Hull Truck Theatre and Southcoates Primary Academy to deliver Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) Associate School Programme
22 Jun 2023 | Press Release
This exciting programme will welcome staff and students from recruited “Associate Schools” to take part in a wide range of activities specially designed to develop and enhance Primary School students’ experiences of Shakespeare. Hull Truck Theatre are looking to recruit 10 local Primary Schools to take part in the project, which will start in September 2023. The programme will see classroom teachers transformed and empowered using real life RSC rehearsal room techniques. These techniques have been proven to help students of all ages and abilities unlock their inner love of language and produce sophisticated verbal and written analytical responses to questions. Teachers will have the chance to attend training days and meetings across the year(s) to support them in using the techniques learnt, as well as the opportunity for students to present what they have learnt at a performance event at Hull Truck Theatre. This would be supported with two visits to their school from a Hull Truck Theatre drama practitioner to guide the rehearsals for the performance event finale. Tom Saunders, Associate Director at Hull Truck Theatre said: “This is a chance for local schools to get involved and be part of a national initiative that is really special. Shakespeare offers us such an amazing array of plots, characters and language and we have found that this project can not only reshape a school's approach to reading and writing, but also transform pupil's attitude to learning in general.” “At Hull Truck Theatre we are committed to connecting local communities with the arts, encouraging young people to get involved and experience all types of theatre from a young age. This is a fantastic opportunity to take a deep dive into Shakespeare and learn lots of nifty language, drama and literacy skills along the way!” Not only is the project proven to help foster a love of language and Shakespeare in students, but it is also thought to improve confidence, develop language ability and give students a chance to express themselves and their ideas more clearly. Emily Hepple, English Leader at Southcoates Primary Academy said: “This is a chance for local schools to get involved and be part of a national initiative that is really special. The RSC offers our school an amazing array of activities to explore plots, characters and language in a range of active ways allowing all children to participate. In our school, we have found that this project helps transform pupil's attitude to learning not only in English lessons but to school in general.” There are currently 10 places available for the next academic year, starting September 2023. Places are expected to fill up quickly so interested Primary Schools are encouraged to sign-up as soon as possible to secure their place. To find out more about this exciting opportunity, the financial investment and to make an expression of interest, please contact: Tom.Saunders@hulltruck.co.uk. To find out more about Hull Truck Theatre’s work with schools and educational partners locally, please visit: www.hulltruck.co.uk/get-involved/schools/
