d n a t s c h Enrichment
performances of Wicked during term time. Sharon Studer, co-founder and chair of theatre works!, said: ‘As a result of Wicked’s ongoing support, hundreds of children from disadvantaged backgrounds – including many who had never set foot in a theatre before – were able to experience the magic of Wicked. Many of them have attended post-show Q&A sessions and these have proven to be particularly valuable. Young people walk away from the experience with a much better understanding of what happens behind the scenes.’ Describing their experience, Mrs
THEATRE WORKS!
Introduce more children to the magic of the theatre
I
f you’ve ever wanted the theatre to be more inclusive, new charity theatre works! is dedicated to making theatrical performances
accessible to children and young people facing economic and social barriers. Its patrons include actress, author and children’s welfare advocate Baroness Floella Benjamin. Since it began three years ago, theatre works! has provided tickets for more than 18,000 children to attend professional productions of all kinds. By coordinating with schools, the charity funds trips that are not only exciting but also educational, including post-show discussions or workshops. Schools with at least 40% of
students receiving pupil premium that are located outside of the M25 are invited to apply for a theatre works! grant of up to £2,000. Funds can be used to purchase tickets, bring
in a professional touring company or cover transport costs to regional theatres. In some cases, this can even pay for workshops, Q&A sessions and other educational activities related to a specific professional production. Occasionally, theatre works! can even fund theatre trips to the West End. This summer, producers of the hit
musical Wicked donated tickets worth £10,000 to theatre works! as part of its acclaimed Wicked Active Learning education programme. The programme supports schools with free primary and secondary lesson plans, classroom resources and post-show Q&A sessions, as well as virtual anti-bullying and wellbeing workshops. There are free resources to assist in planning trips, with risk assessments and venue preview videos too. Schools can apply via theatre works! for financial support to attend Tuesday to Thursday
Kaur, teacher at Castle School in Walsall, West Midlands, said: ‘The whole experience of visiting the theatre to watch Wicked was exhilarating. The children had such an amazing time being in the capital city and having the opportunity to view such a sought-after show. They enjoyed every minute of it. These experiences are so valuable, as some of our children would never have been to such a performance and may not get to again, so a real once-in-a- lifetime experience!’
l For more information about theatre works!, including eligibility criteria and the application process, visit
theatreworks.global
School Fundraising AUTUMN 2025 53
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BY EMMA GRIFFIN; IMAGES: MATT CROCKETT
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