We had an incredible time working with the talented Year 8 students at Queensbridge School as part of their CREATE Values Week, delivering a series of creative workshops inspired by the themes of peace, conflict and unity.
Led by our fantastic workshop team, Johnny Autin, Eleanor Stephenson, Angharad Jones Young and Victoria Drew, students explored movement, music, visual arts, storytelling, physical theatre and puppetry to create their own immersive performance, I do but keep the peace.
Inspired by Benvolio from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the performance asked an important question: Are we peacemakers? Audiences were taken on a moving journey that explored division and conflict before ending with a powerful message of hope, as graceful bird puppets became a symbol of unity, compassion and the strength we find in working together.
It was inspiring to see so many young people collaborate across different art forms, with every student playing an important role in bringing the production to life. A huge thank you to the staff and students at Queensbridge School for their creativity, enthusiasm and commitment throughout the project.
We have also been out in Nottinghamshire, delivering a series of creative workshops inspired by Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Macbeth. Led by Will Hodson and Eleanor Stephenson, the sessions took place with pupils at Robert Mellors Primary Academy, Priory Junior School, Carlton Junior Academy, and Rufford Primary and Nursery School. The workshops invited pupils to explore the stories, characters and emotions of the plays through movement, physical theatre and creative play, bringing Shakespeare off the page and into the body in a fun, accessible and imaginative way.