Norwich Theatre

Norwich Theatre and The Wensum Trust are working together to support creative learning across our schools’ curriculum.

The aims of the partnership are to help develop speech and language of children in the early years, use creative arts to stimulate learning in English language and literature and help children emotionally connect with themselves and others.

The project at the heart of the partnership is Wise About Words which is funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation Teacher Development Fund.

Wise About Words is a two year storytelling project in partnership with Norwich Theatre and funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation Teacher Development Fund. It focuses on embedding drama and storytelling into school culture, with an aim to improve children’s emotional well-being, as well as literacy, communication skills, focus and memory.  

By sharing stories, children experience a range of emotions at a safe distance and are supported to make sense of the emotions they might be feeling – learning that these are okay and common for others will help them to develop important coping strategies from a young age. You can read more about it here.

Young people across Norfolk schools are also getting a better understanding of Shakespeare, thanks to a partnership between the Wensum Trust, Norwich Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

The Trust is the first in Norfolk to become a Lead Associate School for the programme which aims to give young people the most engaging and joyful experiences of Shakespeare and live theatre possible.

The Wensum Trust and Norwich Theatre are hosting training days for teachers, led by an actor from the Royal Shakespeare Company, which explores how to introduce Shakespeare into the classroom, and look at different exercises and activities which can be used to help make the subject more accessible. You can read more about it here.

    

“We are delighted to have been successful in this funding which enables us to continue to develop and strengthen the relationship we have with The Wensum Trust. This project will enable us to work alongside teachers and school leaders to learn together, continuously improving the way in which creative learning is made accessible for those children in local schools who can benefit from this the most.” 

Wendy Ellis, Norwich Theatre Creative Programmes Director

“We are proud to be working with Norwich Theatre as a lead Trust, not only to enhance the learning experience of our students, but to also invest in the continuous personal development of our teaching staff who make that learning a success.”

Secondary School Lead for The Wensum Trust - Tom Rolfe