Archibald Primary School is located in Middlesbrough. 21 different languages are spoken in the school and 54% of children are eligible for free school meals. 

Archibald Primary School joined the Learning and Performance Network in 2012 as a Hub (lead) school and partnered with the RSC, working with a cluster (partner) of schools in their local area. The school developed a unit of work for Shakespeare in every year group from Reception to Year 6.  They hosted an RSC production of King Lear and performed two whole school Shakespeare productions, every pupil in the school had a part in each production.  Three of their teachers gained a Postgraduate Certificate in the Teaching of Shakespeare and the school and their cluster took part in a programme of INSET, workshops and professional development for teachers.  

The Headteacher and the Chair of Governors championed the cause for developing a curriculum that includes Shakespeare.  They created a team of teachers working together to develop Shakespeare and active approaches.  

Archibald Primary School hope that in becoming a Lead Associate School they can share their expertise with other schools across the country and measure the impact this has.

Ark Alexandra Academy is committed to empowering our students to be confident, articulate, emotionally intelligent and creative. Lead Associate School status will support our values and allow us to build strong links with schools in our community, ensuring young people across the region support each other to achieve and have access to professional partnerships. The Associate School programme is the result of a long-term collaboration with the RSC and will play a key role in developing literacy, performing arts, and social and emotional aptitude for our students in the future.

Bradford College is an award-winning education institution based in Bradford, West Yorkshire.

Catering for students aged from 14 to 18+, Bradford College has delivered Further and Higher education and training for more than 180 years. It is one of the largest providers of Higher Education outside of the University sector, with a student body of some 20,000 people.

Bradford College has a strong professional and vocational focus in order to provide its alumni with tangible employment opportunities and prepare them for the working world. Bradford College will be working closely with the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford to fulfil their lead role in the Associate Schools programme.

Crook Primary is a larger than average-sized primary school in county Durham. Most pupils come from White British backgrounds. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is above the national average.

Crook Primary School joined the Learning and Performance Network in 2009 as a Hub (lead) school and were partnered with Newcastle Theatre Royal in 2016, working with a group of cluster (partner) schools. They are now collectively known as the Durham Ensemble.

Crook Primary is viewed as a centre of excellence in Shakespeare teaching by the community. Headteachers meet regularly to discuss the value of the Shakespeare work, evaluate it and propose shared funding. Performance is central to the Durham Ensemble and Year 5 pupils participate in a performance festival.  Work is led by a designated Shakespeare Teacher, supported by two teachers from the cluster schools. The teaching of Shakespeare is central to the school’s curriculum in the development of the whole child as well as raising attainment in speaking, listening and language acquisition. Shakespeare lessons are extremely popular with pupils. Newcastle Theatre Royal provides training and workshops.

In becoming a Lead Associate School Crook hope to embed Shakespeare further into the curriculum as a tool to increase attainment in Literacy. An additional teacher from Crook Primary has been appointed to assist the original team with the Associate Schools Programme.

Dowdales School is situated in the Furness peninsula in the south of Cumbria. We are a mixed 11-16 Local Authority school of approximately 950 students. Dowdales began its journey with the RSC in 2017 as part of the Learning and Performance Network and were proud to become a Lead Associate School at the beginning of 2018.

The partnership with the RSC is a valuable opportunity that allows the school to help broaden and enrich students' cultural experiences, which can be limited due to Dowdales' geographical location.

Using the RSC rehearsal room approaches in both English and Drama means that students are experiencing this culture in the classroom. More widely, students are now offered opportunities to see live performances whenever possible, either through visits to Stratford, North West theatres, or through live streams.

In addition to the curriculum, Shakespeare and RSC approaches have been used as part of improved transition work, with visiting students from a linked school in the Netherlands and with all staff as part of school INSET. Dowdales Shakespeare Company have also performed Shakespeare on stage at The Grand, Blackpool.

Eastbury Community School is a new type of school that caters for primary, secondary and sixth form pupils, aged 3 to 19.

