Current theatre projects

Theatre in education projects

A one week project for primary school year 4/5
What’s the Harm?
A group of young people will rehearse, perform, interact and act as mentors for the project. A selection of young people will perform a play highlighting the issues discussed during the rehearsals.

As the young people themselves will be empowered to perform, it enhances the communication and relations between the subject matter and those who require hearing it.It will be a simple set with the use of some props and costume to depict characters. During the rehearsal we will make decisions on how the best way of mentoring or/and providing feedback from the characters perspective. The performance itself will be no longer then 40 minutes and then a ten – fifteen minute workshop time will be explored with the actors themselves.  During the performance week we will act as a facilitator to introduce the project and support the young actors when required during all performances.

After the performance
The teachers will then be given a pack to use as a follow up. This format empowers young people, and gives an opportunity for them to take on responsibilities, and develop team skills. The teachers will work with the mentors and it may be possible to add members to the programme as a means to assist and follow the principles highlighted throughout the project.

Funded by Sure Start and the links network, Birmingham.Further developments and adaptations are available with our bespoke devising programmes.

Happy About Me
A play about bullying and peer pressure. Why not introduce the Infusionarts Theatre company to your school. Some funding available.

This is not like any other Theatre in Education project. We do not simply come in and perform in front of the children. From the moment they enter the room they are fully participating in the production. The performance is both a play and a workshop in one.
For the whole of the performance we are all actors and spectators. To accompany the show we provide a teacher’s pack full of exercises and information to follow up and use in the classroom. The work links and covers material towards PSHE subjects. All of our workshops are evaluated by teachers, children and ourselves. We aim to maintain close links to schools and teachers in order for us to cover relevant issues for individual classes. Comments from previous sessions in Birmingham.  

‘Children fully engaged. Interactive. Related to children’s life experiences. You got responses from children who don’t normally respond.
(St. Clements school, Paul Murphy Class 3)

‘Practical– not formal sitting down. Engaged children. Children felt relaxed because of entry into room informal.’
(St. Clements school, Tara Murphy, reception)

‘Children actively involved with different parts throughout. It dealt with some real issues relating to the children and their experiences. It gave children a range of strategies of dealing with bullying. A range of useful ideas, information and resources.Can be used as a part of circle time or relate to issues/problems that children put into the class ‘worry’ box.’
(St Clements school, J Beesley, Year 4)

The company only use a small selection of people who are trained theatre practitioners and have experience working with young people. Infusionarts is a company whose members have worked professionally and trained in the media. All are CRB checked and insured.

Why not arrange a visit?
We can discuss the work of Infusionarts: we offer after-school workshops in dance, drama, art and other curriculum subjects using drama as a tool to assist education. (We offer young people a chance to gain AQA qualifications during the terms after school club workshops). We offer Inset training workshops in the following: Behavioural Management and ‘Using Drama as a Tool’ to teach subjects from the national curriculum.

Important: If you are interested in your school piloting the Happy About Me project for the beginning of 2010 please let us know.This includes an evening workshop for head teachers from other local schools. We can offer discounts through funding on the project - please enquire. Parent workshops are also available.