The Octagon Theatre

The Octagon Theatre’s Creative Learning & Education Schools Programme aims to offer Somerset schools the opportunity to learn from, and collaborate with, world-class performance companies from across the UK.

Access to this programme will inspire students, raise aspirations, and build creative confidence in teachers.

We are delighted to announce that for 2023-2024 we will be delivering in partnership with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO), Motionhouse Dance and Wise Children Theatre Company.

The offer for schools will include:

• CPD for teachers, with training and resources to support lesson plans, knowledge and understanding of practices and processes of our leading partner performance companies.
• Workshops in-school for students, led by partner performance companies, with schemes of work which build towards performance opportunities.
• Priority tickets to live performances, with the opportunity for students to watch a live performance by the partner performance company.
• Performance opportunities, with students invited to perform at our venues as part of large-scale community production.
• Backstage Tours of our venues, with opportunities to see behind the scenes, gain insight into venue operations and stage tech, and learn about careers in the industry.
• School Cultural Network, a support network for teachers enabling opportunities for networking and collaboration with other creative art teachers in the area.
• Access and signposting to additional workshops, learning packs and discounted tickets by world-class companies as opportunities present.

Our programme seeks to broaden familiarity with the arts from a young age, convey the message ‘this is for you’, whilst offering all students a platform to perform and increase appetite for engagement and creativity.

All our programmes are designed to enrich classroom teaching and ensure all young people have the opportunity to be inspired by the arts.

If you are a school looking for more information and to get involved, please contact our Arts Engagement & Outreach Officer, Katy Tilley Katy.Tilley@somerset.gov.uk