A theatre school based in Greater Manchester has been named a Trinity Champion Centre just two years after opening, in recognition of its outstanding contribution to performing arts education and community inclusion.
The Karen Ryder Theatre School, which holds weekly classes across Bury and Bolton for children aged four to eighteen, has built a growing reputation for nurturing confidence, creativity, and opportunity in young people. The award from Trinity College London celebrates centres that go above and beyond in delivering high-quality arts education through accredited exams.
Founder, Karen Ryder said the recognition reflects the school’s ethos of inclusion and exploration. “We work with local schools, offer scholarships, and create access to the arts for students who might not normally get the chance,” she said. “To be named a Champion Centre is a massive deal for us, especially so soon after our second birthday.”
The school supports children from all backgrounds to engage in drama, dance and performance, offering workshops with professionals, Q&As with actors and creatives, and visits to theatres and events. It also provides opportunities for work experience and helps students work towards Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
Beyond the classroom, the school collaborates with primary and secondary schools to run enrichment programmes, curriculum-linked drama sessions, and after school clubs. It recently started delivering 'family drama nights' to involve parents and carers in their child’s creative journey.
Karen went on to explain that the school fills a gap between informal drama groups and high-pressure stage schools. “If you imagine a line of drama provision,” she said, “at one end you've got a fun club where children make friends and grow confidence, and at the other, professional training for a stage career. We sit in the middle. We offer the fun and the support, but also the structure and ambition.”
Through its partnership with Trinity College, the school offers a range of drama and performance qualifications, and is praised for focusing on the learning process, not just the final product.
“It’s not just about exams or being on stage,” Karen said. “It’s about giving young people a safe space to be themselves, try new things and discover who they want to become. And I get to be a big kid every day too, which is a bonus.”
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