JOHN JENNINGS AWARD FOR SERVICES TO EDUCATION

Now in its second year, we also presented the second John Jennings Award for Services to Education to former Headteacher and founder of Silhouette Youth Theatre, Leigh Wolmarans.

This special prize was created in memory of John Jennings, a beloved loyal patron and audience member for decades, and held many close friendships inside of the RSC’s community of supporters. As an RSC supporter, John was passionate about bringing Shakespeare to young people, and this award fittingly recognises individuals who have made a significant impact on how young people connect with Shakespeare

In the year we celebrate 20 years of transformative partnerships with schools, theatres and communities, Wolmarans’ work exemplifies the impact of the work on young people’s learning and life outcomes.

As Headteacher of Lings Primary School in Northampton and now CEO and joint Artistic Director at Silhouette Youth Theatre, he uses Shakespeare’s plays and live performance to create an environment where pupils can explore language and their ideas with confidence and imagination.

The award was presented by two members of the RSC Youth Advisory Board, Ashton and Sayana, both former pupils at Lings Primary School and members of Silhouette Youth, who were introduced to Shakespeare through Wolmarans’ work.