In the UK, every child needs to pass a paper on Shakespeare to get their English GCSE. This means you have to access his plays before you can access further study and work opportunities.

The problem is that Shakespeare never wanted his plays to be read. So unless you experience an actor performing his words, they’ll never make complete sense.

Years of cuts to arts funding has meant more and more schools don’t have access to live theatre. And while state schools have been focusing less on arts education, private schools have been investing more into it. (Source: International Journal of Cultural Policy)

Last year, we created and distributed a national teachers survey, asking educators directly what they need and how arts charities like SCRUM Theatre can best support their work in the classroom. Based on these findings, we have been developing a programme of interventions for schools across the country.

We had overwhelming feedback from teachers that current theatrical educational provisions are inaccessible mainly due to two factors: their cost and that most educational theatrical offers are concentrated exclusively in London. While 76% of respondents indicated their preference for in-person workshops, teachers with declared caring responsibilities shared they were more likely to experience barriers to training due to finances, location and travel.

In response to this feedback, we will be travelling across the country to support schools, bringing workshops and Career Professional Development to schools directly.

When SCRUM’s production of Twelfth Night tours nationally, we will be performing in postcode areas identified by ACE and DCMS as under-funded for the arts. In each area we go to, we will be offering workshops, resources and tickets to schools. All SCRUM Theatre educational interventions that are connected to our touring productions will be offered to schools and teachers free of charge.