Learning Newsletter Spring 2023
Autumn Term Highlights
Corpus Christi after school club
This term we worked with students from Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School running after school drama sessions, which culminated in a sharing to the young people’s parents and teachers.
Students were introduced to drama and learned essential building block skills including confidence, focus and communication. The children’s parents and teachers saw the children working collaboratively to create freeze frames that depicted their interpretations of different scenes, for example sharing. The sharing also saw the children openly discuss why we do drama, the importance of it and what skills they had learned. Parents noted how lovely it was to see their children working together and being given the space to express themselves creatively.
“The drama club has helped the children to express themselves in a more creative way.”
Parent/guardian of drama club member
Leeds Creative Skills Festival 2022
We were involved in the first ever Leeds Creative Skills Festival, a weeklong event showcasing creative careers and opportunities in and around the city.
At one of the events at Leeds First Direct Arena, we hosted a stall where we spoke to approximately 500 people about careers in the theatre. All three of our Leeds Heritage Theatres venues were represented, including Hyde Park Picture House to talk about volunteering opportunities when The Picture House reopens. Members of our Learning and Engagement team were on hand to to talk about pathways into theatre jobs, as well as members of our Technical team to talk about their hands on experience working backstage at a theatre and how young people can pursue backstage careers.
We loved sharing our passion for theatre and sharing our experiences of careers in theatre with like-minded people.
Leeds Creative Skills Festival 2022. Credit Bryony Jameson.
Leeds Creative Skills Festival 2022. Credit Bryony Jameson.
Upper Batley High School visit
This term we welcomed Upper Batley High School for a tour of Leeds Grand Theatre and World of Work workshop.
The year 7 class explored our heritage through the front of house areas of our historical building, whilst also discussing modern day careers in theatre and their pathways. The class then took part in a World of Work workshop in our Heritage and Learning Suite, where they learned about the variety of jobs in theatre in more detail and had a go at figuring out some real-world challenges. They became general managers and programmed a season of shows for their own theatre, as well as joining the Marketing team by thinking about how they would promote a show on social media. The class also had a go at production design; they created mood boards for how they would stage their own shows and used our lighting rig to create lighting states.
Upper Batley High School left with their brains brimming with creative ideas and knowledge of careers in the arts.
Upcoming sessions
Trinity Academy Leeds partnership
We continue to work in partnership with Trinity Academy Leeds, who champion the arts and offer many enrichment opportunities for their students to experience. Their year 7 classes will be visiting us across the academic year to explore careers in the arts. On their first visit of the year, Leeds Trinity Academy students explored backstage at Leeds Grand Theatre (they even sang their school song on our stage!), learned about the variety of non-performing careers in modern theatres and had a careers Q&A with the Learning and Engagement team.
Credit Kerry Maule
Credit Kerry Maule
After school drama club
Are you looking for a fun and engaging after school activity for your pupils? Our drama club offers a unique opportunity for students to explore the world of theatre through play. They will learn how to express themselves creatively through a variety of games and activities. Your after school drama club will be led by a member of the Leeds Heritage Theatres’ Learning and Engagement team, who have first-hand experience working as actors, directors, teachers and learning practitioners.
Credit Ant Robling
Credit Ant Robling
The Grand Academy
Credit Kerry Maule
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to become somebody else for a day? Join us this February half term for a jam-packed day of games, creativity and a chance to learn the tricks of the trade. Sessions cost £10 per person*. For more information please contact learning@leedsheritagetheatres.com.
- Monday 13 February 2023, 10am-3pm, ages 8-11
- Tuesday 14 February 2023, 10am-3pm, ages 12-14
- Friday 17 February 2023, 10am-3pm, ages 15-17
*Some free spaces available per session, please contact us for more details on how to apply
Opportunities
Victorians Workshop
Bring to life characters from our theatres’ past using role play, costumes and items from our archives for inspiration.
Production Uncovered
Join us for our Production Uncovered workshops to explore the National Theatre Live screenings of Othello and The Crucible. Students will unpick scenes, explore language, analyse character and develop performance technique, just as the cast and creatives would do in a rehearsal room
Workshops and Tours
At Leeds Heritage Theatres we offer a range of workshop and tour opportunities for schools and young people to get involved, from KS1 – KS4.
How do I get a job in the arts?
Staff at Leeds Heritage Theatres for the 140th Jersey Boys Gala Event
A question we’re sure a lot of young people, parents, teachers and careers professionals would like to know the answer to. Read our Learning & Engagement team’s top tips and advice on creative careers. The arts are far reaching and beautifully varied – as are the job roles and the people that do them – and so the routes in are varied too.
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.