As part of our commitment to youth voice, we are running 3 sessions over the next few months.

These are creative consultations open to anyone up to the age of 18 interested in music. Anyone attending is invited to bring along friends. We'll use the time to do a fun activity and discuss music: from genre-preferences to career goals. 

All sessions will take place at our space in Mayflower Studios (142 Above Bar St, SO14 7BL) with lots of snacks! This is a great opportunity to take part in a fun and free creative activity, and visit our recording space. 

These sessions will be led by Philippa! (Signposting and Youth Governance Worker for South Coast Music Partnership)

17/02/26 - Collage evening:

Come along for the chance to chill out and create a personalised collage while we chat about your music progression. There'll be snacks, music (submit song choices on the sign-up sheet) and the chance to take home your creation.

10/03/26 - Puppet-making session:

Could you create Sockbrina Carpenter, Jimi Handrix, or Elphaba's friend Soq? During this session, we'll teach you to build a sock puppet and ask that you build a music figure that's relevant to you - perhaps a musician, a singer-songwriter, a character from a musical or someone else? I look forward to finding out who you create and why!

16/03/26 -  Podcast recording:

Have you ever wanted to try your hand at hosting a podcast? Or just being a guest? However you feel, we want to invite you to create your own podcast episode! We'd like your podcast to be themed around music as a career but the rest is up to you, in return you'll be sent the final episode fully edited. 

If any of this is of interest to you please sign up here or by scanning the QR code on the attached poster. Come along to as many sessions as you'd like! 

First Encounters is the Royal Shakespeare Company’s touring production, designed to be the perfect introduction to Shakespeare.

Touring to schools and venues across the UK, it is aimed at 7- to 13-year-olds, but is also suitable for parents and members of the community who might be encountering Shakespeare for the first time.

The focus is very much on the storytelling, to bring the audience along with the narrative.

This 80-minute version of King Lear uses an edited version of the original play to create the perfect introduction for young people.

A king announces that he will divide his kingdom between his three daughters according to how much they love him. Lear thinks he will live out his old age with all of the comforts of kingship, and none of the responsibility. But the eldest two daughters, Goneril & Regan, have other ideas in mind – and he has given away all power to stop them. His vanity has devastating consequences for family, nation and climate.

First Encounters: King Lear makes Shakespeare’s play about family, power and betrayal relevant for a new generation of theatregoers.

When is it: 4 November 2025 at 1.30pm

Where is it: Mayflower Studios

How to attend: Tickets are £10. Schools can sign up to attend by contacing Mayflower Studios via this form.

The tour of First Encounters: King Lear is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, which makes it possible for the RSC to expand its tour to work in partnership with more places across England.

Our partners Art Asia present: Tribute to Lata Mangeshkar, a concert by Karan Rana and Pooja Angra.

Brother and Sister duo Pooja and Karan will be paying tribute to the Nightingale of India – Swar Kokila Lata Mangeshkar. They will be performing timeless melodies spanning various genres from Lata Mangeshkar’s repertoire. Lata Mangeshkar’s legendary voice was the soundtrack for many generations of cinemagoers. Her contribution to the Indian music industry in a career spanning eight decades gained her honorific titles such as the “Queen of Melody” and “Voice of the Millennium”. The show promises to be a nostalgic trip for the fans of Lata Mangeshkar.

The concert will also feature high octane Sufi music tracks which are close to Pooja and Karan’s heart. Pooja and Karan will be joined by an outstanding team of musicians from London.

When is it: Friday 28 March 2025 at 7.00pm
Where is it: Mayflower Studios, 142-144 Above Bar Street, Southampton, SO14 7DU

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