Eastbury Community School has previously been a Lead Associate School and, before that, a RSC Learning and Performance Network Hub School for three years. It is now a Champion School.

The RSC’s rehearsal room approaches are used extensively in Eastbury’s classrooms, and the school regularly offers students the chance to see live theatre performances to enrich their cultural knowledge.

Pupils from Eastbury Secondary performed on stage alongside RSC actors at the Barbican as part of the RSC’s tour of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 2016.

King Ethelbert School is a mixed non-selective school of 750 students, located in Westgate-on-Sea and is a strategic partner of East Kent Learning Alliance.

King Ethelbert joined the Learning Performance Network in 2013 with the ambition of revolutionising the teaching of Shakespeare in Thanet and beyond by ‘doing it on our feet, seeing it live and starting it early’.

Working with the RSC, The Marlowe Theatre and eight schools across Kent, teachers and students have become immersed in RSC’s rehearsal room techniques. Pupils explore Shakespeare’s language in a practical way in all areas of the curriculum, from science to maths, and regularly experience live performance. 

Over the past 6 years, the cluster led by Mowmacre Hill Primary School have embedded the rehearsal room strategies into their English and curriculum lessons, taking part in several national and regional playmaking festivals. Teachers and students continue to develop a love of Shakespeare through the rehearsal room techniques.

The Leicestershire cluster was previously led by Fossebrook Primary School in Leicester and Captain’s Close Primary in Ashfordby, Melton Mowbray. The school had previously been part of the Learning Partnership Network for two years, during which time teachers researched the positive impact of the RSC’s rehearsal room techniques on students’ language, reading, communication and writing.

Located in Sparkbrook, Birmingham – an area of high cultural diversity – 88% of Nelson Mandela’s pupils have a first language that is not English and 45% are eligible for free school meals. It works in partnership with Anderton Park as joint Lead Associate Schools for the cluster.

Nelson Mandela Primary became a Lead Associate School in 2017 working closely with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Its goal is to provide its pupils with opportunities to develop their knowledge, performance and oratory skills, and also to enable parents to experience and take an active part in the cultural facilities of Birmingham and Stratford-upon-Avon. 

Newburgh Primary School in Warwick became a Lead Associate School in 2018.

Newburgh has thoroughly enjoyed hosting several First Encounters productions, which has developed a love of Shakespeare throughout our community. As we are fortunate to be located close to the Royal Shakespeare Company, our young people have been offered many fantastic opportunities. In 2018 our pupils performed the opening scene in The Comedy of Errors on stage in the Swan Theatre. As a school we have studied many of Shakespeare’s plays such as The Tempest, A Midsummer Nights Dream, Julius Caesar, Romeo and Juliet and The Merchant of Venice. As staff and children have become more confident, the quality of work and the excitement has grown, culminating in whole school productions which include Reception to Year 6 children.

Working with the RSC has many benefits for pupils and staff. The children are more self-confident as their communication skills have developed which has directly impacted on their engagement with all aspects of Literacy. As they work on sections of the play they develop their teamwork skills and enhance their resilience. All children and staff have high aspirations which generates an enthusiasm needed to be a life-long learner.

Currently we have four schools working with us: Long Itchington Primary, Bishops Itchington Primary, Fercumbe Primary and Harbury Primary School. In 2019 our associate schools came to Newburgh to take part in a carousel of activities with an RSC actor and performed Romeo and Juliet together. The children loved watching and sharing each schools interpretation of the play and scenes.

We look forward to growing our cluster of schools this year and are always looking for opportunities to further develop our practice and love of Shakespeare.

The Northampton Primary Academy Trust Partnership (NPAT) is a collaboration of eleven great primary schools in Northampton. With responsibility for approximately 4,200 children across Northampton, NPAT is driven by a vision to achieve educational excellence; creating opportunities and enriching lives.

