Education

Theatre Space North East believes that theatre is a powerful tool for education, helping young people engage with learning in creative and inspiring ways.

We feel that theatre can, and should, be integrated into education, whether in a classroom, school hall, or even a local community space. Since 2012, we have been delivering creative learning activities in schools, colleges, universities, and community organisations throughout the UK. From actors in role providing immersive historical insight into the lives of Ancient Romans to confidence-building workshops, writing projects, and exam preparation, we offer engaging ways to incorporate theatre into the curriculum. Our programmes are designed to create accessible theatre experiences for students of all ages and backgrounds.

From the beginning, we have been committed to making the arts and creativity a core part of young people’s lives in Sunderland and beyond. Our popular education programme provides a diverse range of curriculum-focused creative learning activities tailored to meet the needs of each educational setting. We believe that theatre can engage, excite, and inspire young people, offering flexible, affordable options that fit seamlessly with existing lesson plans. Discover how our programmes can enhance your curriculum and foster creativity in your students.

Take me back to…

Our Take me back to… sessions offer learners a fascinating, tangible insight into a given time period and how people lived, worked and played way back when.

These hands-on sessions are delivered as either a full or half day and combine arts and crafts activities like clay pot making, hieroglyphic tile designing and puppetry workshops as well as historical learning, drama activities and performances. From mummification rituals to Roman gods and Greek mythology, participants are invited on an exciting journey into the past as they discover traditional techniques and historical secrets.

The full day workshop incorporates learning and practical creative activities in the morning, with the afternoon spent turning the morning’s work into a performance to be shared with peers or parents & carers or a fun craft activity. The affordable half day option focuses on the learning and creative making activities giving learners both the knowledge and a practical insight into the past.

Our talented team are fully DBS checked, and all our activities are extensively risk assessed. Our affordable pricing is based on standard class sizes of 30 learners. An additional £7 per head is charged for larger groups.

Introduce Me To…

Imagine having an exclusive audience with the Lady With The Lamp herself or think about what you’d ask Little Red Riding hood if given half the chance.

Our Introduce me to... sessions allow learners to meet historical and fantastical characters, talk to them about their life, learn about their motives and acheivements and join them in weaving new stories and adventures.

These unique, interactive workshops feature professional a actor in role as a historical or fictional character, who, through a mixture of performance and facilitation will teach young people all about their life, customs and the important lessons they have to share.

With innovative, interactive storytelling, plenty of jokes and a good helping of magic, your class will be transported directly into the heart of the character’s story, helping them overcome problems and solve some common life conundrums.

This workshop covers a variety of topics, from history to mental health.

Shakespeare Workshops

Our Shakespeare workshops are designed to offer pupils of all ages the opportunity to engage with the works of the greatest playwright in history, from encountering and exploring his plays at Key Stage 1, 2 and 3, to analysing and applying the text in greater depth at Key Stage 4 and 5.

Our workshops are carefully tailored to meet the needs of primary and secondary school pupils, helping them develop a deep and meaningful connection to Shakespeare’s works, while aligning with the English National Curriculum and preparing students for their GCSE and A Level exams.

Designed by a former Head of English with 10 years’ experience teaching in UK Secondary schools and delivered by professional actors with practical experience of performing in Shakespeare’s plays, these sessions are curriculum-aligned: our workshops are designed to support your students' learning, directly linking to the English National Curriculum for both Primary and Secondary education.

By bringing Shakespeare’s characters and language to life, our workshops provide students with a rich, immersive learning experience, helping them to engage with Shakespeare’s timeless works in a meaningful way and preparing them for success in their exams.

Craft Workshops

Our education provision extends beyond the curriculum, and we love encouraging people of all ages to tap into their creative side and try new hobbies. The mental health benefits of arts and crafts have been well documented over recent years, and these sessions are an ideal way to introduce your group to new skills, and unlock lifelong passions.

We offer a range of workshops on a variety of crafts which can either be delivered as a one-off taster session of 2 hours, or as a longer course of 3-6 sessions, for groups from school children, to youth groups, from community sessions to retirement homes.

