We provide opportunities for participation in the arts via high-quality arts-based learning programmes in aspirational settings designed to help children and young people learn new personal and interpersonal skills and broaden their horizons (appreciation of/access to the arts).
The children and young people learn these new skills indirectly while developing a project they’ve chosen that best reflects a skill that is unique to them over the course of either a 2-hour, 6- or 10-week period.
During that time the children and young people participate in weekly workshops, meeting and engaging with professional artists, and are supported with originating a piece of theatre/artwork/performance to perform on a stage at their local theatre.
Our flagship programme The Hero’s Journey is a high-quality arts-based learning programme that uses the art of storytelling and performance to help improve the well-being and empowerment of children and young people in educational and community settings.
Historically, the ‘hero’s journey’ is a universal template of stories used by many different cultures and faiths around the world. No matter who tells the story, it will always involve a hero who goes on a quest, is victorious in a decisive crisis and comes home changed or transformed.
We have used that template to create to originate 3 high-quality arts-based learning programmes all of which coincide with the academic school year:
Programme 1: A Day in the Life of a West End Star (all ages) A fun two-hour educational workshop in a West End theatre with technical support exploring the feeling of being on stage and how the magic happens
Programme 2: Hero’s Journey Programme (KS3) A 6-week programme designed for primary school children aged 8 to 11.
Programme 3: Hero’s Journey Programme (KS4) The 10-week programme is designed for young people at secondary school.
All of our programmes aim to provide children and young people with life-changing light bulb moments in aspirational settings but also teach new personal and interpersonal skills that improve well-being and empowerment. These skills are:
• Cultivating positive and healthy relationships
• Safety and trust in themselves and others
• Personal growth and achievement
• Recognising their achievements
• Self-belief
• Resilience
There is also an opportunity, depending on availability, to attend a performance of a show, and explore in detail what goes on behind the scenes in departments such as lighting, sound, stage and costume departments such as lighting, sound, stage and costume to inspire the children to see theatre as something for them, not just as audience members but also as a possible career path.
The children who will take part in our Hero's Journey programmes have been identified as socially disadvantaged and may also have been exposed to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). For the avoidance of any doubt, The Hero’s Journey programme is not a 'recovery programme' and we do not specifically aim to work with children or young people who have been diagnosed with a mental health problem. What our programmes offer these children and young people is the chance to take part in energising sessions of creativity in safe settings, safely exploring their unique life experiences and social and cultural identities, and learning new personal and interpersonal skills, alongside opportunities for new cultural experiences. Being exposed to such things will reduce the risk of ACEs from developing into long-term mental health issues and anti-social behaviour.
Here are some links to videos/testimonials showing how much the children and young people are benefitting from us assisting them with partaking in live performances at their local theatre: