Co-op Juniors Theatre Company
Entertaining Suffolk for over 80 years
- Exceptional shows from our Theatre Company
- Theatre Academy – dance classes for everyone
- Hire – costumes, scenery and props
About the Co-op Juniors Theatre Company
The largest youth musical theatre company in the UK is proud to work with young people aged from 7 to 21 to produce vibrant, innovative and original theatre experiences.
With over 80 years’ heritage, our ambitious approach has won us regional and national recognition.
We bring together talented young people aged 7–21 from all backgrounds to create vibrant, innovative and original productions across Suffolk’s leading venues.
Our mission is simple: to give young people the opportunity to learn new skills, express themselves, build confidence and shine on stage – all while having fun and being part of something special. Many of our alumni have gone on to successful careers in the performing arts, and we’re proud to have played a role in their journey.
What we do
The Theatre Company
Auditions are held for every show, and we welcome anyone to come and try out. The Audition workshops are a great experience and confidence builder for young people wanting to try performing arts.
Bursary fund
In honour of Pauline Walker, an inspirational director for over four decades, the Pauline Walker Bursary Fund helps us ensure that financial barriers never stand in the way of creativity.
The Theatre Academy
The foundation of our organisation – our Academy runs around 40 dance and performance classes each week during term time and workshops during school holidays. We also hold an annual showcase.
Anyone is welcome to take part in our Academy classes, and you can try any of them for free.
They are great-value classes, led by qualified and experienced tutors in our own warehouse studios in Ipswich and at Cedarwood School in Kesgrave.
Many of our Academy members do go on to become Company members.
Hire
We stock over 30,000 costumes, including complete sets for musicals such as Les Misérables, Oliver!, Beauty and the Beast, Shrek, Billy Elliot, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Cats, Alice in Wonderland and many more
We have a huge selection of high quality speciality props (many for specific shows), furniture and set elements, Steeldeck staging rostra and two revolving stages.
Theatre groups, schools, colleges and events companies across the south of England hire from us, and we can deliver and collect if required. We also provide a set and prop making resource with dedicated designers and artists and have supplied complete installations for the National Trust at Ickworth House for two years.
If you’d like to talk to us about the Theatre Company, the Academy, or the Hire, please use our contact form via the link below.
A team member will get back to you as soon as possible.