Derby LIVE Competitors

The Royal Shakespeare Company is a leading global theatre company that sparks local, national and international conversations that build connections, create opportunities and bring joy. We passionately believe that great storytelling can change the world, and that theatre offers its own unique form of storytelling: it’s live and shared, and transforms a group of strangers into audiences who, together, experience a story come to life in front of their eyes. We collaborate with the most exciting artists to tell the stories of our time, and through a range of programmes we nurture the talent of the future. We perform on three stages in our home in Stratford-upon-Avon, in London and in communities and schools across the country and around the world. Our transformative Creative Learning and Engagement programmes reach over half a million young people each year. Registered charity no. 212481

Birmingham Hippodrome is one of the UK’s busiest and most vibrant arts venues. Proudly based in the heart of Birmingham, we are an independent charity, run by a board of voluntary trustees with no regular funding from public sources. We are on a mission to provide that “goosebumps” feeling through memorable and extraordinary experiences with a vision for a “distinctive, world-class Birmingham cultural scene with the Hippodrome at its heart”. Our rich history spans over 125 years, with the Hippodrome now welcoming over 600,000 paid visitors a year to our main house and Patrick Studio. In 2023, we established our New Musical Theatre department, the first of its kind in the UK, dedicated to developing the artform from a base outside of London. Our New Work & Artist Development department focuses on creating a home for over 1,300 West Midlands artists, providing a new platform for networking and developing work within the region. We work with a range of partners on our hugely successful Festivals programme of off-site work, drawing in over 250,000 visitors a year. Our Hippodrome Education Network delivers creative activities in over 20 partner schools. Additionally, we engage with young people from across the region through other programmes of work, including curtain raiser performances, our Hippodrome youth theatres and Young Advocates scheme. To learn more visit: birminghamhippodrome.com

At Nottingham Playhouse we make bold and thrilling theatre. It is world-class, made in Nottingham and as diverse as our community. Situated in Nottingham city centre, Nottingham Playhouse puts on a wide variety of drama, music, dance, comedy and of course, the legendary Nottingham Playhouse pantomime. Nottingham Playhouse has been one of the United Kingdom’s leading producing theatres since its foundation in 1948. Touring work nationally and internationally, the Playhouse remains firmly rooted in its vibrant home city, where its spacious modernist building – fronted by Anish Kapoor’s Sky Mirror – is one of the region’s most popular landmarks. Within these walls we create productions large and small: timeless classics, enthralling family shows and adventurous new commissions. As a charity, we constantly fundraise to ensure that everyone in our community can access world-class theatre. We welcome support from businesses through sponsorship and project partnerships and rely on the generosity of donors and funders to continue our creative and community work.