Learning and Engagement Newsletter Summer 2023

Secondary School Engagement

Our school partner Trinity Academy Leeds visited us twice for their Year 7 World of Work workshops and tours.  The students learnt all about the variety of non-performing roles within theatre and took on different responsibilities to learn about producing a show. They developed mood boards to take back to school. We look forward to hosting the next cohort in May!

“Links to Gatsby Benchmarks, strong delivery from the staff and progressive tasks with WOW moments”

Teacher, Trinity Academy Leeds

At Corpus Christi Catholic College’s two-day Health Fair, we held a stall to discuss our work and delivered a series of interview skills workshops for students in Years 10-11. On the second day, we also delivered wellbeing workshops for Years 7-9.

“Just wanted to thank your amazing team for joining us for our school’s Health Fair. It was a huge success and the students had a fantastic day…The students absolutely loved the Drama workshops…Staff were highly professional, enthusiastic and great with our students”

PSHE Co-Ordinator and Lead Dance and Drama, Corpus Christi Catholic College

Since January, we have been lucky enough to attend several careers events at secondary schools including South Craven School, Ruth Gorse Academy and Leeds City College. We discussed creative careers with a range of young people in each school and talked to them about pathways into the industry, as well as the vast range of non-performing roles linking to their specific curriculum subjects and interests. We celebrated the heritage and stories of our venues, answered specific and general questions about working in a theatre and discussed how each student could potentially engage with us in future.

Primary School Engagement

We have delivered two in-school workshops at Cobden Primary School this term, adapting our Spotlights and Sound Effects workshop to be delivered outside of the theatre for Years 3 and 4. Both groups learnt about the importance of light and sound in our venues and were able to relate this to their own locality and their science curriculum. We played drama games focusing on colours and the emotions associated with these, and subsequently used Foley instruments to rehearse and record our own soundscapes together. These clips were edited and sent onto the school, so the schoolchildren can revisit their hard work and re-listen. When asked what they enjoyed most about the workshop, one Year 4 pupil said: “Playing with sounds, when we learned the story, the actions for the story, all of it” .

Years 1, 2, and 3 from Brudenell Primary School visited us in March for a tour of City Varieties Music Hall and a Victorians workshop. The classes delved into the history of the Victorian music hall and explored front of house, backstage and the stage itself. The classes had the opportunity to perform their class song on stage. Through role-play, storytelling and object handling in their workshop, the children also discovered more about costumes, props, characters and significant performers of the past.

Are your students looking for something fun to do in the school holidays? The Grand Academy returns this summer for a programme jam-packed with creative activities for young people to get involved with.

For more information and to find out about applying for available free spaces, please contact us at learning@leedsheritagetheatres.com.

Find out more about the day in the life of a Marketing Officer at Leeds Heritage Theatres from Anna and Paul, our marketing dream team! In this blog post, they share valuable information about their roles, their favourite shows and our venues.

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If you enjoy reading this interview, 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.