid, earned income from performances and related activity, and other grants and sponsorships together with a long term commitment from Flintshire County Council in both grant aid and resources.
In July 1997 the new Associate Director joined with specific managerial responsibility for Theatre for Young People and related activities, and with a brief to develop a vision and strategy for young people's theatre in collaboration with the new Director of Clwyd Theatr Cymru.
It was decided to refresh and revitalise the concept of TIE which had previously existed, and to link Theatre for Young People more closely with the overall vision of the theatre, in so doing creating a long term integrated vision for audience development.
This process was begun by establishing three strands of activity for the department:
- core activity in both languages (performances for young people),
- support activity (workshops, actor visits, support material, pre/post performance sessions, etc.). All support activity is related to the core programme of both the main theatre and the Theatre for Young People department, and thus involves linkage with main theatre marketing, publicity and the overall profile of the theatre.
The third strand is participatory activities for young people, which encompasses a wider arts brief, involving young people in arts activities across the spectrum, including weekly drama workshops, summer schools, an education 'gallery' and hosting of events involving young people, for example the National Connections Regional Showcase and the ScottishPower Theatre Skills workshops for young people.
