Inclusive theatre group takes centre stage in support of Swindon's City of Culture bid
As Swindon prepares to submit its UK City of Culture 2029 bid next month, Deputy Leader of Swindon Borough Council, Councillor Jake Chandler, visited the Partners Theatre Company.
Published: Monday, 6th July 2026
Partners Theatre Company, which is a project by Reach Inclusive Arts Charity, is an inclusive performance group for adults with a range of disabilities and health needs.
The group are currently in rehearsal for a performance at this year’s Signal Festival, which takes place between Friday, 24 July and Saturday, 1 August. The festival showcases the breadth of Swindon's growing cultural offer that forms the backbone of the town’s bid to be UK City of Culture 2029.
During the visit today (6 July), Councillor Chandler spoke to participants during the rehearsal for their upcoming production, Night at the Gallery, a show based on famous paintings, which come to life to foil a robbery.
The visit also formed part of the Council's ongoing engagement with local organisations and charities as Swindon develops its full UK City of Culture 2029 bid. Led by Swindon Culture Collective and the Council, the bid aims to showcase the town's rich heritage, thriving creative sector and the many community groups that contribute to cultural life across the Borough.
UK City of Culture is a national competition which invites places across the UK to set out a vision for culture-led transformation. The winning location will receive up to £10m to support a year-long programme of cultural, heritage and community activity in 2029. Swindon was named among the final nine longlisted locations in March and is now preparing its full submission ahead of the next stage of the competition.
Deputy Leader of Swindon Borough Council, Councillor Jake Chandler, said: “It was a real privilege to visit the theatre group and see first-hand the dedication, talent and enthusiasm of everyone involved.
“Projects like this are at the heart of what makes Swindon such a strong and vibrant community. Their success demonstrates the difference that community-led organisations can make when people are given the opportunity to fulfil their potential.
“As we prepare to submit our UK City of Culture 2029 bid next month, it is important that we continue to showcase the breadth of cultural activity already taking place across the Borough. From major festivals and creative organisations to grassroots groups like Reach and projects like the Partners Theatre Company, Swindon has a compelling story to tell about its ambition, creativity and community spirit.
“The City of Culture competition is about much more than arts and culture alone. It is an opportunity to attract investment, raise Swindon's profile, support local businesses, create opportunities for residents and build even greater pride in our town. Partners Theatre Company is a perfect example of the talent and determination that exists across Swindon, and why we believe so strongly in our bid.”
Swindon’s UK City of Culture longlisting recognised the strength of the town's cultural vision and the collaboration between artists, organisations, community groups and residents. The Borough already hosts a growing calendar of cultural events, including Signal Festival, Swindon MELA, Swindon Paint Fest, Festival of Tomorrow, Shuffle and the Swindon Festival of Literature.
Residents can find out more about this year's Signal Festival at www.signalfestival.co.uk and follow the latest updates on Swindon's UK City of Culture 2029 bid through Swindon Culture Collective.
More information can be found out about the upcoming Signal Festival on their website, www.signalfestival.co.uk.