“The Big House is a haven and a safe space. Creatively it’s your relief and it’s a place where I believe whoever has a hectic lifestyle can come and take a big deep breath, they can act or sing or dance or do whatever.”
JOIN US
THE BIG REASON TO JOIN
The Big House is a place for anyone who might be finding life difficult, it holds creativity at its core with wrap-around support and nurture. No experience needed, it’s about finding out what works for you.
- Take part in a creative project and work alongside industry professionals
- Develop transferable skills to prepare you for your next steps in employment, education or training
- Join a nurturing community, and get help, advice, and mentoring opportunities
- Make long-term connections, form friendships, and be part of a family
HOW TO
BECOME A MEMBER
Join one of our Spring or Autumn programs. Contact a member of our participation team who can let you know more about what we offer and help you find the right fit for you (over a cup of tea!). If you are a professional working with a young person whom you’d like to refer, you can refer someone to us here, or email [email protected].
OUR PROJECTS
The Get In (16-20 years): A wide variety of sessions in drama, music, movement, writing, and the chance to see a professional production. ‘The Get In’ is fun, fast-paced, and packed with exciting workshops that will give you a sense of who The Big House are and what we have to offer.
Open House Project (18-25 years): Our flagship programme that has been successfully running for over 10 years! A range of workshops focusing on life skills, employability, and drama. Sessions are tailored around the interests and passions of the group and aim to prepare them for their next steps in education, training, or employment. Participants go through an intensive rehearsal process and work with a professional creative team to produce a high-quality production. See some of our previous productions here.
“I would recommend people coming to The Big House for the first time to be a sponge, be open and absorb all the information they can and learn from it. Even things you think you know, forget about it and be a sponge and take everything in. The Big House saved me, it saved me from myself, my depression, and my head. It has opened so many doors for me that I can’t wait to walk through.”
BIG OPPORTUNITIES
We have a variety of in-house opportunities exclusively for members:Theatre trips
Socials
Creative workshops
Masterclasses
Professional facilitating opportunities
Professional opportunities in theatre and film
Careers fairs
Supper clubs
Members who demonstrate strong leadership skills and a passion for inspiring others can gain paid roles within The Big House, supporting new members in upcoming productions or working as a facilitator in our Big House Means Business workshops.
Through our creative partnerships, members can also access external opportunities such as bespoke work experience placements, internships, and 1:1 mentoring sessions with industry professionals. Some of our current partnerships include; BBC, ITV, Roundhouse, Bearded Kitten, The Pleasance, Casarotto Ramsey, LAMDA, Mark Haywood, Y-O-U-N-G, Cowboy Films, Old Vic, Barbican, London MET, Autograph Sound.
THE BIG MEMBERSHIP
Our members are the most powerful advocates we have, many of which have gone on to do incredible things since completing our programs.
Members of The Big House have gone on to gain professional credits in TV shows such as: Top Boy, Grime Kids, PRY, The Power, Britannia, Ted Lasso, Behind Her Eyes, Small Axe. They have performed on stages of the National Theatre, The Bridge Theatre, The Bush Theatre, Soho Place and The Royal Court.
You can find other members working brilliantly behind the scenes, in the Netflix costume department, in sound and creative events companies.
And others have taken their creative talents in different industries altogether! Look out for them in the mayor’s office, the civil service, the social services, working for real estate agents or publishing houses.
But whatever great stuff they’re up to, they know they can always come back to The Big House, to have a cup of tea and a chat, dance to a Christmas party, and mentor the new groups that are just at the beginning of their Big House journey.