Taking Part

Taking Part Learning & Participation at the Festival and King’s Theatres

2

Education is at the heart of what we do, and a key part of developing our new audiences. We ensure equality and access for all and enrich the experience of live performance for visitors to the Festival and King’s Theatres and our new venue, The Studio at the Festival Theatre.

We have developed an extensive programme of creative learning to complement the shows on our stages and to encourage those who normally would not or could not come to our theatres.

We engage over 20,000 people a year in our learning and participation activities inspiring a broad range of people to take part in the performing arts. We have the unique opportunity of offering the full range of performance arts including drama, dance, opera, music, ballet and children’s theatre, from local, UK and international companies and we want to share that opportunity with as many people as possible.

Duncan Hendry Chief Executive Festival and King’s Theatres Edinburgh

We focus on four key strands of activity: w Schools w Overcoming barriers to access w Supporting emerging talent w Public engagement

3

4

Schools We work with pupils and teachers in schools all over Scotland to develop creative work linked to our shows. We support teaching staff by delivering skills-based workshops which give them the confidence to develop their own creative teaching and learning practice in schools.

In the last two years over 250 teachers have taken part in our workshops which have included sessions in poetry, puppetry, dance, set design and other theatre arts.

We are developing The Studio at the Festival Theatre to become a hub for creative learning, providing state-of-the-art performance and rehearsal facilities and a space where our staff, and the professional performers we have access to, can support students and teachers of all ages.

“ This was one of the best professional development courses I have ever attended.

So many useful, practical ideas to take back into the classroom�

Teacher, Lasswade High School

5

6

“ DanceQuest has been a HUGE success at our school. The children have gained so much from being part of the project�

Teacher, Clermiston School

DanceQuest Beginning in 2012, DanceQuest has helped over 400 children take part in dance for the very first time. DanceQuest gives young people from five local schools the opportunity to see the best in international dance and take part in professionally-led dance workshops in their schools. The students devise their own piece of dance and the annual programme culminates with a gala performance at the Festival Theatre, Scotland’s biggest stage.

7

8

START “ Spectacular project. Even going into the theatre was a new experience for our children and I have rarely seen them so engaged as they were with the workshops.”

Deputy Head teacher, Pirniehall Primary School

Launched in January 2014, the Start Project aims to raise the aspirations of children in disadvantaged areas of the city through participation in the arts, developing relationships with schools who have had no previous engagement with the theatre. The project gives young people who are new to theatre an inspiring programme of visits to professional shows, workshops to develop new skills, support to create their own artistic work and provision of a platform in which they can present their work to their local community.

The first year of the project (working with over 300 Primary 6 and Primary 7

pupils from four schools in Edinburgh: Pirniehall, Forthview, Craigroyston Primary and St David’s Primary School) was such a success that we are now building long-term relationships with the schools and establishing the initiative as a core part of our outreach work. One of the outcomes of START 2014 was the publication of Stolen Lives, a book of poems about the First World War by Forthview Primary School students. The poems were written by the children in response to seeing War Horse at the Festival Theatre in January 2014.

“ The project has lifted the aspirations of our pupils and as a school we now pledge that every child will be a published author” Eileen Littlewood, Head Teacher, Forthview Primary School

9

10

Overcoming barriers to access In 2012, the Festival Theatre staged the first ‘relaxed’ performance in Scotland (The Snowman, Birmingham Rep). We now present a regular programme of specially adapted relaxed performances at all 3 of our venues, providing the opportunity for children and young people with a range of additional support needs to see a Christmas show at their local theatre.

We currently provide more signed, audio-described and captioned performances than any other UK theatre - in 2013-14, we provided 33 access performances and 18 touch tours - and we know we can do more.

Going forward, we are working with the City of Edinburgh Council’s Health and Social Care team and Hearts & Minds to develop dementia-friendly programming and creative learning projects. This aligns with Edinburgh’s aspiration to be a dementia-friendly city.

“ This is the first occasion that Braidburn has been able to attend an outside event as a whole school.

A visit to a theatre is a first for many of our pupils and we thank you for providing this opportunity, the experience of which will last a lifetime.”

Teacher, Braidburn School

11

12

In addition to pioneering initiatives to engage young people in the arts, including Internships, a Student Reviewers programme and the Student Ambassadors scheme (where we send young people to represent our theatres at venues across the UK and promote our activities within their academic institutions here in Edinburgh), we provide rehearsal and performance space to arts organisations from across Scotland, including a wide network of amateur groups. We work closely with SBYC (Scottish Ballet Youth Collective) and we host the annual dance showcases of Edinburgh College and Pilrig Park special school.

“We are proud of our partnership with Festival Theatre - these classes provide an introduction to ballet and contemporary dance techniques and also include choreographic and performance skills�

Catherine Cassidy, Associate Director (Education), Scottish Ballet

Supporting emerging talent

“ Our workshop with Grupo Corpo was one of the best workshops we’ve ever attended, we didn’t want it to end.

It was a joy to be taught by such knowledgeable and adaptable dancers.

We all left smiling!”

Ana Norrie, Student Ambassador,

current student on BA Dance at Edinburgh College and participant in the Grupo Corpo Masterclass at The Studio at the Festival Theatre in November 2014

13

14

Public engagement Everything for all ages from backstage tours to pre and post-show talks, workshops and masterclasses with theatre and dance practitioners, tailor-made tours and courses for adult learners delivering insight into what goes into putting on the shows.

“ We got a real insight into the behind-the-scenes team work that goes into making your experience (before seeing the performance) the best possible. Such an enthusiastic group of presenters. Take this show on tour!�

Participant on the 2014 Discover the Festival Theatre course, for adult learners

15

PLAY YOUR PART As a charity, we rely on the generosity of our supporters to make programmes like these possible. You can find out more about supporting this work by visiting edtheatres.com/support or contacting Lucy Clement, Development Manager on 0131 622 8087 | lucy.clement@edtheatres.com For more about the work of the Festival and King’s Theatres visit edtheatres.com or contact Cerin Richardson, Learning & Participation Manager, 0131 622 8099 | cerin.richardson@edtheatres.com Thanks to all our supporters Cruden Foundation LIMITED

A E B Charitible Trust

Festival Theatre 13/29 Nicolson Street EH8 9FT King’s Theatre 2 Leven Street EH3 9LQ The Studio 22 Potterrow EH8 9BL edtheatres.com Scottish Charity Number: SC018605