Bloom Festival 2026

Join our Youth Theatre as they perform this fantastic double-bill as part of Bloom festival: https://theatreroyal.org/events/little-criminals-the-wardrobe/

 

One show, TWO plays! Performed by our fantastic Youth Theatre groups as part of BLOOM Festival:

8-11’s Youth Theatre presents:

Little Criminals by Evan Placey

You know the tales… but have you heard every side of the story? Join Little Red Riding Hood, Peter Pan, Goldilocks and many more famous characters as they take to the stand and face their fate. Who are the real baddies here? The trial of the Little Criminals is about to begin.

12-16’s Youth Theatre presents:

The Wardrobe by Sam Holcroft – in association with Nick Hern Books.

“’That’s what a wardrobe is for – to guard your secrets. Warden, warder, wardrobe. And it is nearly one hundred and fifty years old. So imagine what secrets it has kept guard over in all that time.” Across seven centuries, small groups of children seek sanctuary in the same solid old wardrobe. It’s the safest place they know – but is it safe enough?

 

 

Bloom Festival – Dance Masterclass with Rosy May

Ticket price: FREE or Pay What You Can

Young People’s Session: 10am Adult’s Session: 6pm

30th March: www.theatreroyal.org/events/introduction-to-puppetry/

Spend your evening in a fun and freeing dance workshop on our stage.

Learning new routines in a relaxed environment, led by highly-skilled dance practitioner, Rosy May.

Rosy May’s dance style takes inspiration from the four elements of nature and fuses many styles from around the globe.​​​​​

 

Dive into a world of imagination and play with our SEN (Special Educational Needs) Creative Play Workshop. These workshops are specially designed to celebrate diversity and cater to varying abilities and needs.

 

 

Bloom Festival – An Introduction To Stage Combat

Ticket price: FREE or Pay What You Can

11-13s, 10am, 31st March: https://theatreroyal.org/events/an-introduction-to-stage-combat-for-young-people-11-13/

14-17s, 1pm 31st March: https://theatreroyal.org/events/an-introduction-to-stage-combat-for-young-people-14-17/

Adults, 6pm, 31st March: https://theatreroyal.org/events/an-introduction-to-stage-combat-for-adults/

Always wanted to learn hand-to-hand combat? Or master the karate kick? Well, now you can with guidance from Cameron Carlson, our Stage Combat expert. Cameron will teach you all you need to know about how to master unarmed stage combat techniques and how to perfect that perfect swing without hurting anyone (or yourself)! Join this exciting session and leave with some brand-new skills!

 

Bloom Festival – Branching Out: A New Writing Night

Ticket price: FREE or Pay What You Can

7pm, 1st April: https://theatreroyal.org/events/theatre-royal-new-writing-night/

Settle in at our Greene Room Bar for an inspiring evening of brand-new plays, poetry, and prose from local writers.

Branching Out is a welcoming, relaxed event for both emerging and experienced writers to share fresh work in front of a friendly, supportive audience. It’s also a chance for you to discover never-before-seen pieces, and enjoy creativity in an informal, intimate setting. Throughout the night, you’ll experience a vibrant mix of short plays, poetry, and prose by talented local voices, making it the perfect opportunity to encounter something new, connect with like-minded people, and celebrate original storytelling.

 

Bloom Festival – Children’s Story Time At The Library

Ticket price: FREE or Pay What You Can

10am, 1st April: https://theatreroyal.org/events/childrens-story-time-at-the-library/

Inspire your little person to explore the world around them through the power of stories.

Join our brilliant storyteller Hatty Ashton as she reads the legend of Saint Edmund and the Wolf ‘There’s a Head in My Bed‘ followed by crafts and story making in this fun, relaxed two-hour session.

This session will take place at Bury St Edmunds Library. 

 

Bloom Festival – Playwriting For Adults

Ticket price: FREE or Pay What You Can

6pm, 2nd April: https://theatreroyal.org/events/an-introduction-to-playwriting-for-adults/

Want to take your first steps towards writing a play but aren’t sure where to start? Feel like trying a new skill? Maybe you’ve written before but want to learn a new approach to storytelling?
This two-hour workshop with playwright Eilish Mullane will support you to generate ideas from a theme, create characters and start building a plot. No previous experience necessary!

 

Bloom Festival – An Introduction To Set and Costume Design For Young People

Ticket price: FREE or Pay What You Can

10am, 2nd April: https://theatreroyal.org/events/an-introduction-to-set-costume-design/

What does it take to bring drawings to life? Think Dame dresses, intricate sets, historical costume and anything you can dream of – expert Set and Costume Designer Heidi will take you through the process of designing for the stage in this two-hour creative workshop!

 

 

Bloom Festival – Speak With Confidence

Ticket price: FREE or Pay What You Can

10am, 7th April: https://theatreroyal.org/events/an-introduction-to-public-speaking-at-the-library/

An interactive workshop that helps you build confidence in speaking, manage nerves, and communicate clearly in real-life situations like interviews, presentations, online and everyday conversations. Designed for ages 16+, it offers practical tools and supportive exercises to help you express yourself with confidence and ease.

This session takes place at the Bury St Edmunds Library.

 

Bloom Festival – Arts and Crafts Morning at Joy Connection

Ticket price: FREE or Pay What You Can

10am, 7th April: https://theatreroyal.org/events/arts-crafts-morning-at-joy-connection/

Let your creativity bloom with our Arts and Crafts session, suitable for ages 5+.

Create your very own tin can bee, perfect for your garden or house plant and get creative making foam flowers for it to enjoy! Join us in this relaxed arts and crafts session at Joy Connection in Bury St Edmunds with the lovely folk at The Crafty Foxes!

This event takes place at Joy Connection.

 

Bloom Festival – Family and Friends Singing Masterclass

Ticket price: FREE or Pay What You Can

10am, 8th April: https://theatreroyal.org/events/family-friends-singing-masterclass/

Come along with your family, friends or just on your own for this relaxed and fun singing workshop with Tom Appleton!

Tom will take you through singing exercises to get the most out of your voice whilst helping you to perform songs you know and love, as a group.

 

 

 

 

Bloom Festival – Making Magic For Young People at The Library

Ticket price: FREE or Pay What You Can

10am, 8th April: https://theatreroyal.org/events/making-magic-workshop-at-the-library/

In this hands-on workshop, young magicians will learn how to turn everyday objects into amazing magic tricks and discover the secrets to performing them with confidence and flair! Learn from professional Magician and Mind Reader David Whitney, and astonish your friends with your new skills.

 

 

Bloom Festival – An Introduction To Puppetry for Young People at The Library

Ticket price: FREE or Pay What You Can

1pm, 9th April: https://theatreroyal.org/events/an-introduction-to-puppetry-for-young-people/

Want to learn how to create a character through puppetry? Join actor and puppeteer Ashton Owen for a two-hour introduction to the fundamentals of puppetry. Using brown paper and everyday household objects, you will explore puppetry techniques; experimenting with movement, storytelling, and imagination while learning how puppeteers bring inanimate objects to life.

 

Bloom Festival – An Introduction To Clowning For Adults

Ticket price: FREE or Pay What You Can

1pm, 11th April: https://theatreroyal.org/events/an-introduction-to-clowning-for-adults/

Spend an afternoon “clowning around” with our comedy and clowning expert. Explore a range of dramatic techniques whilst playing games and encouraging each other to be a little bit sillier…

 

 

Be part of Bloom festival and learn a new skill, meet new people and watch high-quality theatre.