The Trust is proud to work in partnership with the Royal Shakespeare Company as a Lead Associate Trust. The Trust's passion for this work has continued to grow year on year and is making an impact on children's attainment and their wider aspirations. Our Trust values and pedagogy are very much aligned with those of the Royal Shakespeare Company as we work to develop children, both academically and holistically.  

Nottingham City Partnership is formed of four schools spread across five sites, all in Nottingham. Heathfield, Hempshill Hall, Old Basford and Rosslyn Park Primary Schools are a mix of maintained schools and academies and together serve over 2,500 children.

As a Lead Associate School, the Nottingham City Partnership will continue to work with the RSC and Theatre Royal Nottingham for an initial two year period. During this time pupils will experience in-classroom learning with theatre professionals and have access to cultural experiences in both Nottingham and Stratford-upon-Avon. 

Joining the Learning and Performance Network in 2013, the cluster of schools from across Kent work together with The Marlowe Theatre with a shared leadership model. There are three Mentor (Lead) Schools:

Queenborough Primary School and Nursery is a two-form entry primary school and maintained nursery on the Isle of Sheppey, proudly serving the local communities of Queenborough and Rushenden.

Towers School & Sixth Form Centre is a secondary school in Ashford, Kent. Students have been involved in the Next Generation talent developement programmes, Shakespeare Ambassadors, and attended the Young Creatives' Convention in 2023.

Whitfield Aspen School is unique because it brings together mainstream pupils and Special school pupils in a truly inclusive learning environment. Our strength lies in our commitment to provide learning opportunities for all. 

Being part of the Associate Schools Programme has inspired teaching staff from across the cluster to incorporate active approaches across curriculum areas. They also felt that increased involvement in the performing arts and the ability to understand and enjoy Shakespeare helped to increase the self-esteem and confidence of their students and was a way to positively impact on life chances and aspiration.

Ormiston Bushfield Academy is a school of inclusion, support and understanding. There is a belief ingrained in all of our young people that, with the support we provide, they can exceed expectations, overcome any obstacle and make a significant contribution to their community and wider society during their time with us and once they have left us.

Being a lead school on the RSC Associate School’s programme provides our students the opportunity to improve their own understanding of interpreting and performing Shakespeare. Our students also have the opportunity to make a significant contribution to the community around us and the schools who we work with.

READ THE CASE STUDY

Ormiston Sudbury Academy serves a rural community consisting of students from Year 7 to Year 13, we serve a range of students with a diverse range of abilities and needs.

The majority of pupils relish the opportunity to learn; teaching is at least good and often outstanding. We recognised the need to offer a diverse curriculum to address the lack of aspiration when we first opened in 2012. We view success in the arts as crucial to personal and academic progress, it is one of our academy’s greatest strengths.

Ormiston Sudbury Academy became a Lead Associate School in September 2018, engaging our local primary schools and other academies within the Trust to work with us to improve standards and outcomes within the Eastern Region. Activities through the programme have so far included: on site days at the RSC, leadership training for Shakespeare Ambassadors, professional development for teachers, cross curricular days, a showcase of work the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich and involvement in the Playmaking Festival. Teachers have seen their students’ confidence grow, especially in lower ability groups and an active approach to teaching and the use of Shakespeare is firmly embedded in teaching practice.

Ormiston Sudbury Academy is remarkably proud of our Lead Associate School status, we consider our role as one of supporting and enhancing the work of the RSC in developing aspiration and enabling the wider sharing of values and resources to improve the learning of students.

The Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Cluster have been involved in the Associate Schools Programme for a long time. They were originally part of the Learning Performance Network since its inception in 2013. Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary School has been an Associate School from the start and became the Lead Associate School in 2015, working closely with The Grand Theatre and the RSC for many years.

Over the past year, the cluster have worked collaboratively to establish a shared leadership model. It was felt that sharing the leadership responsibilities across both schools and individual teachers would strengthen and develop a cluster, enabling greater longevity of the work with a number of schools taking on positions of leadership. It also gives very experienced and expert teachers an opportunity to share their knowledge with the local community of practice.

