Schools and community groups from across Waterford have been visiting the theatre in recent weeks to take part in artist-led ‘Creating Green Shoots’ craft workshops, to generate awareness about urban biodiversity and encourage budding young (and not so young) artists to seek out alternative, eco-friendly materials to express their creativity.

Facilitated by artist Anouschka Joyce and happening with the support of Creative Ireland (Waterford), these workshops explored themes of regeneration and regrowth in nature, promoting well-being and mindfulness and encouraging participants to take in the colours, textures, movement and sounds of nature in new urban biodiversity garden.

Third to sixth class pupils in primary schools across Waterford entered a ‘Design a Bug Building’ to be in with a chance to win a free craft workshop with Anouschka at the theatre. The winning schools were De La Salle Stephen Street, Newtown Junior School and Passage East National School. And, as part of our ‘Greening the Theatre Royal’ outreach and engagement programme, a group from the Deise Mens’ Shed also visited the theatre and enjoyed a craft workshop.

We’re hoping to roll these workshops out to more schools across Waterford in 2023. Watch this space!!