update report - Spring 2024
Celebrating World Theatre Day
March 27th marks World Theatre Day and theatre works! is delighted to celebrate the magic and transformative power of theatre. This special day is dedicated to the global appreciation of theatre, highlighting the numerous ways in which engaging with theatre from an early age can profoundly enrich a young person's life. As we celebrate, we delve into the many benefits that theatre brings, emphasizing its role in personal and educational development.
In this issue, we share comments from children and teachers who attended recent theatre performances. Additionally, we spotlight an exciting venture where theatre becomes a powerful tool in addressing teen mental health issues. These stories not only showcase the impact of theatre on young minds but also illustrate how it serves as a catalyst for discussion and understanding around critical topics.
Highlighting the educational value of theatre, we are excited to announce a unique opportunity that complements the Shakespeare curriculum taught in all UK secondary schools. Thanks to the generosity of a donor, a £10,000 grant has been allocated to enable young people to experience the magic of Shakespeare first hand at the London Shakespeare Globe Theatre.
We also want to acknowledge the impact of the theatre works! Challenge Match, which was supported by a generous donor in December and January 2024. This effort led to a notable increase in donations, totaling £22,000, with a significant portion coming from first-time donors, including many from the US. We are grateful to everyone who contributed, helping us to extend the reach of theatre to children who face economic and educational challenges. This support is crucial in our ongoing mission to make theatre accessible to all.
Above: Students from Cotswold Youth Theatre Group at Guys & Dolls
What Children and Teachers Had to Say
The Cotswold Youth Theatre group recently visited London’s Bridge Theatre Guys & Dolls performance, thanks to the kind contribution of tickets from one of our Honorary Patrons, Sir Nicolas Hytner. These tickets were provided to the school or community group who had provided the best theatre feedback following a performance.
Here’s what they had to say:
‘It’s made me decide that I want to work in set design or lighting. It was brilliant – I felt like I was in the set, that I was there.’
'(It made me feel) like I was really there, almost experiencing what the characters were, and going through their lives with them.'
I' want ‘to pursue Drama GCSE (a UK secondary school qualification), to learn more about theatre.'
Above: Students from Goddard Park Primary School attend Matilda
Children from Goddard Park Primary School in Swindon attended a performance of Matilda.
‘WOWZA. Watching (the show) gave me goosebumps -the talented children definitely deserve praise. Despite their little age they performed like fully grown adults.’
‘I wished the show never ended…The actors were phenomenal, and the children did an outstanding job.’
And sometimes a comment from a teacher provides a particularly helpful insight to what children gain from a play.
‘It was the perfect show for our children…it helped them to think about the possibilities in life, to see the exceptional child actors.'
'As a one-off experience, many of the children said it was the best thing they had ever done or seen. It will be an experience that will last a lifetime. Without grants towards the cost of tickets and transport this amazing experience would have not been possible. Personally it was really emotional to see how much the children loved the show.’
…and another teacher said…
'To top the whole day off, we learnt that one of the actors went to a local secondary school, which proved to the children that if they have the aspirations of being in the West End then it is in their grasp. Since the trip, there has been a real buzz around school and the children can’t stop talking about the show.'
Above: tw! founders Sharon and Graham at Adrienne Arsht Centre for I am Me
tw! founders, Sharon and Graham, recently attended a theatre performance in Miami, I am Me, that theatre works! supports. (tw! provides theatre tickets in the UK and the US. All donations are used in the country where they are made). The play focused on teen mental health and wellness and is touring to all 14- and 15-year-old school teens in Miami.
'The play was an exciting and moving experience…(it) took me through a range of emotions, from laughter to serious reflection.'
'It ‘lets you know that you’re not the only one struggling.'
'Everything was really cool and emotional. I loved the part where it was talking about the struggles of women and girls…I’m Latina myself and Muslim. I saw a lot of what I’ve grown up with in the play. It was very comedic at times and very personal and serious at others.'
‘It was truly a moving and personal experience. As a Cuban American, the story was something I felt personally, and I liked seeing that reflected in the characters.'
Above: Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis
Is Theatre More than Entertainment?
At the heart of our charity lies a profound belief that theatre not only entertains but also educates and inspires empathy, offering a unique avenue for personal growth and creative expression. This is especially true for our young audience members from disadvantaged backgrounds. Here we share some of the research highlighting the tangible benefits theatre can provide.
A study published in Educational Research indicate that children who attend theatre performances exhibit higher levels of tolerance, have an enhanced ability to see multiple perspectives, and have a deeper understanding of the story compared to their peers who watched film versions of the same story
Arts Education
A Houston study of 10,000 students conducted by the US Brookings Institute revealed that increased engagement in arts learning significantly boosted students' school engagement, college aspirations, and their capacity for empathy
The UK Cultural Learning Alliance's Findings
Drawing on extensive research with control groups and large sample sizes, the UK Cultural Learning Alliance has identified key benefits that come from participating in structured arts activities:
A 17% increase in cognitive abilities
Improved performance in Maths & English
Three times more likely to earn a degree, for children from low income families
Higher employability rates
These findings collectively affirm the critical importance of integrating arts and theatre education into the curriculum, particularly for students impacted by systemic inequalities.
Support theatre works! on World Theatre Day
The principal goals of World Theatre Day are:
To promote theatre in all its forms across the world.
To make people aware of the value of theatre in all its forms.
To enable theatre communities to promote their work on a broad scale so that governments and opinion leaders are aware of the value and importance of theatre in all its forms, and to support it.
Please celebrate this important day by supporting theatre works! We need your help to fund theatre trips for young people.
All charity administration costs are covered by the founders.
Please get in touch if you have the time and commitment to volunteer: info@theatreworks.global.
In particular we need help with theatre development and fundraising.
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