APplied theatre Projects
KS3 & KS4 SETTINGS
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'The results always show an increased level of understanding and awareness of the topics explored which is extremely positive and highlights a high level of impact… The team are so flexible, professional and passionate – and I would recommend them to anyone'
– Georgina Summers, Safeguarding in Education Manager at Gloucestershire Safeguarding Partnership
At the heart of our secondary theatre work lies the belief that story has the power to open minds and shift perspectives. Drawing on our combined backgrounds in narrative theory, theatre practice, and trauma-informed approaches, we create performances that explore the complex social and emotional realities young people face.
Our applied theatre productions have been seen by well over a million students across the UK, as well as touring to Europe and North America. We’ve also been honoured to perform several at the Houses of Parliament. Each production is designed to provoke thought, inspire empathy, and complement PSHE and safeguarding aims within schools.
Every performance is followed by a short post-show talk, giving students a deeper understanding of the story and its themes. This isn’t a Q&A - our cast are professional actors, not safeguarding professionals - but a guided reflection that helps students connect the story to real-life experiences in a safe, structured, and inspiring way. Each play also includes a short post-show resource pack, offering teachers simple, ready-to-use materials to extend discussion and embed learning back in the classroom.
All bookings for our applied theatre productions are managed by our partners at Theatre for Schools - a friendly and highly experienced team who specialise in bringing high-quality theatre to schools across the UK. They handle all bookings and logistical planning, while we focus on the development and delivery of the plays. To contact them or make a booking, call 0161 236 1448, or click here.
Currently Booking
Chelsea's Story is our internationally renowned applied theatre play that has proven highly effective in raising awareness around the sensitive issue of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
It tells the story of two students who discover the diary of a girl called Chelsea. Chelsea was a 15-year-old girl who, having fallen out with her family and friends, met a guy called Gary. Gary was kind, understanding, had a nice car, had his own flat, and listened to her. Unfortunately, Gary was not all that he seemed! Chelsea’s Story is played out and examined by the two students who, along with their teacher, attempt to understand what happened.
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The play and post show talk lasts for 55 minutes and has proven highly effective at raising awareness around:-
Healthy/Unhealthy Relationships
Safe Internet Use/Sexting
The Grooming Process, CSE and the differing models that perpetrators can use
The warning signs of CSE
Avoiding victim blaming
Where to go for help and advice
Suitable for:-
Schools : KS3, KS4 and FE
Training and conference events : Police and professionals who work with young people
To enquire please contact or booking agents, Theatre for Schools, on 0161 236 1448 or click here.
CountyLines is our innovative applied theatre play that raises awareness around the County Lines model of Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE)
Meet Dex. He’s a nice guy. He’ll offer you money. He’ll offer you drugs. He’ll be generous. He’ll make you feel important. He’ll make you feel part of something. He’ll make your life exciting. He’ll do whatever it takes to get you working for him and his mates… and when you do…
Meet Dex. He’s a scary guy. He’ll say you owe him money. He’ll make you deal drugs and move packages. He’ll blackmail you. He’ll be violent. He’ll make you terrified. He’ll threaten your family. He’ll turn your life upside down. He’ll do whatever it takes to keep you working for him and his mates… and he’s good at it!
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The play and post-show talk last for 55 minutes and raises awareness around:-
What is CountyLines and how can it affect young people
The Grooming Process and how it can apply to County Lines
Where to go for help and advice
Suitable for:-
Schools : KS3, KS4 and FE
Training and conference events : Police and professionals who work with young people
To enquire please contact or booking agents, Theatre for Schools, on 0161 236 1448 or click here.
Unacceptable examines sexism, sexual harassment and sexual violence, which, unfortunately, are an issue for every school in every community in the UK. In order to combat these issues we need to understand and raise awareness of what they are, what creates them, and what can be done to expose, and respond to, the harmful attitudes that perpetuate harassment and gender injustice.
Friends Oli and Kalyn confront their mate Adam, who has been saying and posting some worrying things lately. They have decided to stage an intervention and are going to explain to Adam what sexism is, the differing forms that it can take, and the impact that it can have.
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The play and post-show talk lasts for 55 minutes and covers:-
What is the difference between direct, benevolent and ambivalent sexism?
