“Young people deserve world-class theatre – the absolute best of the best. If they can’t afford to come to us, we’ll come to them.”

Phyllida Lloyd

Dame Harriet Walter said:

“In an increasingly polarised world, it is more important than ever to equip young people with the ability to express their own creative ideas with confidence, agency and individuality and to explore the rich vocabulary Shakespeare has given the world.” 

Deputy Executive Director and Director of Creative Learning and Engagement, Jacqui O’Hanlon added:

“We are incredibly proud of the work we have undertaken in collaboration with extraordinary teachers, young people and partner theatres over the past 20 years. They have irrevocably changed our understanding of the value of Shakespeare’s work in education and we now have a 20-year evidence base that describes the very real difference that an arts rich education makes to a child’s life and learning outcomes. All children should have this entitlement, but all children don’t…We hope that in the next 20 years, that argument will be won and all children, irrespective of background, will have equal access to the arts.”