southwark theatres' education partnership

As part of the Diploma in Creative and Media, now in its second year of delivery in Southwark schools, young people from The Charter School and St Michael and All Angels Academy collaborated to create three different performances which were staged at the Unicorn Theatre on Thursday 11th February 2010. The project is run by STEP and financed by Southwark 14-19 Partnership. Young people from the two schools worked in groups at Theatre Peckham, Oval House Theatre and the Unicorn Theatre to produce new performances which ranged from a Shakespeare adaptation to a devised piece and an all singing and dancing musical theatre show.

The collaboration was a two-week work experience project which gave the students the chance to create a piece of theatre from start to finish, learning skills in design, lighting and sound and acting in the final performance.

The young people relished the opportunity to work closely with theatre professionals and learn new skills whilst also taking their first steps into the workplace. This year’s project follows on from a successful work experience programme delivered by Southwark Children’s Services and STEP since 2005.

Beccy Allen, Creative Director of STEP said:
“It is brilliant to see the students getting so involved with the hands on side of the Diploma and embracing the chance to work with professionals in the creative sector. The project has inspired the students to be creative and make practical use of the theory they have learned in the classroom. It is particularly important to bring together students from different schools and this brings a whole new dimension to the collaboration which is producing some really innovative work”.

Richard Prendergast the teacher leading on the Creative and Media Diploma at St Michael and All Angels Academy said:
“I am truly amazed at the level of work the students have achieved. This is an amazing opportunity for the young people and they have excelled themselves!”

In January 2009, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls, visited the Half Moon Young People’s Theatre to see how a similar programme was working with Level 1 students. During the visit, the Minister met with students and took part in workshops on stage lighting, musical composition and set design – skills which were used as part of the students’ live performance at the end of the project which took place at Half Moon on 15th and 16th January 2009.

Ed Balls said:
“It has been fantastic to see how organisations such as STEP and Half Moon Theatre are supporting the delivery of the Diploma.  Providing students with opportunities to learn outside of the classroom is a vital part of the Diploma and it is important that organisations within the community work together to give young people the opportunity to gain practical experience.”