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Telford Theatre is excited to invite Telford’s children to participate in our creative writing and colouring projects inspired by the refurbishment of the Amphitheatre in Telford Town Park

 

Creative Writing Project – for children aged 8 to 11.

This year’s theme is: The Midnight Performance

All stories should begin with the sentence:

“Nobody expected the amphitheatre in Telford to come alive……”

Children aged 8–11 are invited to write an imaginative story based around the amphitheatre. The story could include mystery, adventure, animals, magic, music, time travel, hidden secrets, or unusual performances. We encourage children to use their imagination and create an exciting narrative inspired by the setting.

Ages 8 – 9: 300 – 500 words

Ages 10 – 11: 500 – 800 words

Children may present their work handwritten or typed.

Completed stories should be submitted by Friday 10^th July 2026. You can email them to [email protected] or hand them in to our friends at the Southwater One reception desk.

We look forward to reading the children’s creative and imaginative stories.

There will be a presentation at the opening weekend on 18th July with prizes for the most appealing stories in each age group:

Ages 8 – 9 Winner – A Family Ticket to an Amphitheatre show of the winner’s choice
Ages 8 – 9 Runner Up – An Amphitheatre Ticket Voucher for £15 (valid for any show at the Amphitheatre this summer)

Ages 10 – 11 Winner – A Family Ticket to an Amphitheatre show of the winner’s choice
Ages 10 – 11 Runner Up – An Amphitheatre Ticket Voucher for £15 (valid for any show at the Amphitheatre this summer)

Colouring Project – for children aged 5 to 7 and children with special educational needs

We are delighted to invite children in KS1 and SEND settings to take part in our exciting colouring competition inspired by the Amphitheatre in Telford.

Using the colouring sheet provided, children are encouraged to bring the amphitheatre to life with their imagination. Bright colours, creative designs and personal touches are all welcome. Whether it is a magical performance, colourful characters, animals, musicians or a scene full of fun and adventure, we would love to see each child’s unique creation.

Entries will be judged on creativity, imagination and effort, with every child encouraged to express themselves in their own way.

Completed artworks should be submitted by Friday 10 July 2026. You can hand them in to our friends at the Southwater One reception desk.

You can download the colouring sheet here – Amphitheatre Colouring

We’re looking forward to seeing the children’s  imaginative artwork and celebrating their creativity.

There will be a presentation at the opening weekend on 18th July with prizes for the most eyecatching artwork in each category:

Ages 5 – 7 Winner – A Family Ticket to an Amphitheatre show of the winner’s choice
Ages 5 – 7 Runner Up – An Amphitheatre Ticket Voucher for £15 (valid for any show at the Amphitheatre this summer)

SEND (all ages) Winner – A Family Ticket to an Amphitheatre show of the winner’s choice
SEND (all ages) Runner Up – An Amphitheatre Ticket Voucher for £15 (valid for any show at the Amphitheatre this summer)

We can’t wait to see your entries!

Following the announcement of ambitious plans to revitalise the Telford Town Park Amphitheatre, an exciting new season of live performances is set to take place across the Borough as Telford Theatre on Tour launches for 2026.

Following the announcement of ambitious plans to revitalise the Telford Town Park Amphitheatre, an exciting new season of live performances is set to take place across the Borough as Telford Theatre on Tour launches for 2026.

While Telford Theatre undergoes redevelopment as part of the Council’s wider investment in culture, the Theatre on Tour programme, in conjunction with Arts Alive, will bring high-quality arts and entertainment to local venues, parks and outdoor spaces. This approach ensures residents can continue to enjoy a rich cultural offer, with performances delivered directly in communities across Telford and Wrekin.

As part of this programme, the Telford Town Park Amphitheatre will once again host events, marking an important step in its reactivation ahead of planned improvements. Alongside performances in parks and community venues, this will create more opportunities for residents to enjoy outdoor theatre in unique and accessible settings.

The season will open with a special launch event at Telford Town Park Amphitheatre on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 July 2026, featuring performances showcasing local bands and family entertainment – offering an entertaining introduction to the summer programme.

Selected performances will also be accompanied by interactive workshops, including puppet making and flag making sessions, giving families and young people the chance to get creative and engage more deeply with the shows.

Together, the Theatre on Tour programme and the planned restoration of the Amphitheatre demonstrate the Council’s ongoing commitment to strengthening Telford and Wrekin’s cultural offer. By bringing performances closer to where people live, the programme supports wellbeing, encourages social connection and helps boost local footfall and visitor numbers.

Councillor Angela McClements, Telford & Wrekin Council Cabinet Member for Culture, Tourism and Leisure, said: “Telford Theatre on Tour is about bringing high-quality performances directly into our communities, making it easier than ever for residents to enjoy culture on their doorstep.

“Alongside the redevelopment of Telford Theatre and plans for the Amphitheatre, this programme represents a significant investment in our Borough – creating opportunities for people to come together, share experiences and take pride in our growing cultural offer.

“We are incredibly grateful and somewhat overwhelmed by the fantastic response from local bands and performers, who have come forward in such numbers and are working hard with us to help shape a line-up that celebrates both emerging local talent and a sense of nostalgia from years gone by.”

