The National Theatre has announced its ambitious Autumn programme for schools, aiming to reach over 1.4 million students across the UK and 230,000 in the US.
This wide-ranging initiative includes national tours, digital resources, and a groundbreaking international partnership, all designed to break down barriers to arts access in education.
A major highlight is the new collaboration with Bloomsbury Publishing and the Educational Theatre Association, which will bring the National Theatre Collection to 5,000 US schools across all 50 states for free via Drama Online.
Seven new productions have been added to the Collection, including The Importance of Being Earnest starring Ncuti Gatwa and Sharon D Clarke, Nye featuring Michael Sheen, Ballet Shoes, Pig Heart Boy, Kin, The Boy with Two Hearts, and Blues from an Alabama Sky.
Kate Varah, Co-CEO and Executive Director of the National Theatre, said:
“Locally, nationally, internationally, our new and expanded programmes will reach over 1.4m young people across the UK this year alongside an estimated 230,000 students in the US. Designed to support educators and offer more access to school students everywhere, these innovative programmes all boost creativity, social skills and mental health. We know a rich creative curriculum fires imaginations, builds confidence, and inspires the next generation of theatre-makers, performers and audiences – and we are committed to devising new and innovative ways to widen participation so more can benefit.”
Michael Sheen, who stars in Nye, added:
“I’m delighted that Nye, in which I play Aneurin Bevan, can now be watched in classrooms, colleges and universities around the world with the National Theatre Collection, and it’s completely free for UK state schools. I believe it’s so important for children to access the arts from an early age and at a time when arts in schools is being increasingly marginalised, resources such as this are vital tools for teachers to use in their classrooms to inspire creativity in the next generation of theatre-makers”.
The programme also includes two national school tours: The Last Wild, in partnership with The Unicorn Theatre, and a nine-week tour of Bacchae, adapted by Nima Taleghani and directed by Hannah Hauer-King.
In London, a new five-year partnership with Mitsubishi Estate London will provide thousands of free tickets for school groups to see productions such as Hamlet and Ballet Shoes on the South Bank.
To support theatres across the UK, the National Theatre has launched the Theatre Trip Toolkit in collaboration with the RSC, Children’s Theatre Partnership, and Arts Council England. This practical guide helps build school audiences and improve access to live performance.
More information can be found here
