From Corby to Cornwall, Birmingham to Barrow-in-Furness, we’re working hand-in-hand with schools and regional theatres to bring Shakespeare into the heart of local communities.
We’re incredibly proud of this work, which earned us the UK Theatre Award for Excellence in Arts Education for 2024.
Through our Creative Learning and Engagement programme we’re fulfilling our ambition to transform students’ first experience of Shakespeare from words on a page to something they can live and breathe.
We’ve collaborated with 1,000 schools to offer more than 500,000 young people access to workshops and talent development programmes, alongside training and professional development opportunities for teachers. With arts provision in schools at an all-time low, we see first-hand the hugely positive impact this support can have for individuals, whole schools and communities.
The word about the work we do with young people is spreading - in October and December 2024 it was cited as an example of how access to culture benefits young people, by Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.
In October she spoke in parliament about our work "in areas of deprivation where there is a low cultural offer to help boost confidence, employability and open-up young people's options." And in December she cited it to the Select Committee for Culture, Media and Sport.
Our work with young people is led by Director of Creative Learning and Engagement Jacqui O'Hanlon, who received an MBE in 2022 for her services to the arts.
As well as our work in schools, our apprenticeships, which provide new opportunities for people who want to take a work-based path into backstage theatre have also been recognised with wins at the Apprenticeship Guide Awards for Best Employer (Medium) and Country & Town House Awards for Commitment to Craft.