The cluster now has two Lead Associate Schools (one Primary and one Secondary):

• Our Lady of the Assumption Primary School
• St Mary’s Catholic Academy

The Lead Associate Schools work collaboratively with The Grand to lead on the core activity of the cluster:

• Cluster meetings
• CPD (teacher training)
• Playmaking
• Community of Practice

In addition to the two Lead Associate Schools, the cluster have identified four Associate Schools who each lead on different strands of the wider RSC Programme:

• Shakespeare Ambassadors
• KS1 Network
• SEND Network
• Family and Community Engagement

Sacred Heart is a single-sex Catholic secondary in Newcastle upon Tyne. The schools caters for over 1300 girls between the ages of 11 and 18.

Sacred Heart are recognised for the quality of their cultural education with a Platinum Artsmark Award (the national tool that enables schools to evaluate, strengthen and celebrate their arts provision).

Sacred Heart has a strong relationship with the Royal Shakespeare Company and Northern Stage in Newcastle. As a Lead Associate School they are working to further strengthen the teaching of Shakespeare in the North East.

At Southcoates Primary Academy, we began working with the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2016 when we were lucky enough to be offered a place on a training course linked to Hull becoming the City of Culture in 2017. Since then, the staff have worked extremely hard to train in Rehearsal Room Techniques and embed them in their teaching strategies across the curriculum. Due to the fact that these techniques tie in explicitly with our Signature Pedagogies: Building Learning Power, TALK and Assessment for Learning, the staff at the academy identified improvements in achievement and ambition almost straight away which has continued to improve ever since. Working with the RSC has given the children new experiences and aspirations; they cannot wait to perform at the local theatre. Becoming a Lead Associate School is an exciting opportunity to not only share the success we have experienced but also to continue to expand our knowledge of techniques to ensure that our pupils are truly inspired to achieve great things. 

 

Springhead Primary School is a smaller than average-sized primary school located in Talke Pits, in North Staffordshire.

The Headteacher’s ambition in joining the Learning and Performance Network as a Hub (lead) School in 2013 with The New Vic Theatre and cluster (partner) of local schools was to find ways to deepen learning that would have a lasting impact.

The rehearsal based techniques that underpinned the Learning and Performance Network programme impacted significantly on the children’s learning and were integral to raising standards. This impact on pupils exceeded expectation and was particularly evident in writing, speaking and listening skills. There was also a pronounced improvement in children’s confidence and self-esteem.

All children in Springhead experienced theatre and Shakespeare’s plays and the school has hosted a number of the RSC’s First Encounter touring productions and will continue to do so.

There was a significant impact on teaching in terms of improving ability to deliver lessons; this led to a change in practice, not just in the teaching of Shakespeare but across the curriculum. Springhead staff shared the knowledge and skills they developed with other schools via workshops and INSETS.

In becoming a Lead Associate School, Springhead want to continue to share their practice with others, developing a strong cluster of schools in North Staffordshire with shared expertise.

St Mary’s College is a comprehensive school that serves communities across Hull and the East Riding. It has a significant Performing Arts Faculty and recently invested £1.9 million in a new theatre which opened with the RSC First Encounter’s production of The Famous Victories of Henry V.

Joining the Learning and Performance Network in 2012 as a Hub (lead) school they worked in partnership with Hull Truck Theatre and a cluster (partners) of local schools. Their relationship with the Learning and Performance Network led to the Hull cluster exploring a new Shakespeare play each term, the delivering of rehearsal based workshops on a wide range of Shakespeare’s plays, and the creation of an annual Shakespeare Festival.

In joining the Associate Schools programme St Mary’s College will continue to work towards providing students with a world class experience of Shakespeare both in their cluster and in schools across Hull. St Mary’s feel strongly that access to Shakespeare and the arts is key to academic success and as a Lead Associate School seek to promote this belief with other schools and teachers in the city of Hull and the surrounding area.

