Cheltenham Theatre Centre 'Vitally Important,' Says Actor Josh O'Connor

Famous actor Josh O'Connor has opened a brand-new theatre education centre in Cheltenham, the town where he grew up. The centre cost £1 million to buy and fix up, and it will give young people and families a place to learn about the performing arts. O'Connor, who is best known for playing Prince Charles in Netflix's The Crown, said the centre is 'vitally important' for kids who want to act, sing, or dance. He officially cut the ribbon at the new Everyman Theatre education centre earlier this week.

O'Connor, who is 36 years old, attended the Everyman's youth theatre when he was young. He said learning drama was 'an incredible gift' and that the new space was a 'great opportunity for young people and old people and everyone in between.' Before he became a famous actor, O'Connor even worked at a local Waitrose supermarket. He went on to star in films alongside big names like Daniel Craig in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.

O'Connor also remembered a place called the Axiom arts centre, which used to sit in the same part of town. He said it was 'an amazing space for learning the arts and crafts.' The Axiom closed in 2000 after people raised concerns about how it was being run, and the building was sold in 2005. O'Connor said its loss 'left a big hole in the community' and that there is still a shortage of community spaces for people to gather and create.

The new centre is now located on Grove Street, inside a building that used to be a community venue. It will be a permanent home for the Everyman Theatre's Education and Community Department. The theatre plans to offer free and low-cost programmes there, including youth choirs, family clubs, and dance classes for older adults. There will also be special sessions for people living with dementia.

One young person who knows just how much the Everyman Theatre can change a life is Charis, 17, from Cheltenham. She started attending the youth theatre when she was just seven years old and hopes to study musical theatre at university one day. She said the theatre had 'changed my life around for the better.' Charis was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at age nine — a serious illness that can damage the lungs and digestive system — and said the diagnosis 'really flipped my life upside down.'

For Charis, the youth theatre became 'a big escape' from the challenges of her illness. She came to the new Grove Street centre for classes over the summer and loved every moment of it. She said it was a place where she could truly be herself because she was 'surrounded by people that I've got to know and doing the thing I love.' Her story shows exactly why the theatre's leaders say the new centre matters so much.

The Everyman Theatre's chief executive, Mark Goucher, said the work is not done yet. The theatre still needs to raise £170,000 every year just to keep the centre open and running. Goucher said, 'Our job is now to keep it running and keep it open... so that we can carry on delivering great work down here.' He added that the project is about 'giving opportunities to children who may not necessarily have had those opportunities.' He believes that, just like theatre has changed lives before, the Grove Street centre will do the same.