A STUDLEY theatre company is celebrating after winning three awards within its first year.
Aunty Jen Productions grew out of the Studley community during lockdown, and thanks to overwhelming support from both near and far, as well as backing from the Arts Council and now the National Lottery, it has gone from strength to strength.
The group started with a government-funded project through the ‘Welcome Back’ scheme which saw young people investigating the history of Studley.
Artistic director at Aunty Jen Productions, Jen Rigby said: “In the Midlands Enterprise Awards, we were named Most Community Focussed Theatre Co 2022 – our costume volunteers were winners of the Culture and Heritage Award in the South Warks WCAVA celebrations and most recently we have been named ‘Theatre Company of the Year’ in the Corporate Livewire Global Awards.
“We’re so proud of everyone and it’s amazing to think how many performances we’ve done in the past year.
“Throughout the last year we’ve done several events, including Platinum Jubilee Celebrations, which raised over £3,500 for NHS Charities, including NHS Charities Together, Acorns Hospice and The Wellness Garden at the Alex.”
Aunty Jen Productions also held a theatre academy, where young people got involved with the theatre props.
Jen added: “Our Theatre Academy was a great success and I will never forget seeing 30 young people playing pirate ships for a whole afternoon with nothing more than a couple of traffic cones, a pallet and plenty of enthusiasm for shooting cannons at the ‘sharks’ that surrounded the ship.
“Through the production of Peter Pan we raised a further £280 for Great Ormond Street Hospital.
“It’s been an amazing year and I can’t wait for our third pantomime Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.”
Visit auntyjenproductions.co.uk for more information.