St Cuthbert's has served the community of Hartlepool for over 100 years. The school was built in 1914 and its corridors are seeped in history. St Cuthberts has 33% of children eligible for free school meals and 10% have English as an additional language. The school joined the associate programme in 2017 as an associate school with the Archibold cluster in Middlesbrough. Since then, our love of Sharespeare has grown and it is fully embedded in our KS2 curriculum offering children the chance to explore language, drama and performance throughout those 4 years. 

As a lead school in 2023 we will be introducing Shakespeare to KS1 also. We have a dedicated team who are keen to share their experience and enthusiasm of Shakespeare with others, so come join us!

St. Paul’s is at the heart of the community of Stockingford, a closely-knit area with a “village” feel. We have been a Lead Associate School since 2017.

We appreciate that many people’s initial experience of Shakespeare’s works was a negative one. This is something we strive to ensure never happens for any of the children who come to St. Paul’s. Shakespeare’s plays are exposed to the children right from the very beginning of their time with us, through a range of active learning approaches that allow the children to explore language in a deeper way.

Overall, we believe it is vitally important for children to see themselves (and their role models) as readers and as writers. This has the power to give any child the confidence they need to take on any literary challenge.

Sydenham Primary School is based in Leamington Spa. At Sydenham, we recognise achievement in putting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child at the heart of our practice to improve wellbeing and help all children realise their potential. Our school ethos reflects the principles of equality, dignity, respect, non-discrimination and participation. Children’s rights are learned, taught, practised, respected, protected and promoted in our school.

We value the arts at Sydenham and have been a Lead Associate School since 2018.

Treviglas Academy is a dynamic 11-19 school in Newquay. Treviglas joined the LPN in 2012 as a hub (lead) school, was partnered with Hall For Cornwall and worked with a group of cluster (partner) of schools in the local area. 

This community has widened as  Treviglas renewed its association with the RSC, becoming a Lead Associate School (LAS), also in partnership with Hall For Cornwall, and working with schools from across the county.  Through regular professional development for teachers provided by Treviglas and the RSC, teachers and students from cluster schools have been consistently involved in a range of activity, developing skills and knowledge together, as well as creating an annual  ‘Playmaking Festival’.

Performance has been at the forefront of Treviglas’ participation in both the Learning and Performance Network and the Associate Schools scheme, with the academy mounting five full productions of Shakespeare’s plays, two of which toured to other secondary schools in Cornwall, as well as numerous smaller scale performances.  All students in KS3 are entitled to drama provision and all KS4/5 GCSE and A-Level drama students explore Shakespeare. 

As a Lead Associate School Treviglas seeks to: use drama and Shakespeare as learning tools across the curriculum; establish professional development for teachers as a core element of their LAS status;  create outstanding productions within the community, involving students in all aspects of theatre, and promoting the wider arts as viable career options.  

Treviglas was awarded Platinum Artsmark status in September 2019.

Welcombe Hills School is a generic special school serving South Warwickshire. Our pupils have complex and significant learning delay; many have autism and a large number have a physical disability. There are 180 pupils on roll aged between 3 and 19 years. In 2009 the school was awarded specialist status in Visual and Performing Arts, testament to our commitment to bringing a diverse and quality arts education to the pupils in the school, and our experiences with RSC have helped to shape that journey.

Welcombe Hills School have a long standing and close relationship with the Royal Shakespeare Company. We regularly work on projects together, have the opportunity to view live theatre, meet actors and tour back stage. Our work with the RSC builds pupils self-confidence, improves communication skills, supports with literacy, and contributes towards pupils developing their personal and social skills. 

 In 2018 Welcombe Hills became a Lead Associate School for the RSC. We currently have 2 Associate schools working with us, Northleigh House and Woodlands School and we are looking to recruit 2 further Special Schools in this academic year.

