Annual Report - Stevenage Leisure

H EA RD TI SN
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Education and Outreach
2010-11 marked a major change for the Education
and Outreach Department with the disbanding
of The Youth Theatre and its replacement with a
series of Drama Academies, which, over the course
of the year, went from strength to strength. Their
collective aim was for their participants to ‘Create,
Inspire and Amaze’ with their performance skills
honed over the course of the three ten-week terms
by professional actors, choreographers and musical
directors. The Gordon Craig Little Stars, Junior
Drama Academy and Senior Drama Academy (as
they became known) catered for children from as
young as 3 up to 18.
The only professional venue in Hertfordshire to offer the chance
for an onstage performance, The Education Team worked with the
young people to create works as daring as ‘Sinbad’ and ‘Sweeney
Todd – The Musical’. Lower age groups produced pantomimes and
performed them to parents and friends alike, with the overriding
impression one of high aptitude and professionalism.
The Leisure 50’s classes continued to run and attendance was
generally very good with some numbers increasing. The partnership
with North Herts College was further developed with an increase in
the number of courses being offered.
As well as the above, the new Education and Outreach Suite also
provided a home to the many Activity Days, which, for the first
time, ran throughout August and the most of other school holidays,
and proved extremely popular and successful with sessions often
running to capacity. Full and part-day options were available, offering
a mix of drama, arts and craft and sports, and provided scope for the
continued development of workshops to complement the artistic
programme of the Gordon Craig. Backstage tours grew in popularity
amongst schools and other groups, and offered a unique insight into
the goings on behind the scenes of a busy regional theatre.
Work Experience placements were offered throughout the year
with placements available backstage and within the Arts and Events
Department, both of which proved extremely popular. The team
were able to offer an extended placement to one student with
learning disabilities from Lonsdale School, which has been running for
over a year.
18 Annual Report 2010/11