southwark theatres' education partnership

Art of Life is a creative arts organisation that provides platforms for individuals to express themselves in new creative ways and channel their energy in positive and productive ways. Art of Life facilitates multi-sensory, interactive and collaborative creative arts workshops, projects and training that combine a wide range of art forms which include Drama, Media, Musical Theatre, Film Making, Digital Photography, Music Production, Art and Web Design. Art of Life works within schools, colleges, universities, prisons, drug and alcohol treatment centres and community settings worldwide.

Ibi Vaughan, Creative Director
T 020 7263 9962 E ibi@artoflife.org.uk
www.artoflifeonline.org

The Blue Elephant Theatre is the only theatre in Camberwell: a vibrant arts venue, aiming to nurture new and emerging artists across all art-forms. The theatre’s varied programme includes dance, comedy, music, film and visual art alongside all forms of theatre from new writing to classics. The wide-ranging education work caters for both in and out-of-school provision, with drama and forum theatre workshops in primary and secondary schools, after-school clubs, two Young People's Theatre groups and school holiday programmes. The company also provides work experience and internship placements and INSET training for teachers.
 
Stuart Cox, Education Coordinator
T 020 7701 0100 E stuart@blueelephanttheatre.co.uk
www.blueelephanttheatre.co.uk

 
Bold & Saucy is a Southwark-based touring theatre company which focuses on creating a balance of classic, contemporary and devised work, largely in non-theatre spaces. At the core of its work is the ensemble, working with different groups, in both educational and non-educational contexts to integrate participants into the ensemble.

Sarah Davey, Artistic Director
T 020 8699 1014 E boldandsaucy@btinternet.com
www.boldandsaucy.co.uk

Box Clever is a Southwark-based touring company dedicated to the creation of inspiring contemporary theatre for young people. With a focus on fast-paced new writing about life in the here-and-now, their work currently reaches an annual audience of over 50,000 young people in the UK and overseas. The company wants to provoke reactions, encourage change and excite young people about theatre.

Jemima Lee, Administrative Producer
T 020 7357 0550 E jemima@boxclevertheatre.co.uk
www.boxclevertheatre.com

CCCP Workshops Ltd is run by top London comedy performance poet Neal Zetter whose workshops are guaranteed to brush aside any preconceptions about poetry being boring. They are fun, accessible and fast moving, allowing all participants to express themselves and gain confidence, self-esteem and improve creativity. Neal works with just about any age and type of participant – especially hard to reach groups – inspiring them to write their own poems using a wide range of styles and themes. His customers include schools, PRUs, colleges, NHS, libraries, arts organisations, theatres etc. Neal also demonstrates his twenty years’ performance experience in his workshops.

Neal Zetter, Poet/Workshop Leader
T 020 8529 6608 E neal@cccpworkshops.co.uk
www.cccpworkshops.co.uk

Collective Artistes is a Black-led professional theatre company that works in and around communities to explore issues of social concern. Collective Artistes produces national and international touring productions of plays from the African Diaspora. Working in Camberwell, Collective Artistes’ work in Theatre for Development equips participants with the social tools to promote creativity, educate, empower and give opportunity to young people across South East London.

Chip Wimalasekera, Theatre for Development Officer
T 020 7587 1100 E chip@collectiveartistes.co.uk
www.collectiveartistes.co.uk

Company of Angels was set up to foster and produce innovative theatre for young audiences. The company has already produced a range of acclaimed touring productions and also initiates innovative projects and new models of work with a focus on presenting UK premieres of new European plays and engaging young people directly in participatory projects. Company of Angels also actively nurtures and supports emerging artists through the Young Angels programmes and the Angels Associates scheme.

Vanessa Fagan, General Manager
T 020 7928 2811 E vanessa@companyofangels.co.uk
www.companyofangels.co.uk

Corali Dance Company is a professional performance group made up of adults with learning disabilities. Corali create and tour highly visual performance work that is made by the company in collaboration with other artists. The work is shown in different settings such as art galleries, theatres and other unusual places like empty shop units. Corali also run regular education, outreach and training workshops.

