Barnsley Civic is home to amazing creative organisations that bring energy and inspiration to everything we do. From inclusive theatre to imaginative productions and visual arts, each company offers something unique, giving our community even more opportunities to connect, share, and create.
Our Resident Companies
Cross the Sky Theatre Company
Cross the Sky is our very own theatre company for autistic and learning-disabled adults living in Barnsley and the wider South Yorkshire area and has been part of Barnsley Civic since 2015 but has been running for over 20 years.
Our fifteen performers are led by Artistic Director Becky Newbould and Musical Director Simon Grainger. The group devise their own original musical theatre productions, inspired by autistic culture and our performers’ lived experiences as disabled people.
Barnsley Music Service
Barnsley Music Education Hub is a network of partners led by Barnsley Music Service, located at Barnsley Civic. The hub provides high-quality music education and support for children aged 5 to 18 years in Barnsley. They offer students the opportunity to learn a musical instrument through instrument loan schemes and discounts for families on low incomes. Additionally, the hub provides small group tuition, ensembles, and one-on-one lessons in their classrooms at Barnsley Civic. The Barnsley Music Hub is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, with lessons and after-school events taking place every weekday starting at 4:00 PM.
Mark Mark Productions
Mark Mark Productions is known for its energetic, visual street spectacles that blend comedy, circus skills, and improvisation. Founded in the 90s, the company has a knack for creating memorable, crowd-pleasing performances seen across the globe. With their weird and wonderful characters regularly popping up in our corridors, there’s never a dull moment when Mark Mark is in the building! Recent productions include Cannon Capers and The Great Fiasco, continuing their tradition of inventive, humorous performances.
Helter Skelter Arts
Founded by Helena and Tor, who have performed together since childhood, the company specialises in a diverse array of performances, from up close skills like magic and contact juggling to impressive spectacles featuring stilt characters and fire shows.
The Barnsley Civic team loves catching glimpses of their amazing outfits and occasionally witnessing their rehearsals, which adds to the vibrant atmosphere.
At Helter Skelter Arts, passion drives everything they do, ensuring that every event flows effortlessly from start to finish.
ArtWorks
ArtWorks is a fantastic organisation based at Barnsley Civic, located in The Old Art School section of our building on Eldon Street. They are dedicated to providing opportunities and workshops for individuals with learning disabilities and autism, focusing on encouraging achievement and self-belief while celebrating the creativity and ambition of their artists. Through a range of workshops led by professional creatives, ArtWorks empowers participants to explore various mediums, including painting, sculpture, film, photography, animation, and performance. Their mission is to inspire and support artists to actively engage with their community through creative expression.
