Rachel Triggs - Routes Theatre Company S1 E9 (podcast)

It was lovely to speak to Rachel Triggs, a person with passion and purpose, she established the Routes Theatre Company with a focus on building young people's life skills and opening dialogue about community and social issues. The theatre company champions young people who want to pursue careers in the arts, smashing down outdated misinformation about it being an unrealistic and unviable career option. They've started interviewing creatives living and working in Essex to give advice to young people vishing to pursue careers in the industry. One of the ways they reach them is through a monthly newsletter.

Before lockdown Rachel managed the community and education department at Southend Theatres. Meanwhile, with a drama degree under her belt she is using her experience to help young people and she has also reached out to creatives in the Castle Point area and has started the Castle Point Creatives Facebook page.

We also spoke about the need for participatory arts projects for young people in Essex. As Rachel says, "Drama is shifting down and down in the agenda in schools. A lot of Essex is saturated with performing arts schools but there is a gap".

We touched many related subjects including the arts scene in South Essex and differences between boroughs.

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Lisa Horner Writer & Artist

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