Two St Austell Groups Win Chance to Perform at The Keay

Two community groups are set to take centre stage at The Keay Theatre this May after being awarded Cornwall College St Austell’s Key to the Keay community performance grant.

Mount Charles Band and Pointe Academy of Dance have been named as the successful recipients, giving them the opportunity to stage a full one night performance at the college’s on campus venue with professional backing.

📷Mount Charles Band Group Shot

Opening the doors to the community

The grant is designed to give local performers and community groups the chance to put on a show at The Keay Theatre with access to a fully equipped space and industry support.

Laetitia Mayne, Head of Campus at Cornwall College St Austell, said: “This grant is about opening the doors of The Keay to the community and removing barriers that can stop people from putting on live performances.

“The response showed the depth of creative talent we have locally, and we’re proud to be supporting two groups who are rooted in their communities and committed to inclusive performance.”

As part of the award, both groups will receive technical support, a consultation with the Theatre Manager and supported marketing promotion. They will also retain 100 per cent of ticket income, allowing them to reinvest directly into their future creative activity.

The Keay Theatre hosts a varied programme of live music, theatre, dance, comedy and community events throughout the year, supporting both professional touring productions and local performers. The venue serves as a cultural hub for St Austell and the surrounding area.

📷Mount Charles Band Youth Shot

A different stage for Mount Charles Band

Mount Charles Band, a long established local brass band with roots dating back to the late 18th century, will present a prom style concert at The Keay Theatre.

For the band, the performance offers a different experience from its usual programme of outdoor and community events.

Megan, Band Manager and Principal Cornet, said: “It’s a really good opportunity to come into a space like this and do what we do best.

“We love entertaining, and if people are leaving with a smile on their faces, then we’ve done our job. It’s family friendly, affordable and about bringing the community together, giving people a really good evening and raising the profile of brass bands locally.”

📷Pointe Academy of Dance Youth Shot

First full production for Pointe Academy of Dance

For Pointe Academy of Dance, the grant will support its first full school production, titled Dancing Through the Decades. The showcase will give dancers of all ages the opportunity to perform on a professional stage close to home.

Natalie said: “To be completely honest, it’s an incredibly expensive project to put on a production even with a small school.

“Winning the grant was a complete shock, but it’s taken a huge weight off our shoulders and made this possible within our local community. We don’t charge any of the families to take part, so being able to say it doesn’t matter where you come from, you can be on the stage, is really important to us.”

The performance will feature dancers aged from two through to adults in their 70s, with many stepping on stage for the first time. Natalie said the experience will help build confidence and give students something to work towards, while any funds raised will be reinvested into equipment and resources for the school.

How to get tickets

Both performances will take place at The Keay Theatre on the Cornwall College St Austell campus in May 2026, with all ticket sales supporting the groups to reinvest in future activities.

• Saturday 23rd May 2026 – Mount Charles Band
Book tickets: https://www.keaytheatre.co.uk/events/mount-charles-band-the-proms-at-the-keay/

• Sunday 24th May 2026 – Pointe Academy of Dance
Book tickets: Pointe Academy of Dance event tickets from TicketSource.

For more information about The Keay Theatre and upcoming performances, visit www.keaytheatre.co.uk.

📷Pointe Academy of Dance Group Shot