“I taught the audiences the participatory elements of the show, whilst dropping in insights about the production. I had a lot of access to the creative process to inform the content of the workshop, with the actors from the show participating in the workshop as well. This level of collaboration was ideal and essential for the success of the education event. And having a headmike helped me keep the whole event under control!"

Kate is bringing her knowledge and experience to Peterborough, where she now lives. Following talks with Eastern Angles about creating professional theatre in Peterborough they are offering a playwriting project to five Peterborough Primary Schools this Autumn. “When I delivered a similar project for the RSC in Haringey ‘A Midsummer Nights Dream’ was the inspiration for Year 6 students to write their own short pieces, some of which were then performed by professional actors. The project engaged the students with their literacy studies, especially boys and those with English as a second language. The project saw a significant improvement in the SATs literacy results that year.”

For the project in Peterborough the children will take their inspiration from their own journeys to this multi-cultural city, and then some of the plays will be developed into professional pieces, to be performed both in the schools and in a public venue. “This is an opportunity for the young people of Peterborough to engage in a creative process which will celebrate their experiences. The project will then be a stepping stone to creating a full-length theatre piece which can then tour the region.”