Learning and Engagement Newsletter Spring 2024
Autumn Term Highlights
Secondary School Engagement
Last term, we welcomed groups across KS3-5 from Upper Batley High School, Beverley High School, Leeds City College and Pendle Vale College to take part in our careers workshops, World of Work, Act Like an Employee and Think Like a Producer.
Students learned about various non-performing job roles in the theatre, explored transferable skills for the workplace through drama and put their skills to good use during practical activities.
Leeds City College students during an Act Like An Employee workshop. Credit Phoebe Cawley
Year 7 students on a tour of City Varieties Music Hall. Credit Chris Werrett
We are excited to partner with Trinity Academy Leeds for the third year as part of their Empower Careers Pathways programme. Different class groups will visit us across the year, ensuring that every Year 7 student at their school has the opportunity to visit a working theatre.
“I am currently sat on a coach full of Year 7 students asking them about their favourite trips and yours has come out extremely highly rated.”
Assistant Headteacher, Trinity Academy Leeds
Primary School Engagement
Year 5 and 6 students from Co-Op Academy Woodlands visited us at Leeds Grand Theatre for Ancient Greeks vs Victorians workshops. These trips were organised in partnership with IntoUniversity, a social mobility charity working with young people from seven years old and encouraging them to think about their futures.
Find out more about our KS2 workshops
“The tour was brilliant and gave the students a real insight into theatre. We really appreciated you weaving Ancient Greek theatre into it!” Senior Education Worker, IntoUniversity
Primary schoolchildren during our Ancient Greeks vs Victorians workshop. Credit Chris Coote
After School Drama Clubs
We are delighted to partner with Castleton Primary School to deliver after school drama clubs this year. Working with a different group of children every half term, we are practising drama skills with KS2 pupils to improve their teamwork and boost confidence. Each half term will end with a sharing for teachers and parents to see the impact of the clubs and for participants to celebrate their achievements.
We are open for bookings in Summer 2024, so get in touch via learning@leedsheritagetheatres.com to enquire.
Coming up this Spring
Cultural Exchange
The Cultural Exchange is a fantastic work experience opportunity exploring non-performing creative careers in Leeds. In previous years, students have visited leading cultural organisations from across the Grand Futures network, such as Leeds Heritage Theatres, Northern Ballet, Leeds Museums and Galleries and Opera North.
Contact us to get involved this academic year.
A group of primary-aged young people taking part in practical activities. Credit Aaron Cawood
Imaginary Settings
Dive into the wonderful world of stories through our immersive and curriculum-linked storytelling workshop for KS1+. Pupils will use practical drama skills to explore story settings and use their imagination to create new worlds.
Upon request, we can combine this tour-workshop with a supplementary film screening at City Varieties Music Hall. Contact us for more details.
Careers in the Creative Industries Network
Thursday 25th January 3.30pm-5pm, Leeds Grand Theatre (LS1 6NU)
Are you a schools careers lead or a teacher looking for inspiring careers opportunities for your students? Want to find out more about the Creative Industries and how to support your students’ aspirations in this sector?
Then come along on 25th January to meet with like-minded professionals from the creative industries and learn more about local careers opportunities for your students.
RSVP here
Leeds Grand Theatre. Credit Chris Werrett
More Opportunities
Technical Theatre Partnership
Production Arts foundation degree students from University Centre Leeds have been taking part in weekly practical skills workshops led by our in house Technical team at City Varieties Music Hall. The group of six students have participated in technical training sessions on lighting, sound, stagecraft and flying, undertaking real world tasks to enhance their learning. Their first term resulted in the students gaining paid work through the festive pantomime season at City Varieties Music Hall as Assistant Stage Manager, Lighting Assistant and Follow Spot Operator.
Read about their experiences here
If you enjoy reading about the technical students’ experiences, you’ll find loads more great posts on our blog – News Views and Stories – from celebrity and staff interviews to venue updates and deep dives into our historical archives.
Technical students on the fly floor at City Varieties. Credit Aaron Cawood
Technical students inside the roof at City Varieties. Credit Aaron Cawood
Young People’s Activities
Are your pupils aged 12-14? Tell them about our Circus Skills workshop on Friday 16 February 2024. Professionals from Circus Leeds will guide participants through their exciting world of performance, teaching everything from balancing acts to playful clowning.
Get in touch via learning@leedsheritagetheatres.com to enquire about free places for your students.
Leeds Heritage Theatres Engagement Fund
Every year, we work with over 10,000 young people across the city, in schools, youth groups and other sessions to help them build skills, confidence and pride through our creative learning and engagement programme. All donations to this fund will help us to continue our work and reach more people across the Leeds City Region.