With events taking place throughout the summer at locations across the Borough, residents are encouraged to explore the programme and enjoy a wide range of cultural experiences close to home.

More information on the opening event will be available soon. For full listings and to book tickets, visit the Telford Theatre website.

Works to demolish the main theatre hall in Oakengates in preparation for a brand new state-of-the-art theatre are now underway.

The majority of the theatre is being completely rebuilt to transform both the exterior and interior of the building and provide a fantastic venue for residents and visitors to enjoy which will bring additional footfall to the town.

New facilities at the theatre will include:

A larger main auditorium
Modernised backstage facilities
A separate studio theatre to support community groups and smaller acts
A new community art room
A newly transformed foyer and theatre dining area
A new public bar with upgraded amenities

A series of pre works have already been completed including the demolition of the old Oakengates nursery and a soft stripping of the main auditorium.

In addition, a structural separation has also taken place between the old library, which will remain as a separate building, and the theatre building so it can be demolished safely.

Now Garvey Demolition will demolish the main theatre hall which has stood at the centre of Oakengates for decades.

The visitor experience will also be enhanced with new fully accessible facilities and a front of house hospitality offer.

Once reopen the Theatre will also compliment the investment into Limes Walk which is providing new homes, retail units and a new outdoor market provision as well as a new dedicated library at 6-8 Limes Walk.

Telford & Wrekin Council has received funding from central government and topped up the total funding investment to deliver the project.

In October, Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, visited the site of the new theatre to take a closer look at plans for the development giving it a national seal of approval.

Telford & Wrekin Council is investing £300 million into a range of new developments across Telford and Wrekin in Oakengates, at Station Quarter in Telford Town Centre and Wellington which are all part of the Investing in Telford and Wrekin programme.

The Council is committed to making the Borough a better place to live, work, learn and socialise through these high-profile investment projects.

Other investment in Oakengates includes the transformation of the 1960s shopping precinct into modern shop units with residential apartments above.

Councillor Lee Carter, Telford & Wrekin Council Leader, said:

“These are exciting times for Oakengates and Telford and Wrekin as we invest significantly in a range of projects across the Borough to make it a better place to live, learn, work and socialise for many generations to come.

“Telford Theatre is at the heart of our entertainment offering in the Borough and this new facility will bring a brand new theatre to Oakengates with some of the best facilities around.

“This demolition works is the next chapter in the project and we can’t wait to see the new theatre start to take shape.”

Telford Theatre will offer a more diverse cultural programme with the expansion of the main auditorium and new studio theatre which will benefit existing theatre patrons and attract new audiences from locally and beyond.

The Council is also committed to ensuring that free parking remains in Oakengates and across Borough towns where parking is currently free.

Councillor Angela McClements, Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure, Tourism, Culture and the Arts, said:

“While the old theatre building holds lots of special memories, this demolition works is making way for a fantastic new facility on our doorstep.

“The new theatre will make Oakengates a more exciting and vibrant place to be and boost the local economy, as well as reducing the theatre’s carbon footprint considerably.”

This investment is all part of Telford & Wrekin Council’s commitment to protect, care and invest to create a better Borough, whilst the Council continues to offer the lowest rates of council tax in the Midlands and some of the lowest in the country.

Hoarding has been installed around the demolition site and adjacent to the ramp leading up from the theatre car park to the town centre to secure the safety of the site for residents, businesses and visitors during the demolition works.

Businesses and shops in Oakengates are open as usual throughout the works.

Oliver Barby, Director at Garvey Demolition said:

“As a Telford based contractor working within the local area is important to us and it is a privilege to be involved in this scheme.

“The theatre holds many memories for our workforce who have had great times attending various events over the past 30 years and we will all look forward to using the new facility in the future.

“The demolition works to this point have been interesting as well as challenging to demolish such a building in a safe manner.

“We would like to thank Telford & Wrekin Council for supporting local contractors and giving us this opportunity.”

You can find out more about the Telford Theatre project here: Telford & Wrekin Council | Telford Theatre

We’re excited to announce we’ve moved a step closer to transforming Telford Theatre after submitting plans for approval.

We’ve received £15.5m from central government’s Levelling Up Fund and have topped up the total funding investment to £21.07m for the project which will be used to rebuild, remodel and expand the theatre.

Plans have been drawn up following a series of consultations with residents, businesses, stakeholders and theatre patrons, which have included public events and community surveys.

The majority of the theatre will be completely rebuilt, transforming both the exterior and interior, and creating a new customer experience.

You can read more and find out more about the plans here: Plans to transform Telford Theatre are submitted | Newsroom

The current theatre building is now nearly 60 years old and requires significant maintenance and upgrade in the next few years. The Levelling Up Funding is enabling us to largely rebuild, remodel and expand the theatre, with new entrances including one adjacent to the car park. This will ensure there is a modern theatre in Oakengates for many years to come.

This project complements the Telford Towns Fund Oakengates Theatre Quarter project, turning a 1960s precinct into a modern and welcoming visitor experience.

By drawing more people to Oakengates, our aim is to boost both daytime and evening economic activity, participation in culture and stimulate further investment to support the visitor economy in Oakengates and across the Borough.

The latest news and timeline can be seen here