In the summer of 2019 we took part in Romeo and Juliet playmaking festival and hosted a summer sharing of the work created by our Associate schools. We also planned and produced a 2 day Romeo and Juliet take over with Samsung and RSC in our school. Students had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the story of Romeo and Juliet in a series of bespoke activities designed and run by members of RSC, Samsung and our Welcombe Hills staff. It was an incredible experience for our community and a brilliant celebration of the work we have done as a school with our theatre partner. Watch the video for further insight into this unique project.

We look forward to growing our cluster of special schools this year and are always looking for opportunities to further develop our practice and love of Shakespeare.

Founded as a multi-academy trust in 2016, The Wensum Trust currently has 11 schools situated across Norfolk, ranging from nursery through to sixth form, enabling the Trust to support children and their parents and carers at every stage of the education journey.

They are a new cluster in the Associate Schools Programme, working closely with their local theatre partner Norwich Theatre Royal.

The Belgrade Theatre is the largest professional theatre in Coventry, acting as both the city and region’s commercial and producing theatre.

The Belgrade have been a theatre partner since 2023 and are still building their cluster. Their Lead School is Edgewick Primary School, working with another 4 Primary schools and 1 Secondary. They already have a group of active Shakespeare Ambassadors who will be working on creative projects to make Shakespeare relevant and resonant to their school and wider communities.

The Core at Corby Cube have been a theatre partner since 2023 and are a performance venue in the heart of Corby town centre with a rich programme of music, comedy, drama and youth performances. They provide a wide range of enriching creative activities for children, young people, families and adults alongside mentoring artists to develop new work.

At The Core at Corby Cube, they strongly believe in the value of arts engagement and the positive impact it has on children and young people.

The Core are proud to offer a comprehensive programme of educational workshops and opportunities for schools and students. The RSC Associate Schools programme has become an integral part of their schools offer and they currently have 5 Associate Schools signed up (all secondary). They are looking to develop and build on this small cluster as it continues to grow, and are especially looking forward to delivering the Playmaking Festival for the first time in 2026.

For over a century, the Embassy Theatre in Skegness has entertained thousands of people and the cream of British entertainment has performed on their hallowed stage. The entire season is packed full of live events – stunning tribute shows, top drawer comedians, event cinema screenings and of course, an annual pantomime. Recently renovated, the multi-purpose auditorium, Courtyard cafe and accompanying hospitality spaces are ideal for large scale touring productions, weddings, corporate events and team bonding initiatives. Visit the theatre’s website for full details of everything that's coming up.

The Embassy has been a theatre partner since 2023. Their Lead School is Skegness Junior Academy and there are currently 5 other schools in the cluster. The cluster are looking forward to developing their work with the partnership, and are excited about taking part in the Playmaking Festival in the summer of 2026.

Photo: The Grand Theatre Blackpool / Sean Conboy

Blackpool’s beautiful Grade II listed Grand Theatre attracts the best in award-winning touring companies, including The National Theatre, English Touring Theatre, UK Productions, Opera and Ballet International and the Russian State Ballet. The theatre aims to appeal to all, with an eclectic offering of opera, ballet, quality drama, comedy and dance.

The Grand lead the Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre cluster, which is a large cluster of 16 schools with a mixture of Primary, Secondary and SEND schools. Their two Lead Schools are St Mary’s Catholic Academy and Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary School.  

The Grand have been a theatre partner since 2015. They have been engaged in almost every element of the Associate Schools Programme: Shakespeare Ambassadors, Next Generation and Playmaking Festivals, with pedagogy embedded throughout the work. The Grand engages adults from across Blackpool, theatre artists based locally and participants from The Grand Young Technicians in participatory activity accompanying RSC tours.

Photo: Hall for Cornwall

Hall For Cornwall is the only large-scale purpose-built theatre in Cornwall. They are a vibrant organisation presenting a varied artistic programme designed to help people of all ages to enjoy and experience the arts and further their own creativity. They provide an extensive range of outreach activities for people of all ages and backgrounds, to complement their work on stage. 

