Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre launch first ever Schools Theatre Day

Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre has launched a new initiative to encourage schools back into the theatre following the pandemic.

Today (6 October) will mark the inaugural Schools Theatre Day as theatres across the country will be highlighting the opportunities for school trips on social media using #SchoolsTheatreDay.

As part of the day, the Society of London Theatre has launched a brand-new London Theatre Guide for Schools – an online resource for schools in partnership with Mousetrap Theatre Projects, providing teachers with everything they need for planning a trip.

The guide includes practical information about school ticket rates, travel options and links directly to theatres’ educational resources and programmes – from writing activities with & Juliet, to religious studies with Come From Away and an anti-bullying lesson plan with Wicked.

Also in the guide are information on careers in theatre such as free careers fair TheatreCraft.

In an announcement, the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre share: “A trip to the theatre plays a vital role in ensuring children are creatively stimulated as part of a well-rounded education. For many children, a school theatre trip may be their only chance to experience live theatre. It can instil a love of theatre that stays with them into adulthood and can also provide inspiration for future careers.

“With anxiety levels in children at an all-time high, the collective experience of drama and theatre has never been more important and can provide a welcome release from the pressures the younger generation are facing.”

As part of the day, Year 8 and 9 students in Westminster and their teachers have been invited to see Mary Poppins, Grease, Life of Pi, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, and The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe for free with the Society of London Theatre partnering with Westminster City Lions. As well as watching shows, they will get to take part in workshops revealing the theatre-making process.

Councillor Tim Roca, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Young People, Learning and Leisure at Westminster City Council, said: “Westminster is home to the cultural hub of the West End, and the council is determined to make world class theatre accessible for all our residents. We are therefore very excited to be working with the Society of London Theatre, as part of the inaugural Schools Theatre Day, to give students at Westminster schools the opportunity to experience the magic of live theatre.”

Hannah Essex, co-CEO of Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre, added: “This is our first year of Schools Theatre Day and we have great ambitions to build on it year on year. There is so much that the West End and theatres across the UK can provide for schools, teachers and children and this is a great opportunity to celebrate that.”

Further information including the Schools Theatre Guide can be found online here.