Sarah Archdeacon, Artistic Director
T 020 7091 7113 E corali@btconnect.com
www.corali.org.uk

Crying in the Wilderness Productions is a multimedia production company that brings visibility to narratives that are largely ignored by the mainstream media. The company also specialises in running workshops throughout the year in schools, colleges and community centres for young people, teachers and adults. The basis of all its workshops is to inspire in its participants a positive sense of personal well being.

Paul Anthony Morris, Creative Director
T 020 8677 6292 E paulmorris65@msn.com

Emergency Exit Arts is an arts organisation with the vision, imagination and capacity to deliver unforgettable, delightful and surprising outdoor arts events. Our performances and creative programmes animate and enhance public spaces through the creation of site specific interventions, lantern processions, carnivals, street theatre, public art, music, dance and firework theatre. The company has a successful 30 year track record of touring high quality performances regionally, nationally and internationally. Based in London, the company often works with people who have limited access to cultural activities. EEA promotes learning, experimentation and sharing across art-forms and cultures and believes that engagement with the art-making process creates an energy that unites people from diverse backgrounds in a positive shared experience.

Chloe Osborne, Participatory Arts Manager
T 020 8853 4825 E chloe.osborne@eea.org.uk

www.eea.org.uk

Futures Theatre Company works to create dynamic, high quality and relevant drama. Futures develop their productions through collaboration with choreographers, composers and designers. Much of the work is developed for young people and to support this Futures has an innovative programme of issue-based workshops covering sexual health, drug awareness, conflict resolution, safer relationships, bullying and mental health. This extremely successful scheme has reached pupils in some of the most deprived communities in London and continues to receive glowing reviews from students and teachers. 

Flair May, Education Officer
T 020 7928 2832 E flair@futurestheatrecompany.co.uk
www.futurestheatrecompany.co.uk

Half Moon is a leading specialist professional theatre in London with a focus of work for and with young people from birth to 19 exclusively and through them, their teachers and leaders. Half Moon produces and presents professional theatre at the base, in venues and in youth and school settings whilst providing an extensive participatory programme, including youth theatres, school and community projects. The company places a particular emphasis upon engaging those often excluded in terms of culture and ability with a strong track record in delivering work for those considered to be or in danger of falling into the NEET agenda at sometime in the future.

Chris Elwell, Director
T 020 7709 8902 E chris@halfmoon.org.uk
www.halfmoon.org.uk

Ic2 was set up to promote African/Black heritage and culture in Southwark and the UK, with emphasis on West Africa. This is because Southwark is home to many Africans and enjoys the accolade of being a borough with one of the highest population of Africans in the UK. The ic2 project is educational and encourages the West African/Black community to identify, look after and celebrate their cultural heritage. This increases opportunities for learning about West African/Black cultural heritage and opens up resources and sites to the widest possible audience.

Femi Falana, Executive Director
T 07947 119348 E Idalecommic2@yahoo.co.uk
www.into.org.uk/ic2

In Toto Theatre is a visual theatre company who use a multi-sensory approach to create highly accessible theatre for children and family audiences. Their work transcends cultural and language barriers by using a combination of puppetry, live music, storytelling and dance.

Sarah Carter, Artistic Director
T 020 7261 1515 E info@in-tototheatre.co.uk
www.in-tototheatre.co.uk

José Navarro is a freelance artist and workshop leader, specialising in mime, puppetry and dance. His tutoring includes performance, demonstration and practical activities with participants, aiming to achieve a small showcase. José performs at international festivals and provides training in mime and puppetry to individuals and schools in the UK and abroad.

José Navarro
M 07714 508280 E pishtaco1@yahoo.co.uk
www.jose-navarro.co

Labyrinth Pathways is the educational branch of the award winning Labyrinth Theatre. Utilising techniques from the rehearsal room and performance the company can enhance and enrich any educational programme. With experience of creating and designing programmes for the professional workplace, artists and actors, school students, excluded students and learning disabled students, the team of imaginative, flexible and experienced workshop leaders design bespoke programmes to make learning comprehensive, interactive and fun.