The Cornwall cluster joined the Associate Schools Programme when it was first established in 2016, with Treviglas Academy as the Lead Associate School. The cluster are engaged in almost every element of the Associate Schools Programme: Shakespeare Ambassadors, Next Generation, and Playmaking Festivals, with pedagogy embedded throughout the work.

Following their participation in the 2022 Playmaking Festival in Stratford-upon-Avon, they created the Cornwall Young Ensemble made up of young people from across the cluster who rehearse and perform regularly. 

Hall for Cornwall work with adults from across Cornwall, including parents/carers of the young people in their Associate Schools, on participatory activity to accompany RSC tours.

Photo: Hull Truck Theatre

Hull Truck Theatre is a producing theatre in the heart of Hull, making thrilling work of exceptional quality with a distinctive northern voice.

Inspired by the city, Hull Truck tell powerful human stories that resonate with our times. Through their work with schools and with the community, they help to raise aspirations and give life-changing creative opportunities to thousands of young people and adults.

The Hull and East Riding cluster is a relatively new cluster of 9 primary schools. The cluster will be co-lead by St George’s Primary School and Brough Primary School as the Lead Associate Schools.

Photo: The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury

The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury re-opened in October 2011 after an extensive rebuild and has since become one of this country’s leading regional theatres with a wide and varied programme that includes the best in national and international theatre, opera, music and dance.

Their theatre offers a major programme of creative activity for the community that has seen nearly 3,000 people involved in workshops since they opened. These activities are for a range of ages and include regular sessions run by professional practitioners on theatre practice, playwriting and dance.

The Marlowe work with two clusters of schools in Kent, both led by three schools (one Primary, one Secondary and one Special School). They have been a theatre partner since 2016, with one of the two clusters being part of the very first cohort of Associate Schools. Both clusters have 10 schools in each of them, made up of a mixture of Primaries, Secondaries and Special Schools, spread right across Kent. RSC pedagogy is embedded within classroom practice across the schools and students have been involved in Playmaking Festivals (both at The Marlowe and also at site-specific locations), Shakespeare Ambassadors, Next Generation Act and Backstage, and the RSC’s Youth Advisory Board.

The Marlowe have been working with the Pilgrim’s Hospice and Kent Refugee Action Network within participatory activity accompanying the RSC’s 2026 tour.

Mayflower Theatre is the largest theatre on the South Coast with 2,271 seats in the auditorium. The Theatre’s aim is to bring a diverse range of shows to Southampton. They present a mixture of spectacular touring productions, from musicals to dance, opera, drama, ballet and comedy.

Mayflower Studios is a cultural and community hub. They present family shows, dance, musicals, music, comedy, circus, cabaret, spoken word, and visual arts. Participation is at the heart of everything they do.

Both the Theatre and Studios operate under the Mayflower brand. Collectively they provide Inspiring Experiences to all who engage with each venue. They provide an extensive and inclusive participation offer across youth, education, community and artist development.

Mayflower Theatre and Mayflower Studios became a theatre partner in 2024. They are building a cluster that will combine schools from Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight. Their Lead School is Havant & South Downs College, and the cluster will be made up of Primaries, Secondaries and the College.

Photo: The New Vic Theatre

The New Vic is the producing theatre for Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. The first purpose built Theatre in the Round in Europe, they present a varied and adventurous programme that includes contemporary drama, new commissions, innovative adaptations and accessible classics.  Productions have toured nationally and internationally and they have been an Affiliate Company of the National Theatre Studio. The New Vic have developed award-winning community programmes, working regionally, nationally and internationally through their Education Department and ground-breaking New Vic Borderlines, working to change the lives of disadvantaged members of their communities. The programme for families and young audiences includes the innovative Tail Trail experience, an immersive experience placing children at the heart of the story.

The New Vic has been a partner theatre with their Lead School, Springhead Primary School, since 2013. They collaboratively lead the North Staffordshire Associate Schools partnership cluster. There are 9 Primary schools in the cluster and they have a particular expertise in how to embed creative practice into Early Years teaching.

