Creative Engagement

Creative Engagement at Kiln Theatre

We create projects with and for people of all ages who live, learn or work in Brent and North West London. Our programmes encouraged people to have fun, connect, be creative, discover a career or an interest in theatre and have their voices heard.  

Happening now

Discover the projects and events you can currently get involved with

Learning

We believe all young people should have access to arts and culture, and see the wider benefits the arts can have on connection and building confidence.   

Arrive Build Create (formerly Minding the Gap) has been running for over 20 years, working with EAL and ESOL departments in local schools and colleges to provide creative drama based sessions for newly arrived young people. The project aims to develop creativity, confidence and engagement in the arts. We also have opportunities for participants to develop their skills further through the Arrive Build Create Trainees programme and the Young Company. We provide resources and training for teachers working with EAL/ESOL students.  

For Brent schools, we run free Backstage Workshops, Continuous Professional Development for teachers, School Residencies; a bespoke year-long programme designed with local schools to support the Drama curriculum and link to the industry. We also host Teacher Previews and provide free Resource Packs. We deliver Fullworks; a weeklong half term project which explores careers in theatre, open to students from Brent schools aged 14–16 and Placements (in partnership with Further and Higher Education centres). 

Participation

Our Participation work is rooted in Brent & North-West London and celebrated the unique cultural and artistic life of our local area. The Participation programme covers all work with and for local residents who are interested in engaging in theatre as aspiring artists or audiences, providing opportunities to have fun and socialise, or share stories with neighbours. We aim to listen to and advocate for the priorities, heritages and stories of local residents through co-creation. We host Dementia Friendly film screenings each month and Kiln Masterclasses every quarter, delivered by creatives from Kiln shows and Kiln Community Collaborators; a London Living Wage paid facilitation training programme.

From 2024-26 we’ve embarked on an ambitious community engaged heritage project. Celebrating Our Stories: the Kilburn High Road Project, celebrates and platforms the hidden stories of the High Road and the residents, artists, businesses and organisations who call Kilburn home. Across the first two years of the project, Kiln has engaged residents of all ages in co-created multi art-form activity, including events, performances and upskilling opportunities, delivering 284 workshops and events with and for over 2000 participants. 2026 marks the final year of the project, bringing the programme to a public-facing and exciting conclusion with the Kilburn High Road Festival – eight events across 16 days on the High Road; Capturing Kilburn, Sound of Kilburn, Passages, High Road Unframed, an Intergenerational Production performed by 80 local residents aged 7-91, and Neighbours, an employability upskilling programme. The focus of the festival is on sharing this work publicly, animating spaces along the High Road and inviting wider audiences to experience Kilburn’s stories and cultural heritage through theatre, music and visual art. The project has been supported by the Community Advisory Board; 12 key local stakeholders.

The project is made possible with The National Lottery Fund with thanks to National Lottery Players.