The Almeida Theatre has announced Almeida Every Child, an ambitious new initiative aiming to introduce every young person aged 10 to 14 in Islington to the possibilities of theatre.
The Almeida Participation team will collaborate with every primary, secondary and SEND school in the borough, delivering creative workshops directly into classrooms for students from Year 5 to Year 9. The programme is expected to reach around 6,000 students, significantly expanding the theatre’s existing schools work, which currently engages 2,250 students annually.
The launch comes at a time when access to Drama in schools is decreasing. Since 2010, GCSE Drama entries have fallen by 40 percent, and four in ten secondary schools do not offer the subject. In Islington, the same proportion of schools do not provide Drama as a GCSE option.
By working with students before GCSE choices are made, the programme aims to highlight the creative benefits of drama and raise awareness of the wide range of careers available within the theatre industry.
The initiative has received support from actors Romola Garai, Tanya Reynolds and Danny Sapani.
Reflecting on the value of early drama experiences, Romola Garai said, “At that time in my life, I was going into environments where I was getting to express complicated feelings with other people and talk about what they meant.”
Tanya Reynolds said, “I honestly think that drama is useful for anyone… It’s so vital for teaching communication skills, self-confidence, introspection and accessing your emotions.”
Danny Sapani added, “Access to the creative arts must be a right for every child, not a privilege bestowed to the few. For some it will be the difference between a future of hope or despair.”
To support the initiative, the Almeida is participating in the Big Give Arts for Impact campaign from 17 to 24 March, during which all donations made through the Big Give will be doubled.
Alongside Almeida Every Child, the theatre is continuing its work to support local teachers through CPD opportunities and classroom resources for delivering GCSE Drama.
Local Drama Teacher Sonali Pangalia said, “I am incredibly grateful for the continued support from the Almeida. Their commitment to young people, education and the arts makes a real difference. They provide experiences that build confidence, spark imagination and remind students that the arts are not just important, they are essential.”
More information can be found here.