Newcastle Theatre Royal is one of only nine Grade I listed theatres in the country and is one of the best and well-recognised independent large-scale theatres in the UK. Their landmark theatre in the heart of the city centre has an unrivalled reputation for staging the best national and international touring working, welcoming world class theatre including drama, musicals, dance, opera and the annual family pantomime.

Theatre Royal create moments of magic on and off stage, through an ambitious creative programme for audiences and communities across the North East and are committed to supporting established local artists as well as new and emerging talent from across the region.

Their Creative Engagement Team work with young people and community groups to deliver a number of talent development programmes, engaging with approximately 7,500 people every year and proving participants with pathways to find their own creativity, support their personal and professional development, improve well-being and provide positive health outcomes.

Newcastle Theatre Royal work with schools and adults from the West End. They have engaged adults in participatory activity accompanying RSC tours and are currently building a cluster of primary schools within the Associate Schools Programme.

Northern Stage is a theatre where everyone is welcome. They make and present contemporary theatre, live performance and creative programmes that spark connections, provoke curiosity and joy, and explore new ways of seeing the world from our home in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne.  
 
Northern Stage promotes creativity and creative practice and provide life-changing experiences for people who would not normally have access to such opportunities. They champion creativity and support a diverse range of artists to create ambitious and adventurous theatre. 

Northern Stage work with a cluster of 7 schools, with a mixture of Primaries and Secondaries. The cluster is led by Sacred Heart Catholic High School as the Lead Associate School. The Newcastle Cluster have been involved in the Associate Schools Programme since 2017, having previously been part of the Learning Performance Network (LPN).

Silhouette Youth Theatre is based in a shopping centre in the middle of Northampton and works closely with the community it serves. It is committed to providing affordable and accessible opportunities for all and it seeks to Redirect the Light. This means shining the light on areas of social deprivation, on communities that are forgotten and on young people that need them the most. Silhouette have a strong Connect Programme and work with over 53 local Primary schools and five local Secondary schools. They provide training, support and performance opportunities for their young people. Silhouette is involved in all Next Gen programmes and has a strong leadership team that are all Shakespeare Ambassadors.

Silhouette have been a partner theatre since 2022 and work with two clusters: a Northampton cluster made up of three Secondary schools, and a cluster led by Northamptonshire Primary Academy Trust.

The Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall Nottingham has been embedded in the cultural life of Nottingham since the Theatre Royal first opened its doors in 1865. They pride themselves on bringing the finest touring companies to our venue, including Opera North, Birmingham Royal Ballet, National Theatre, Dance Consortium and the RSC.

Established in 2001 Theatre Royal’s learning department engages across all ages and backgrounds including delivering weekly arts courses for the over 55s, a community choir in partnership with the Institute for Mental Health, community theatre projects and a volunteer led programme exploring the history of the Theatre Royal, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

 Their Lead School is Bluecoat Beechdale Academy and there are 7 other schools in the cluster.

Nottingham Theatre Royal work with adults in the community on participation within RSC tours.

 

Photo: York Theatre Royal

York Theatre Royal is a producing theatre in heart of York. Their Creative Engagement mission is to enable their community to live creative lives through projects and programmes in their building and out in the community that uses theatre as a tool to unleash each person’s potential. Their vision is to provide opportunities for every member of their community regardless of circumstance to engage with them in a creative environment that is safe, welcoming and compassionate.     

Their departmental programme is centred around three strands: Participation, Education and Community. They seek to provide provision for all ages in a variety of settings, focusing on regional and city-wide partnership building and delivery to ensure programmes are collaborative, authentic and people centred.   

York Theatre Royal have been a theatre partner since 2016. They work with a cluster of schools in York and Selby, with Selby High School taking on the role of Lead Associate School. 

They have been engaged in many elements of the Associate Schools Programme and work with adults in the community on participation around RSC tours.