ATG INSPIRE, the Regent Theatre and Victoria Hall’s community engagement programme, has been delivering the ‘0’ Dance Festival at the Regent Theatre for 25 years, creating one of the region’s largest and most inclusive platforms for community participation in the arts.

In 2026 the festival marked its 25th anniversary with 026 Dance: Rewind, a milestone event that brought together more than 1,200 performers aged three to 89 years from across Staffordshire and beyond, alongside an audience of more than 3,150 people over seven consecutive nights.

Participants represented a diverse cross-section of the community including primary and secondary schools, colleges, dance schools, adult groups and wellbeing groups supporting older adults and individuals with additional needs.

The ‘0’ Dance Festival provides a rare and accessible opportunity for community participants to perform on a large-scale professional stage, an experience that many would otherwise be unable to access due to financial or social barriers. As one group leader noted, this opportunity “simply would not be possible” for many young people in the current economic climate.

The impact of the initiative is both immediate and long-term. Participants consistently report increased confidence, a strong sense of achievement and enhanced wellbeing. The inclusive nature of the programme fosters social connection across age groups and backgrounds, strengthening community cohesion and creating a shared sense of pride in Stoke-on-Trent’s cultural identity.

The 2026 Rewind theme encouraged groups to reinterpret themes from the festival’s 25-year history, combining heritage with innovation. This approach not only celebrated the longevity of the programme but also supported creative development, enabling participants to produce original, meaningful work inspired by past experiences.

The initiative represents a long-term, embedded commitment rather than a one-off project. Since 2022 alone the festival has engaged 6,525 dancers from 291 groups and welcomed audiences of more than 12,223 people. This sustained reach demonstrates ATG INSPIRE Stoke’s strategic approach to community engagement – delivering consistent, measurable social value at scale.

The Regent Theatre and Victoria Hall has entered the Business in the Community category of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.