Matthew Reynolds, Managing Director
T 07967 022 780 E matthew.reynolds@labyrinththeatre.com
www.labyrinththeatre.com

The Lions Part has a passion for every kind of theatre and the company has grown to encompass acting, directing, producing, researching, writing, devising, composing, costume design and prop construction. The company produces and performs a wide variety of theatre in many settings from the street markets of Bankside and rural village halls to royal palaces and large theatres. Through Shakespeare and folk drama via the oldest English playtexts, to modern classics, devised pieces and oral history, all their work is underpinned by a desire to celebrate people, traditions and language.

Emma Butler Smith, Company Manager
M 07803 251936 E admin@thelionspart.co.uk
www.thelionspart.co.uk

London Bubble is a home of excellent artistic and educational practice that provides opportunities for all Londoners to play, to make and to enjoy Creative Theatre. The company is actively seeking spaces, stories and people that can be animated, inspired and empowered by making theatre together. They do this by: hosting a programme of participatory activity, including; youth theatres and adult drama groups; creating theatre that animates public spaces with casts of professional and non professional performers, often drawn from our groups and; working in school and community settings to encourage creative expression, confidence and emotional literacy through the processes of Creative Theatre.

Adam Annand, Associate Director, Creative Learning
T 020 7232 5965 E adam@londonbubble.org.uk
www.londonbubble.org.uk

London Drama is the Professional Association for drama teachers, lecturers, teachers-in-training, theatre practitioners and others concerned with any aspect of Drama/Theatre Education. They link Drama across the inner and outer London region. Founded in 1955, London Drama has developed and maintained an active network of drama teachers and theatre workers. Because they are run by teachers for teachers they know what teachers need – good quality practical support, stimulus and new ideas! They see their role as keeping drama teachers in touch with one another via Day Workshops and Evening Courses at which members exchange drama ideas, and curriculum management experience.

Chris Lawrence, Coordinator
T 020 7388 6555 E londondrama1@gmail.com
www.londondrama.org

MakeBelieve Arts is a theatre and education company, offering innovative, high quality programmes to develop the creative potential of children aged 2 – 15.  Based in Deptford, MakeBelieve Arts works in Lewisham and its neighbouring Boroughs in London and increasingly in other areas of the UK.  The company works with children and teachers in schools and with young people and their families in other out-of-school environments.

Alice Edwards, Creative Projects Coordinator
T 020 8691 3803 E alice@makebelievearts.co.uk
www.makebelievearts.co.uk

Oval House Theatre, in addition to the professional theatre programme, provides a programme of activities for young people delivered through two departments. Youth Arts offers out-of-school performing arts classes and performance opportunities for 11-21 year olds. Arts in Education work in partnership with non-arts sector agencies using creative, participatory learning structures to engage young people and adults. The department specialises in developing artistic projects that address the exclusion of some of the most marginalised young people in London.

Stella Barnes, Head of Arts in Education
T 020 7582 6279 E stella.barnes@ovalhouse.com
www.ovalhouse.com

Peckham Shed is a theatre company with a difference, running inspiring theatre workshops for children and young people aged 5 – 17 years old, living in and around South East London. Peckham Shed is open to anyone and everyone whatever their background or ability and promotes a safe and supportive space where everyone can achieve. The company uses all kinds of creativity – drama, dance, music, film, writing, song, in fact anything members enjoy - to make performance. Peckham Shed is like one big family joined by one big idea – that the creativity of every person is unique, positive and worth celebrating.

