Views & Opinion Bringing National Theatre


productions to students at home Comment by ALICE KING-FARLOW, Director of Learning at the National Theatre


In any normal year, March is a busy time for the National Theatre’s schools programmes. Just a few weeks ago, our specially-adapted production of Hamlet was touring primary schools, school theatre companies were preparing to perform their newly-commissioned Connections play at one of 30 professional theatres across the country, and we were excitedly waiting to see the first drafts of secondary students’ plays for our annual New Views competition.


This year was different. On 16 March, like every other theatre across the


country the National Theatre closed its doors to the public, shutting down productions on its three stages and on tour, including in schools. The health of audiences, artists and staff was now the highest priority. And to reach the public, productions would need to move online and into our audiences’ homes.


Six months ago we launched the National Theatre Collection, giving


education institutions worldwide access to 30 world-class productions, drawn from 10 years of NT Live broadcasts and recordings from our Archive. Working in partnership with Bloomsbury Publishing, we opened the Collection free of charge to all UK state-funded schools. The service is intended for use by students while in school. But when schools also closed in March, it was clear that the Collection needed to be made available at home. We are enormously grateful to our colleagues at Bloomsbury Publishing and their distribution partner, JCS Online Resources, for


working at extraordinary speed to make this possible – and to the artists and creative teams whose work is being shared.


Why do this? At the National Theatre we believe drama should be a core part of every student’s education, with access to inspirational live theatre and the chance to explore and create theatre in school. We launched the Collection as a resource for students and teachers, enabling them to explore a wide range of curriculum-linked productions, genres and approaches to theatre making. Spanning contemporary productions of ancient dramas such as Medea, innovative, modern Shakespeare productions, adaptations including Jane Eyre, Treasure Island and Small Island, and new writing, the Collection is intended to complement, not replace trips to live productions.


But for now, theatres are closed, and teachers tell us the Collection is


playing a vital role in keeping students connected to cultural experiences, to their studies in drama or English, and to each other. Students have been exploring the productions through independent research and creative tasks, for example designing a costume or prop, and using social media to share their experience with friends. Teachers emphasise that watching theatre can support students’ wellbeing – helping them to escape the current crisis in their imaginations, and to enjoy their learning. Watching and discussing productions with family has also deepened parental engagement in theatre, allowing students to share their passion for the drama.


We hope it won’t be too long before schools and theatres can open


their doors again, and we can once again experience the shared joy and excitement of a live performance. In the meantime, we are delighted that for students across the country, the curtain continues to rise on such a rich and varied collection of productions.


Teachers can sign up now to National Theatre Collection on


Bloomsbury’s Drama Online Platform via uwww.nationaltheatre.org.uk/ntcollection


Photo: Ludovic des Cognets


Connecting with food, farming and nature in the time of COVID-19


Comment by CARL EDWARDS, Director of LEAF Education


In the midst of a global pandemic, all of us are doing our bit to help prevent the spread of Covid-19. We are staying at home, maintaining safe distances from people, curtailing all our normal ways of connecting with our families, neighbours and our communities – all the links that help define us as people. Yet, ironically, we look out of our windows on a world teeming with life. Spring has made our world alive, fresh, vibrant and buzzing with new life. And hope. New rhythms and routines Our children are facing uncertainties, changes in routine away from friends, support networks and the usual rhythms that provide security and reassurance. Parents are home schooling, and many will be experiencing the direct effects of these difficult times, away from their own extended family networks due to self-isolation; some may have experienced illness and even the loss of the loved ones in their own families. Turning to nature It is often at times of change and uncertainty that we turn to the


natural world around us – and often that first link is with the food we eat and where it has come from. The many physical and mental benefits to children of being outdoors and more connected with how their food is produced, are well documented – many studies show the positive links


20 www.education-today.co.uk


between direct experiences in nature and children’s mental, emotional and physical health and well-being. The studies show that regular direct access to nature can increase self-esteem and resilience against stress and adversity; improve concentration, learning, creativity, cognitive development, cooperation, flexibility and self-awareness and prevent childhood obesity. Environmental empowerment Added to this, we know that early contact with nature plays an important role in developing pro-environmental values and behaviours. Many children are aware of the global threats to the environment, but their physical contact, their intimacy with nature is fading along with connections to how their food has been produced. Our own work with teenagers revealed that despite young people feeling disconnected with nature and food production, many are interested in how their food is produced and hold strong views around the environmental impacts of farming and indeed, the career opportunities available in the farming and land-based sector. Keeping connections alive Now more than ever, we need to keep these vital connections alive. Since it was first launched in 2015, Countryside Classroom has been the on-line ‘go-to’ portal for teaching resources across all age ranges. A single destination where teachers (and now parents) can find and access the resources, places to visit and people to ask that will support their teaching about food, farming and the natural environment. Whether it is growing seeds on a windowsill, watching birds, cooking together, making a ‘journey stick’ or keeping a carrot diary – these simple activities can engage, absorb, inspire and motivate. They have the power to reconnect children with the outside world, but I think its even deeper in some way. The primary thing I think children and their parents get from deeper connections with the outside world – in some strange way – is not feeling as alone.


May 2020


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