The People’s Theatre Collective has launched a new weekly drama group for young people in Banbury, Oxfordshire, that is completely free to attend. The sessions began on January 12, 2026, and take place every Monday evening at The Mill Arts Centre. This initiative aims to give local teenagers a chance to explore creative skills without the burden of membership fees.
The group is open to anyone aged between 11 and 19 and runs from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM during the school term. Participants receive training in acting and technical production while gaining confidence in a supervised community setting. There are also regular opportunities for the members to perform on stage in front of an audience.
Organisers moved to a free model to ensure that money never stops a young person from taking part in the arts. The project is supported by local funding, and PTC has cited local grant programmes such as Cherwell District Council’s “Brighter Futures in Banbury” Community Insight Fund, which targets the Ruscote, Neithrop and Grimsbury wards.
By hosting the programme at The Mill Arts Centre, the collective provides access to professional lighting and theatre spaces. This helps fill a gap in local youth services at a time when Cherwell District Council is consulting on budget savings for 2026/27, increasing pressure on local youth provision.
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