Gazebo Theatre in Education Company

Who we are

Gazebo is a Registered Charity and Company Limited by Guarantee, and has been delivering innovative programmes utilising the creative arts, since it was established in 1979.

Gazebo’s aim is to promote social, economic, educational and artistic development, through the Creative Arts, by providing a range of programmes in response to the needs and aspirations of children, young people, communities and schools.

Gazebo’s Company Vision sets out its objectives to work with individuals at all stages of their lives through a suite of delivery programmes, to address a wide range of local needs including physical and mental health, economic well-being, employability, social inclusion, digital inclusion, education and training, social and cultural space.

The company’s current suite of programmes include:

• Theatre in Education – This remains at the heart of the company, and includes a range of issue and curriculum based programmes for schools, further and higher educational establishments, Pupil Referral Units and community groups.

• Talent Match & Impact- Gazebo operate the Central Hub for the Big Lottery Fund and ESF funded Talent Match Black Country programme, through which we provide intensive mentoring support for 18-29 year olds with significant barriers to employment, education and training.

• BBO Family Matters- Gazebo are a delivery partner within the wider Big Lottery Fund and ESF funded Family Matters programme, through which we support individual adult family members into employment, education or training.

• HeadStart- Gazebo are the commissioned provider of the Big Lottery funded HeadStart programme’s community delivery in Bilston East ward. This includes delivery of out of school activities, family holiday activities and support for parents and carers, with the overall aim of supporting the emotional well being and resilience of 10-16 year olds. Gazebo also deliver the NewsHounds element of HeadStart across the city, providing media production training and capturing the work taking place.

• Touring Professional Theatre- Gazebo currently tour new shows nationally approximately once a year. Previous productions have explored a range of issues including racism and prejudice, experiences of the First World War, and the Transatlantic Slave Trade and told stories of historical figures including Mary Wollstonecraft, Walter Tull, Claudia Jones, suffragist Emma Lloyd Sproson, Ira Aldridge, Bob Marley and Mary Seacole.
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• Education and training- Gazebo provide a range of Creative Arts training including visual arts, writing, drama, music and dance, as well as Maths and English Tuition.

• Film and Multi-media production- Gazebo produces films, including fictional and documentary, capturing change over time through engagement in programmes, such as Talent Match, and providing opportunities for creative consultation and evaluation by participants.

• Dramatherapy and counselling- Gazebo provides both one to one and group dramatherapy and individual counselling services.

Gazebo operates with an active and supportive Board of Trustees, who meet at least quarterly, and oversee the work of the Charity.

The organisation is led by Chief Executive and Artistic Director, Pamela Cole-Hudson, supported by a Senior Management Team, comprised of Talent Match Hub Lead and two Senior Mentors, Family Matters Project Manager, Media Production Manager and Finance and Office Manager.  In addition to our team of administrators, mentors, work coach and community development worker, we have a large pool of freelance practitioners, artists, writers, actors, directors, tutors, counsellors and dramatherapists.

We are an ever growing and evolving company who embrace change and new opportunities, whilst always remaining true to the original vision of Gazebo, which at aged 39 is one of the oldest remaining Theatre in Education Companies in the country.