Playhouse

Playhouse is a national partnership project between York Theatre Royal, Theatre Iolo & Theatre Royal Plymouth.

As part of this project we’re able to provide a tailor-made programme of additional support for the whole school including staff training, workshops and performance opportunities. The Primary Partnership package is priced at £500.00 for the current academic year. Our Enhanced Partnership package, which includes full day of Oracy Creative Professional Development Training for teaching staff, is priced at £800. This is a project for Key Stage 2.

Partnership details

Enhanced Partnership details

For Children:

The process is proven to be transformative to children’s learning. By performing in high quality, age-appropriate scripts, children develop their acting and oracy skills, and gain a growth mindset towards mistakes, practicing and rehearsing.

Through immersing themselves in the world of theatre, children have fun as they gain knowledge and skills that help them understand how a play is brought to life. Even for those children who are initially apprehensive, the project helps them contextualise and overcome uncomfortable feelings, such as shyness and worry, and provides them with a sense of achievement and fulfilment. As a direct result of taking part in the project, children grow in knowledge, skills and confidence.

In bringing their characters to life, children are able to have heartfelt, authentic conversations about big issues in the world today and learn to express themselves freely as they experience the joy of theatre.

For Teachers & Schools:

The easy to deliver and realistic nature of the Playhouse project ensures a cost-effective project for teachers and schools to produce.

Through this enriching and comprehensive CPD programme, teachers learn rehearsal and directing techniques, and develop the skills and confidence they need to bring drama into the classroom.

The Playhouse project boasts an unrivalled library of bespoke professional scripts appropriate for large classes of KS2. Teachers work with specially commissioned playwrights who develop plays that are relevant and topical to young people today.

Teachers feel empowered through practical support from the Playhouse team wo are committed to combatting the decline of drama teaching and provision in primary schools.

“Some children were pretty much mute before the project, and now they’re saying loads and loads of fantastic lines”

Teacher

“It’s wonderful having a script that is designed for a class that is age appropriate”

Teacher

Key facts about the Playhouse Primary Partnership

We’ll provide:

The opportunity for a KS2 class or after school group to perform a commissioned play from leading playwrights in The Drum Theatre at Theatre Royal Plymouth (This is our studio space seating around 150.)
Rehearsal time in our designated rehearsal rooms at our Production and Learning Centre, TR2/ in The Lab space at the Theatre Royal Plymouth
Access to professional support from directors and technicians throughout your rehearsal process
A fully digital CPD training opportunity (usually in March)- for the director of your play- delivered by professional playwrights, directors and facilitators
An in-person local CPD training opportunity to support the nominated director of your chosen play
A technical meeting with one of our Drum Technicians ahead of your performance
A Director visit to support you during the rehearsal process of your play

We’re now signing up schools for our July 2024 festival!

With school budgets being set earlier and earlier, please get in touch if this project is something you’d be interested in finding out more about. This would mean a KS2 class from your school would have the unique opportunity to perform on a stage at the Theatre Royal Plymouth. Be part of history- Be part of Playhouse!

Feel free to fill in the online form

Or email beth.siddall@theatreroyal.com to arrange a meeting/ chat about getting involved this academic year or next.

Playhouse Primary Partnership 2023 - 2024

Name*
Member of staff who will act as main contact for TRP
First Last
Your role/job:*
Name of School*
Mobile/Telephone Number*
Headteacher name*
What is your current provision for drama in school and how would you like to develop it?*
Please note, it is not necessary to have extensive experience as that might be what you aim to gain through participating in the project. Equally, you might have lots of experience and see this as an opportunity to enhance your existing skills.
Will rehearsals for this project take place within lesson time or as an extra curriculum activity?*
Please describe how you plan to integrate the learning from this project into the schools wider curriculum.*
In becoming a Playhouse Partner School, what opportunities do you see for you improving your pupils learning and how will Playhouse support your school improvement plans?*
Thinking post-project, please describe what success in this project would look like for your school?*
If you have previously participated in Playhouse, please tell us how you plan to build on the learning from previous years? (e.g. to upskill a different teacher, to develop afterschool provision, to support literacy in the classroom etc)*
Statement of support from the Head teacher. We ask your headteacher to sign this application form and tell us why they want to engage in the project from a senior leadership prospective.*
How did you hear about the Playhouse project?
Phone
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