Today was Schools Theatre Day, an initiative to encourage schools back into the theatre and highlight the opportunities for school trips. Loads of theatres around the country joined in on social media using #SchoolsTheatreDay, check out what they were up to here.
Back here in London, The Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre partnered with Westminster City Lions and invited students in Year 8 and 9 and their teachers to see Mary Poppins, Grease, Life of Pi, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, and The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe for free. They also took part in some great workshops which gave them a peek behind the curtain and introduced them to an array of behind-the-scenes jobs.
We’ve also launched a brand-new London Theatre Guide for Schools – an online resource for schools in partnership with Mousetrap Theatre Projects, providing teachers with everything they need for planning a trip.
The guide includes practical information about school ticket rates, travel options and links directly to theatres’ educational resources and programmes. From writing activities with & Juliet, to religious studies with Come From Away, to an anti-bullying lesson plan with Wicked, the guide signposts to existing resources created by shows covering a range of topics.
A trip to the theatre plays a vital role in ensuring children are creatively stimulated as part of a well-rounded education. For many children, a school theatre trip may be their only chance to experience live theatre. It can instil a love of theatre that stays with them into adulthood and can also provide inspiration for future careers.
With anxiety levels in children at an all-time high, the collective experience of drama and theatre has never been more important and can provide a welcome release from the pressures the younger generation are facing.
Councillor Tim Roca, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Young People, Learning and Leisure at Westminster City Council, said:
“Westminster is home to the cultural hub of the West End, and the council is determined to make world class theatre accessible for all our residents. We are therefore very excited to be working with the Society of London Theatre, as part of the inaugural Schools Theatre Day, to give students at Westminster schools the opportunity to experience the magic of live theatre”.
Hannah Essex, co-CEO of Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre:
“This is our first year of Schools Theatre Day and we have great ambitions to build on it year on year. There is so much that the West End and theatres across the UK can provide for schools, teachers and children and this is a great opportunity to celebrate that.”