Lucy Bradley, Director
M 07840 486 591 E peckhamshed@hotmail.co.uk
www.peckhamshed.com

Re-write brings together young people from different backgrounds to fight prejudice and injustice surrounding refuge and asylum through the power of drama and creative writing. Its core projects are: REACT – a drama group for young people aged 14-19 from different cultural and national backgrounds who work together on drama projects and performances that explore the social, political and cultural issues they feel are important; and Creative ESOL – an after-school arts programme specifically for young people speaking English as an additional language delivered by a trained ESOL tutor and experienced drama practitioner.

Eleanor Cocks, Re-write Coordinator
M 07709 764420 E rewritegroup@googlemail.com

Scary Little Girls creates bespoke workshop packages for individual schools and community bodies. All Scary Little Girls’ workshop leaders are working, professional artists. The project coordinator draws from this wide selection of talented professionals to develop projects in partnership with each school or group. Each project is developed through on-going communication with the individual schools, ensuring a programme that fits exactly, is most effective and whose legacy can best endure.

Rebecca Mordan, Project Coordinator
T 07976 623 706 E becca@scarylittlegirls.co.uk
www.scarylittlegirls.co.uk

The Shakespeare Globe Trust is an education charity, founded in 1972. Globe Education works with over 100,000 students every year providing practical, active approaches to teaching and learning. Through workshops, lectures and events for the public, people of all ages and abilities are encouraged to engage with Shakespeare’s plays. Globe Education's Community Projects are for people who work, live and learn in the London borough of Southwark, the home of the Globe. As Shakespeare dramatised social, political and emotional issues and asked questions about his community, so we encourage people to consider the same issues and questions about their own community through "play".

Kate Jamie, Southwark Community Projects Manager
T 020 7902 1462 E Kate.J@shakespearseglobe.com
www.shakespeares-globe.org

Southwark Mysteries is a community arts organisation offering creative ways for people to relate to the history and culture of their inner-city environment. The company conducts local history walks, drama and storytelling workshops and a wide range of events and performances. It is currently working on a revival of The Southwark Mysteries by John Constable to be performed in April 2010. This epic community drama inspired by Southwark’s unique history was first performed on Easter Sunday 2000 in Shakespeare’s Globe and Southwark Cathedral.

John Constable, Artistic Director
T 020 7403 1496 E mysteries@boltblue.com
www.southwarkmysteries.co.uk

Southwark Playhouse is a studio theatre at London Bridge, presenting a year-round programme of inventive performance for courageous audiences. Based in a converted railway arch, the company particularly supports work by emerging practitioners from London and beyond and has a history of creating and showcasing engaging theatre for Southwark audiences. The long-running youth and community programme works with local schools, colleges and community groups all year round.

Stewart Melton, Schools Programme Manager
T 020 7407 0234 E stewart.melton@southwarkplayhouse.co.uk
www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk

Steam Industry Free Theatre presents London’s Free Open-Air Theatre Season every summer in the Scoop at More London, alongside innovative and exciting education and outreach projects across Southwark. For 2009 the company presented Euripides' celebrated revenge tragedy, Medea, in a brand new commissioned version by Stella Duffy and a new musical family show, The Adventures of Jason and The Argonauts.
 
Suzanna Rosenthal, Producer
T 020 8340 4421 E admin@suzannarosenthal.com
www.steamindustryfreetheatre.org.uk

Tangled Feet are an ensemble of theatre practitioners committed to making original work. The company has developed a trademark style of experimental performance, which always begins from a process of physical improvisation and play. Tangled Feet believe in ensemble working methods and shared performance and rehearsal history. Performance is at the centre of the company but is surrounded by community and education work. The company has performed their five professional productions to approximately 16,000 people at over 50 different venues in the UK, Poland, Italy and Egypt. They have recently become Resident Company at Southwark Playhouse.

Nathan Curry, Artistic Director
T 07986 300727 E currynathan@hotmail.com
www.tangledfeet.com

Tamasha, formed in 1989 as a partnership between director Kristine Landon-Smith and actor/playwright Sudha Bhuchar, has commissioned and created a body of work ranging from interpretations of literary classics, through vibrant musicals and devised comedy to groundbreaking writing. Tamasha is a major investor in new writing, with the aim of retelling our histories, revealing the hidden stories and sharing the complexities of the world with modern theatre audiences. Tamasha is also a nurturer of artistic talent and innovative practice through the Tamasha Developing Artists programme which offers training courses and continued professional development for artists of all disciplines.

