fest!

Performing Arts Experiences for Young People

summer 23

28th june - 13th august

booking now open!

filter events by age
Age Filter

starting soon

for ages 8-11
Spy School Fun Day
Thu 2 May 2024
for ages 5-7
World’s Worst Fun Day
Thu 2 May 2024
for ages 5-9
Stitch Fun Day
Mon 6 May 2024
for ages 8-11
High School Musical: Scenes and Routines
Mon 6 May 2024
for ages 11+
The Unknown: an origin story
Fri 24 May to
 Mon 27 May 2024
for ages 8-11
Monster High Musical Showcase
Fri 24 May to
 Sun 26 May 2024
for ages 5-7
Disney Musical Spectacular
Fri 24 May to
 Sat 25 May 2024
age 3-4
The Snail and the Whale
Mon 27 May 2024
for ages 5-9
Pokemon Fun Day
Mon 27 May 2024

time hop

Travel through time with these performances based in different periods of history. A theatrical journey to the past!
fest!

deadly

Explore murderous tales and dark worlds .
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bloom

Life's Stages, Act by Act - A journey of learning, growing, and coming of age
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There are no events for this age group in this strand.

fantasy worlds

Explore worlds of magic, wonder and adventure.
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lolz

Write, improvise and perform in riotously funny performances featuring outrageous characters, ridiculous concepts and wacky plotlines.
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monstrous

Immerse yourself in a world of monsters, music and mayhem.
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splash

Set sail for captivating performances: Join us on a journey through a Sea of Stories!
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There are no events for this age group in this strand.

showcase

Welcome to the club! A variety showcase of song, dance and performance.
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one day stories

fun-packed, themed single day workshops
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There are no events for this age group in this strand.

backstage

for ages 12-21

a four day course covering set and costume design and build techniques, lighting and sound in a practical environment.

midsummer ball

for PACE members only aged 11-21

Celebrate the end of the youth theatre year and the beginning of Fest! Good food, music, the 22/23 Youth Theatre Awards all make for a memorable evening.

tickets £12 (includes buffet)  dress code fancy or formal

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wrap party

for fest! participants aged 9-21

Get your ticket for this year’s final performance – the Fest Wrap Party. Every week, after each 9+ event’s performance the show’s director will nominate three participants for that event’s ‘FESTA’. The results will be announced at our Fest! Awards Ceremony which will also feature extracts from Fest! performances.
For them and everyone else there will be good music, refreshments, fun and a few surprises! Don’t miss it!

tickets £7 (includes refreshments)  dress code smart casual

for ages 3-5

little adventurers

Welcome to the world of Little Adventurers!
We discover, explore, create, play, perform, have fun and so much more.

fest!

...perform stories

A unique opportunity for young children to help create a new story through themed games and fun activities. Four mornings culminate in a performance that includes elements of storytelling, music, poetry.

There are no events for this age group in this strand.

...explore stories

fun two hour storytelling and role play workshops

There are no events for this age group in this strand.

free little adventurer mini bear!

We have a limited number of mini Little Adventurer bears, free for little adventurers making a booking of Little Adventurer events over £60.  Maximum one bear per participant.  Collect from Spires Studios. Subject to availability.

Fest! FAQ

Most frequent questions and answers

At PACE our aim is to offer a unique and varied artistic programme, which offers young people of all ages the chance to participate, learn and perform or in a whole variety of bespoke performing arts experiences during the school holidays. Whatever you are interested in we have something for you – from classic to contemporary texts, devising, physical theatre, comedy, musical theatre and site-specific performances.

All our events promote confidence, self-esteem and self-expression as well as teamwork and collaboration skills. On top of this each individual event focuses on developing different creative skills and you can see some of the varied range of skills that will be covered listed under each event description. The very core of our ethos is about developing each young person and giving them the chance to be part of a fun and creative environment in which they can express themselves and be who they want to be.

So, what are you waiting for? Do something different this year, something you’ve never done before, and be part of Fest!; make new friends, take risks, create incredible performances, learn new skills and make memories to last a lifetime.

We cannot wait for you to join us!

In certain venues tickets may be limited to 2 or 3 per participant.  We will let you know when show tickets are available and how to book.

For those not taking part or who know people taking part in Fest! why not come along and see some of the performances. Tickets for shows are not included in the price of the events. Ticket prices vary and are detailed on each event description. Concessionary tickets are available up to all PACE members, age 21 or under, as well as over 65’s, students, registered disabled, and those receiving means tested benefits.
You can book tickets for all performances at any time during the summer. Shows normally last 30-60 mins. Get yours early to avoid disappointment.

To book tickets call 0345 130 5218 or click www.pacetheatre.com/boxoffice

* booking fees apply to online purchases

If you need to cancel a place on one of our events we will offer a full refund until 48 hours before the event. We cannot guarantee a full refund if you cancel after this time, but if there are extenuating circumstances please contact us to discuss.   

Events have strictly limited capacity so we ask you to let us know as soon as possible if you need to cancel, so we can make the place available to someone else.

PACE is a registered charity.

PACE is a self-sufficient, non-profit making company and registered charity so all of our membership charges go towards improving the quality of service we provide to young people.

Member Discounts

Current PACE members with an active subscription can get a 15% discount.  Please make sure you are signed into your account before booking and the discount will be automatically applied.

Concessionary Places

We have a limited number of concessionary places for families receiving certain means-tested benefits, at 50% discount on normal fees. These will be allocated on a first-come first served basis, and each participant is entitled to the following: 

Summer events – up to 2 weeks
Oct/Feb/Easter/May events – up to 1 week

Please call us on 0345 130 5218 before booking.

Please wear casual, comfortable clothes and appropriate footwear to workshops.  Please do not wear non-essential jewellery. Mobiles phones are not permitted to be used during workshops or rehearsals.  Please bring water and a packed lunch for all day events.

Please do not bring expensive clothing or other items to PACE. We cannot accept responsibility for any items lost, stolen or damaged.

Please inform us of any medical condition or special needs when booking. All information will be treated in confidence.

PACE aims to make our workshops as inclusive as possible and will try and make appropriate adjustments for young people with additional needs, within the confines of our resources. If your child has any additional support needs please talk to us about it in advance.

at a glance

all events by age group

Age Filter
“..an extremely useful experience that helps to build so many skills that you will use every day of your life. Not only that, you will have such a fun time and meet so many amazing people while doing it.”
Daniel, 17
“Wonderful opportunity to take part in sessions in a safe, fun setting, excellent coaching. My child doesn’t want to spend summer anywhere else!”
Judith (parent)
“Brilliant fun, great way of making new friends. Love being able to improve acting, singing and dancing skills”
Ross, 15
“Fest is an amazing opportunity to push yourself and learn whilst also getting to perform in a wide variety of shows. You learn incredible skills over a short period of time. It is such a fun and worthwhile experience and a great way to spend some of your holidays!”
Amy, 16
“Fest is something I’ve done every summer and easter for almost 10 years, it’s a ton of fun and I’ve made so many good friends because of it, 100% would recommend.”
Lana, 14
“What I love about PACE’s summer program is that it’s a fun and passion filled experience with the chance to sing, dance, act and perform after a week of intense rehearsal, all while spending time with friends and meeting new people. It’s truly one of the best ways to spend summer!”
Rebecca, 16
“I spent some of the best weeks of my teenage years at Fest. Within a week, we created brilliant shows from scratch and made friends for life and it helped my confidence grow.”
Anna, 21

Fest! is supported by

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Watch the short film

Get a sense of what it’s like taking part in our Fest! events. Check out our Summer Fest short film from 2011.

Play Video