Fourth Wall was awarded a Heritage Lottery Fund grant to both train young cultural leaders of the future and provide younger performers the opportunity to take part in three unique theatre productions inspired by Winterbourne House and Garden in Edgbaston.

Working with Fourth Wall Creative Director Lucy Bailey-Wright a Youth Board of 17 - 25 year olds created and ran an exciting free drama summer school for 11- 18 years olds, culminating with three performances and an exhibition inspired by themes linked to Winterbourne. 

The two-week drama summer school ran from 7th - 18th August. Working from a base in Northfield the group of 11-18 year olds created three theatre performances on the themes of Leaders of the Past, Women’s Education and Communication. . 

The Nettlefold family built the Arts and Crafts House in 1903. The young performers explored the contrast of Winterbourne house and the Moor Pool estate in Harborne that influential town planner John Nettlefold helped develop, as well as the Back to Back slum housing in Birmingham city centre, which he helped to clear.

17 -25 year old Youth Board

The flexible work experience for Youth Board members ran from June to November and allowed participants to undertake the project alongside their current work, college or university studies. Working with Fourth Wall they received a personal work and training plan that reflected their own interests, skills needs and time commitment.