Your skills can help transform young lives through theatre

Mousetrap Theatre Projects is a charity that believes passionately in the power of theatre to transform young lives. They work to engage, educate and inspire young people through theatre, particularly young people who experience disadvantage – whether economic, social or through a learning or sensory disability.

The charity was created when their Chairman, Sir Stephen Waley-Cohen, bought the production rights to the world’s longest running play Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap. He believed it was time the play gave something back and so he set up an education charity to bring disadvantaged young people into the West End to experience theatre. The charity now reaches over 15,000 children and young people each year through 18 distinct programmes tailored for schools, youth groups, individuals and families.

While many theatres work within their own community, Mousetrap takes young people who rarely leave their local area into London’s centre for their theatre visits.

    
They broaden their horizons, inspire them by showing them what is beyond their doorstep and open their eyes to London’s incredible theatre scene. Being independent of any theatre, venue or producer, they are in the unique position to work across the breadth of London theatre, with the freedom to choose shows from across the spectrum – plays, musicals, dance, opera - that will stimulate and inspire young people.

Gayle Bryans, Mousetrap’s Head of Development said, “We break down barriers - financial, practical and social - which prevent young people from enriching their lives through the arts. In a world where most young people receive all of their media through screens, live performance becomes a rare and magical experience.

“We expand and challenge young minds – theatre immerses us in lives and situations beyond our daily experience. It helps make us inquisitive, open-minded, tolerant and creative human beings. We use drama to build confidence, self-esteem and aspiration - in young people who live difficult lives, such as young carers, economically deprived, homeless, young offenders.”

Over the last 20 years Mousetrap has taken an entrepreneurial approach to growing its programmes. And the charity now wishes to take stock and explore whether a more proactive and strategic approach to marketing planning could help them unlock greater benefits for disadvantaged young people in the UK.

(Photo credit: Alex Rumford).

Marketing support needed:
Mousetrap is looking for help with creating a marketing strategy to help them engage new donors and gain more public recognition for their great work.

If you would like to contribute your strategic marketing talent to help Mousetrap provide more inspiration to more young people please get in touch with Anna Mullenneaux, Pimp My Cause’s Chief Match Maker, at [email protected].