The Cresset and UROCK Creative entered 2024 with a new partnership offering secondary schools – year 7 and 8 pupils – the unique opportunity to engage with a working commercial theatre.
Here at The Cresset, we are committed to looking for new ways to offer opportunities in theatre for young people, and Wraparound was designed to give year seven and eight students the insight & knowledge into the many and varied career paths & opportunities available in the arts and culture sector.
Wraparound offered a half school day practical experience to explore a working theatre. The creative arts industry offers a wide range of career opportunities – not just for those who can sing, dance or act.
Introducing young people to the diversity of career paths in the creative industries and highlighting off-stage roles and opportunities, the day was filled with fun, practical and inspiring activities for young people to take a new pathway, to try something different and see the potential in the arts. To provide a hands-on experience that lets young people fully engage with their own ideas whilst understanding what working with others in a theatre environment entails.
Sessions included a backstage tour, meeting key staff, technical insights into sound and lighting design, costumes, press and marketing and many other aspects of creating live theatre
Our Performing Arts Officer, Monique Benoiton-Smith had this to say about the event –
“These workshops were designed to give year 7 and year 8 students an insight into a career in the Theatre industry. When people think of working in theatre, they usually focus on the performance side and being on stage. People often forget about or don’t even consider the teams of people working behind the scenes to make the shows and productions come alive – this includes sound and lighting technicians, costume designers, set designers and builders, marketing and publicity, script writers, directors, to name a few.
The workshops included a tour of a working theatre and a number of interactive activities to give a flavour of working in theatre.
It was fascinating to watch so many young people, some of which had no interest in theatre initially, showing such flare and enthusiasm in the various activities. The feedback from the students and the teachers was extremely positive and highlighted that there is definitely a space for more projects of this nature.”
It was a real privilege to work with young people, schools and teachers from across Peterborough, in this pilot project supported by YMCA Trinity Group & the Youth Investment Fund. We hope to be able to hold more fantastic community events in the future.
Did you attend? We’d love to hear your feedback!
A Fantastic Testimonial from Arthur Mellows Village College
SCHOOLS FEEDBACK
“Creative way of introducing theatre: including backstage technical roles and the artist lifestyle and commitment to the creative industry. The Theatre activities allow the students to be silly and creative. I loved the group split of activities, a totally engaging way to look at set costumes and roles.”
“It was a really good way of introducing students to a working theatre and the backstage roles, as an alternative to becoming a performer.”
“Fantastic experience for students to learn about a wide range of job roles in the industry. The fact that students got to experience working practically in different roles was fantastic.”
“Staging the event in a working theatre rather than in a school creates more of a fresh creative learning experience and really excited the students.”
