Last week, 240 young people from schools across the West Midlands took part in a theatrical showcase on our Patrick Studio stage.

The schools are all part of our Hippodrome Education Network (HEN). Pupils were invited to watch Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Hippodrome in October. They experienced a world of pure imagination in all its musical wonder and were inspired to then create their own scenes, which they would perform as part of a showcase in the Patrick Studio.

With the help of our Learning Artists, the groups developed scenes based on the theme of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, devising characters, and exploring different parts of the story.

When working in our HEN schools, our Learning Artists use their expertise in different areas of theatre and performance to work with young people over several weeks, experimenting with different styles of physical theatre.

During the showcase, different year groups delivered a range of performances for their teachers, parents, and peers. The showcase gave the students a chance to perform on a professional stage in front of a supportive audience.

Staff from Percy Shurmer School provided BSL interpretation for the performances and the showcase was filled with creativity, fun and laughter.

Speaking about the showcase, Caroline Beaven, Hippodrome Education Network Manager (Primary & SEN) said: “We run these projects in schools across the West Midlands to ensure theatre is an integral part of education for as many young people as possible.

“The projects are filled with such animation and build fantastic relationships with our Learning Artists, which is fabulous to see and produces really impressive and engaging work.”

Find out more about our Hippodrome Education Network here.