  • Our watercolour workshop introduces participants to blending, layering, and working with wet-on-wet or wet-on-dry techniques. Attendees explore how to create washes, gradients, and soft edges using transparent pigments. Beginners learn to mix colours effectively and control water levels for different effects, while more advanced artists can experiment with textures and composition.

  • This workshop covers acrylic painting basics, focusing on the medium's quick drying time and opaque layering potential. Techniques include colour mixing, brush handling, and exploring different textures. Participants create a complete painting, learning blending, impasto, and glazing techniques for vibrant, layered artwork.

  • Participants work with air-dry clay to create sculptures, ornaments, or functional items. Techniques include shaping, scoring, and attaching clay pieces. The workshop covers basic tools and decoration methods like painting or varnishing. Projects can range from simple figurines to detailed, textured pieces, even creating clay beads for making your own jewellery.

  • A counted cross stitch workshop introduces the fundamentals of this textile technique, where participants use charts and grids to form images or patterns on fabric. They learn how to read patterns, count stitches, and secure thread, creating a small project like a mini tapestry or keychain.

  • This workshop teaches various hand embroidery stitches, such as backstitch, satin stitch, and French knots. Participants learn how to transfer designs, select suitable threads, and layer stitches for texture. They typically work on a small, personalized project, like a hoop design or decorative patch.

  • Quilling workshops focus on coiling and shaping narrow strips of paper to form intricate designs. Techniques include creating basic shapes, such as circles and teardrops, and combining them into images or patterns. Participants can craft greeting cards, decorative art, or even jewellery pieces.

  • In our lino cutting workshop, attendees learn how to carve designs onto linoleum blocks to create stamps for printing. Techniques covered include using carving tools safely, inking, and creating prints on paper or fabric. The workshop allows for experimentation with layering and repeat patterns.

  • Participants in this workshop use barbed needles to create layered, textured images on felt fabric. Basic techniques include forming shapes with wool roving and adding layers for colour and texture. The result is a soft, dimensional design, such as landscapes or abstract patterns.

  • Our decoupage workshop teaches participants to decorate surfaces by layering paper cutouts and sealing them with varnish or glue. Projects could range from decorating simple boxes to transforming furniture. Techniques include cutting, arranging, and sealing images for a polished, durable finish.

  • This workshop covers the traditional art of crafting smudge bundles, typically using herbs like sage and lavender. Participants learn about the symbolic uses of various plants and the techniques for bundling and drying them. They create their own smudge sticks for cleansing or decoration.

  • Our book tunnel workshops guide participants in transforming books into layered, tunnel-like art pieces by carefully cutting pages to reveal images and scenes. Techniques involve cutting, layering, and arranging images to create depth, making for unique, visual storytelling.

  • In our creative collage workshop, participants use mixed media—such as paper, photographs, and fabric—to form cohesive compositions. Techniques include layering, cutting, and arranging images to create expressive artwork. Collages can be abstract or themed around a specific concept.

  • A special effects makeup workshop introduces techniques for creating realistic wounds, scars, bruises, warts and other conditions. Participants learn to use materials like wax, fake blood, and paint for texture and colour. The workshop covers safety, application, and blending techniques for realistic results.

  • Our wand making workshop invites participants to craft unique, personalised wands using a variety of materials and tools. Attendees all begin with a basic dowel and use hot glue to create their own designs to build up their wands.  They can be further customised with intricate details such as gemstones, metallic accents, or fabric wrappings. Each participant leaves with a handmade wand that reflects their personal style and connection to fantasy lore, making it a memorable experience for fans of magical and mystical crafts.

Theatre in Education Tours

Our tours are fully self-sufficient, requiring a 4x5m staging area and access to two power sockets. Our team of professional actors will arrive an hour before the required performance start time to set up. All of our team have enhanced DBS checks. Each performance can cater to as many pupils you can fit into the space.

 

These shows are completely free to all schools in Sunderland, South Tyneside, North Tyneside, Newcastle, Gateshead, and Northumberland.

Additional Workshops + Packages