Kristine Landon-Smith, Artistic Director
T 020 7633 2270 E info@tamasha.org.uk
www.tamasha.org.uk

Theatre Peckham supports children and young people to discover the magic of theatre and develop their potential as performers and creative professionals, creating high quality, accessible, exciting theatre which reflects the diversity of the area and challenges perceptions of Peckham and its young people. Theatre Peckham offers an extensive programme of performing arts workshops from Baby Singing to BTEC National in Performing Arts and theatre productions created specifically for local school and family audiences which enable young people to work alongside professional actors and creative teams. Partnerships with local schools include a range of educational and creative programmes.

Suzy Smith, Executive Director
T 020 7708 5401 E suzy@theatrepeckham.co.uk
www.theatrepeckham.co.uk

Unicorn Theatre is one of the leading producers of professional theatre for children and young people in the UK. Its home on the South Bank of the Thames is the only purpose-built theatre for young people in London. In addition to its own award-winning plays, the Unicorn hosts the best visiting national and international work for children and run a highly regarded Education Programme. All its work emphasises the vital role that the arts play in enriching children’s learning. Opened in December 2005, the Unicorn houses an education studio, a rehearsal studio, a café and other welcoming areas for families and schools. The theatre company was founded in 1947 by Caryl Jenner, whose unique vision and inspiration made the building of this flagship theatre possible. 

Cath Greenwood, Learning and Participation Director
T 020 7645 0570 E education@unicorntheatre.com
www.unicorntheatre.com

The Union Theatre was founded 10 years ago under the railway arches of Southwark. Over the last decade they have won numerous awards and support of local audience members and Londoners alike. With a medley of new plays, old classics and musicals throughout the year, this venue is a real local treasure.

Sasha Regan, Artistic Director
T 020 7261 9876 E sasha@uniontheatre.co.uk
www.upandcoming.webeden.co.uk

Vayu Naidu Storytelling Theatre Company is a London based theatre company, dedicated to promoting the work of storytelling theatre. Vayu Naidu Company works with the ancient Indian tradition of oral storytelling and explores, through exciting and dynamic performances, how the aged old craft can work in the modern world. VNC produces Storytelling events for cross generational/cultural participation; either programmes for specific events or using small scale touring work to tour both nationally and internationally. VNC also hosts a guild of apprentice storytellers; an initiative which disseminates the craft of storytelling to new and experienced storytellers and provides skills training and work placements across diverse VNC projects.

Helen Winning, General Manager
T 0207 720 0707 E helen.winning@vayunaiducompany.org.uk
www.vayunaiducompany.org.uk

Webplay is an arts education charity that creates innovative programmes combining drama and the internet. Its two programmes for primary schools, Webplay and Webplay Local, offer ways for children to collaborate on creative projects together with theatre professionals and partner classrooms from other schools. Both programmes offer excellent professional development opportunities for teachers and are also highly effective at motivating children of all ability levels to learn and increase their academic and personal/social skills.

Sydney Thornbury, Executive Director
T 0207 729 4161 E Sydney@webplay.org
www.webplay.org

The Young Vic: from rediscovered classics to vibrant new writing and outstanding international theatre, our three performance spaces are designed to put you up close to all the action on stage. The Young Vic is also the UK’s leading home for young theatre makers and young audiences. The theatre presents seasons of classic plays directed by world famous directors alongside work by young directors. Young people, as artists and as audience, are the life-blood of an exciting, progressive, sustainable theatre. A desire to build a lively, diverse audience and to nurture talent is at the heart of everything the Young Vic does.

Alexandra Brierley, Schools and Colleges Projects Manager
T 0207 922 2858 E alexandrabrierley@youngvic.org
www.youngvic.org