News - Using performing arts to develop skills and improve wellbeing

Little Actors Theatre Company is supporting children and young people in Neston and the surrounding areas to engage with performing arts, having a lasting impact on their personal skills and wellbeing.

Operating for around 15 years, Little Actors hosts regular workshops, activities and festivals, mixing performing arts with skills that will support children and young people both personally and academically.

One of many recent successes for Little Actors is InterACT Youth Theatre once again being chosen to collaborate with the National Theatre on its Connections programme of new writing for young people.

Performances of Sycamore Gap by Al Smith will take place at Neston Town Hall during March 2026, before transferring to Crewe Lyceum the following month.

Samantha Gilbin, Artistic Director at Little Actors, said: “The kids are great and love it.

“We always do feedback forms with them, focusing on if they’re confident or learning skills.

“They want to be here, to do plays and theatre, so they love what we’re doing.

“There are also the soft skills they’re learning that they don’t realise, building confidence and speaking clearly.

“All of this is done under the guise of play.”

A member of Little Actors commented: “I think the community is my favourite bit as we can all come together, be ourselves and create new projects.”

• Visit the Little Actors website for more information

Little Actors and almost 50 other community sector organisations are part of Cheshire West Voluntary Action’s (CWVA) Children, Young People and Families (CYPF) Alliance.

The aim of the CYPF Alliance is to connect community sector organisations working in this area to form a collective voice, as well as offering a key point of contact for partners in the public sector at the same time.

On engaging with the CYPF Alliance, Samantha Gilbin added: “It’s really important having these collaborations.

“The networking has helped us pick up new clients and collaborations, and being able to raise our profile is so important when you’re a tiny organisation.

“We’ve also been able to take part in a wide range of useful training through CWVA, such as safeguarding and fundraising, which would’ve been difficult for us to access otherwise as we’re so small.

“CWVA is always interested in impact and outcomes, rather than just getting big numbers turning up, which is fantastic to have, particularly for an organisation like us in a rural area with a specific offer.”

Community sector organisations providing services in this area are welcome to join the CYPF Alliance. Get in touch with Clare Crerand, Strategic Lead for CYPF: clare.crerand@cwva.org.uk.

• Find out more about the CYPF Alliance