PACE Theatre Company facts for kids

PACE Theatre Company is a special group in Paisley, Scotland, that helps young people get involved in theatre. It's a charity, which means it doesn't make money for itself but uses it to help others. PACE started in 1988.

This company does a lot of different things. It has a professional theatre group that puts on shows and also teaches about theatre in schools. There's also the PACE Youth Theatre, where many young people learn acting. PACE Casting helps young actors find roles, and PACE Media Productions makes educational videos.

In 2018, Jenni Mason became the Artistic Director, and Grant Mason became the Chief Executive. Later that year, PACE updated its look and changed how its youth theatre classes worked. Many famous people, like Richard Madden, Paolo Nutini, and James McAvoy, were once part of PACE when they were younger.

Fun with Pantomime

PACE Theatre Company has put on a fun pantomime show every year at Paisley Arts Centre since 1988. These shows are a big tradition!

In 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, PACE got creative. They moved their pantomime online! It was called Lost in Pantoland and people could watch it on YouTube and Zoom. It starred Chris Alexander, Alan Orr, Darren Brownlee, and Dani Heron.

PACE Youth Theatre: Your Stage to Shine

PACE Youth Theatre is a huge part of PACE Theatre Company. It has been helping young people learn about theatre since 1988. It started in Paisley Arts Centre and was once known as Paisley Youth Theatre.

Today, PACE Youth Theatre is based at Spires Drama Studios in Paisley. It's very popular, with almost 3,000 young members!

Fest! Holiday Workshops

Fest! is a super exciting program that PACE runs during school holidays. Children and young people, from ages 3 to 21, can join for a week. During this week, they work together to create a show!

These shows are often based on popular movies, plays, or musicals. Past shows have included Encanto and High School Musical. At the end of the week, families get to watch the young performers on a real stage. PACE also helps kids who might not be able to afford it by offering free or cheaper places in these workshops.

Sma Shot: A Paisley Story

Every year, PACE Youth Theatre members perform a special show called "Sma Shot." This play tells an important story from Paisley's history. It's about a time in the 1800s when the weavers of Paisley had a big disagreement with their bosses, called Corks.

The show is performed on the first Saturday of July. It's a great way for young actors to learn about their local history and share it with the community.

Famous Former Students

Many talented people who are now famous started their journey at PACE. Here are some of them:

• Amy Conachan
• Kevin Guthrie, actor
• Shauna Macdonald, actress
• Richard Madden, actor
• James McArdle, actor
• James McAvoy, actor
• Paolo Nutini, musician
• Scott Reid
• Mark Rowley, actor
• David Sneddon, singer-songwriter