Local Young Arts Reviewers

Our newly established local young arts reviewers group have been busy going to events and performances across Shropshire! We’ve recently set up two new groups, one in partnership with Shrewsbury College and one in partnership with Ludlow College, through the support and funding from Shropshire Council through the Vibrant Shropshire: a Cultural Compact Grant Scheme.  

Young people aged 16-25yrs old have each had a series of training and support sessions and developed skills in how to become young reviewers and write personal reviews on events, performances and activities. Our Voice Editor, Tom, ran a ‘how to review’ workshop, giving great advice and guidance, detailing top tips and what should (and should not!) be included when writing reviews. The groups have also had visiting professionals talk about their own careers, including BBC Radio journalist and broadcaster, theatre director and performer, programming and marketing professionals and a podcaster. They have also been on some behind the scenes visits including a backstage theatre tour and BBC Radio studios, gaining knowledge and insight into the extensive operation and job opportunities within arts and cultural organisations.

The Shropshire groups have been kindly supported by local arts and cultural organisations, including Theatre Severn, Arts Alive and Ludlow Assembly Rooms, offering young press tickets for the young reviewers, providing valuable experiences and access to high quality live theatre and performance events. Check out some of the events they have attended and reviewed here, these include a one-man show of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde, outdoor Shakespeare performance set in Castle grounds, young writers new theatre work, some Krazy Races and even a Ceilidh!

We’ve been running local young reviewer groups in Shropshire for a few years now and have established regular reviewers who continue to access local arts and cultural events. Some have gone on to become part of our national Voice reviewers programme, with one successfully becoming one of our Voice contributors and gaining access to further in depth training and development.

We are continuing to develop our groups across Shropshire so if you’d like to find out more then please contact [email protected]. We’re also just about to set up new groups in Mansfield and Stoke-on-Trent, so watch this space!

If you’d like to find out more, or get involved, then visit our Voice local reviewers page for more info.