Grant allows for 30 Northampton children to become new radio hosts

A Northampton theatre group has recieved up to £5,000 in funding for 30 school children to learn how to become a radio broadcaster.

Looking Glass Arts and Heritage was awarded £4,993 in June to create a series of podcasts called Lockdown - Our World - Our Voice.

After they complete the shows this month, they will be packaged together and broadcasted in September on a new weekly arts and heritage radio station.

The idea is the brainchild of James Smith who co-owns the theatre company. He said: "During lockdown obviously you put pen to paper and think of different ways of engaging an audience as we couldn't produce theatre at that time.

"We wanted to engage listeners through radio, so we applied to Northamptonshire Community Foundation for a radio project for young people to produce a series of podcasts which would be applied to our world."

During August the programme which trains the youngsters in editing and broadcasting skills, will be taking applications from children and teenagers aged between 10 and 18.

James added: "We are hopeful that through the project they will want to become members of the theatre group or perhaps think radio might be for them and go into the world of radio when they reach 18.

"The generous grant has allowed us to pay for professionals and their time, rental space, software and hardware and to get a recording process to take place which will hopefully build the foundations of an arts and heritage radio station."

Looking Glass Arts & Heritage, who will be first theatre group to grace the stage at the Derngate since lockdown next week, provide support for young actors as well as arts and heritage opportunities such as the ghostly town Mystery Tours.

The organisation is able to offer 30 free places on the project, which will be based at the historic Hazelrigg House in the town centre where Oliver Cromwell was rumoured to have spent the night before the battle of Naseby in 1645.

For more information and to book your place, email [email protected].