Small Steps Into the New Year: Creative Opportunities at the Barbican Theatre
At the start of the year, there’s often pressure to make big changes; resolutions, promises, a sense that we need to prove something straight away. That pressure can be overwhelming, and when goals slip, it’s easy to feel like we’ve let ourselves down. If one of your intentions this year is to be kinder to yourself or to prioritise your wellbeing, that’s not a great place to begin.
Real, positive change rarely comes from trying to do everything at once. It comes from small, manageable stepping stones - rather than a long, impossible jump. Allowing yourself space, curiosity and gentleness can make all the difference.
With that in mind, we want to share a few opportunities at Barbican Theatre that might align with where you’re at right now. Whether that’s meeting new people, learning something new, exploring a new career, or simply seeing what’s out there.
Weekly Classes for Adults
ACTivate
Want to try something new?
A welcoming weekly drama and acting workshop for adults with little or no theatre experience. Led by caring, open facilitators, ACTivate is flexible, accessible and designed for people with busy lives. You don’t need to attend every week; just come as you are and enjoy trying something new.
EXCELerate
For those of you with some experience in acting or performance who want to rebuild confidence and reconnect with their practice. Led by professional actor trainers, EXCELerate offers supportive challenge and space to grow.
Looking to Start a Creative Career?
In partnership with On Course South West, we deliver a 10-week Skills Bootcamp for adults (19+) interested in working in the creative industries. The course offers practical, hands-on experience and helps participants explore where their skills might fit.
‘This course has definitely helped build my confidence in my own skills and how I can apply them to roles. It has also encouraged me to explore more creative roles in live events and the creative industry that I hadn’t previously’- Participant
‘Being able to take what we were learning and putting it into practice was amazing really effective way to learn and develop but also extremely satisfying to have an achievement of managing to put something on which we can put our name to has been really motivating and wonderful to do.’- Participant
Participants work together to design and deliver a live event, gaining real insight into turning ideas into reality.
The next Bootcamp starts on 29th January.
Find out more via the On Course South West website or email sally@barbicantheatre.co.uk
Community Facilitator Training
If you’re passionate about working with people, developing creative responses to local issues and connecting communities, we’ll be offering a new 10-week Community Facilitator Training course. Led by experienced facilitators and producers, it covers idea development, inclusive facilitation, sustainable community practice and developing your own approach.
To find out more, email sally@barbicantheatre.co.uk
Artist Development: Pathways
Pathways supports South West creatives to develop work, confidence and sustainable creative careers. It offers mentoring, practical support and opportunities to share work in a people-focused, flexible way.
This includes:
Year-round one-to-one mentoring
Quarterly Scratch Nights (next: 20 February)
A 3-month Creative Residency (20 February – 3 May 2026)
Find out more and apply via the Barbican Theatre website - https://www.barbicantheatre.co.uk/pathways
If one of your first steps this year was simply finding out what opportunities exist, then you’ve already started. Positive change doesn’t have to happen all at once — or only in January. At Barbican Theatre, we’re here when you’re ready, in whatever way works for you.
By Sally Burne - Communities and Partnerships Producer