What are sexist stereotypes, attitudes and behaviours
Where do these stereotypes, attitudes and behaviours come from and where can they lead?
What is the difference between direct, structural and cultural violence?
What are conscious and unconscious biases, and what is the ‘bystander’ effect?
How can you respond to and/or report these behaviours, and how can we create lasting change?
Where to go for help and advice
Suitable for:-
Schools : KS3, KS4 and FE
Training and conference events : Police and professionals who work with young people
To enquire please contact or booking agents, Theatre for Schools, on 0161 236 1448 or click here.
Invictus is a powerful applied theatre project exploring the themes of resilience, identity, and the human capacity to overcome adversity. Taking its name from William Ernest Henley’s poem, the production celebrates the strength it takes to face challenge and change - and the quiet courage found in connection, reflection, and self-belief.
Developed through extensive research and collaboration with educators, wellbeing practitioners, and young people, Invictus invites students to reflect on how we respond to pressure, failure, and success. It’s a story about finding agency in difficult times - about standing tall, even when life feels uncertain... about bing Invictus!
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The play and post-show talk lasts for 55 minutes and covers:-
What is adversity?
What are critical life moments?
Hoe can you nurture hope and resilience?
What are the ptotntial impacts of traumatic exoperiences on young people?
Where to go for help and advice
Suitable for:-
Schools : KS3, KS4 and FE
Training and conference events : Police and professionals who work with young people
To enquire please contact or booking agents, Theatre for Schools, on 0161 236 1448 or click here.
OTHER PROJECTS
Breaking the Chain is a hard-hitting applied theatre production that aims to raise awareness, kick-start conversations and build resilience around youth violence – with a focus on knife crime – as part of a public health approach to tackling the issue – an issue that is seeing young people seriously hurt and, all too often, killed on the streets of our towns and cities.
Recently out of prison and trying to turn his life around, Tyler is worried about his younger brother Zeke and his friend Danny. Zeke and Danny have started carrying knives and Tyler is desperate to ensure that they don’t make the same mistakes that he’s made in the past. The play follows them over the course of one day as the tensions are mounting and Tyler must intervene to avoid a tragedy and try to talk them all into breaking the chain.
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The play and post-show talk lasts for 55 minutes and aims to raise awareness around:-
The risks and consequences of youth violence and knife crime on the individual, on their friends, families, and on the wider community
The influences, fears and pressures that can lead to the decision to hurt someone or to carry a knife, and how these can be managed or avoided
The core skills that can be used help young people to navigate a whole host of issues and critical life moments that they may encounter
The importance of seeking help and advice, or telling someone if you are concerned about yourself, a friend or someone you know.
Where to go for help and advice
Suitable for:-
Schools : KS3, KS4 and FE
Training and conference events : Police and professionals who work with young people
To enquire please contact or booking agents, Theatre for Schools, on 0161 236 1448 or click here.
Going to Extremes was developed out of a growing need to kick-start conversations and build resilience around extremism and radicalisation.
Exploring far-right as well as Islamist-inspired extremism, the muti-media play looks at what happened to three young people that found themselves targeted by individuals or groups that wanted to use them for their own agenda. Danny, a young man who was angry that his parents had separated, found himself getting involved with a far-right group. Ayesha, a young girl who wanted to be a nurse, was targeted online by a group that wanted her to go out to Syria to help Isis and Kamal, a young man who had issues fitting in with his community, found himself out in the desert training to fight a holy war. Using simple story-telling techniques their stories are played out and examined in an attempt to understand how and why they were targeted and how young people can be resilient to this sort of thing happening in the first place by encouraging an open dialogue and conversations about the issues as well as empathy, understanding and respect for others’ views and beliefs.
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The play and post-show talk lasts for 55 minutes and aims to raise awareness around:-
How and why young people may become radicalised into violent extremism
The processes involved in radicalisation
Developing resilience against extremist narratives
Understanding the importance of challenging radical/extremist narratives, and discussing them openly
Where to go for help and advice
Suitable for:-
Schools : KS3, KS4 and FE
Training and conference events : Police and professionals who work with young people
To enquire please contact or booking agents, Theatre for Schools, on 0161 236 1448 or click here.
If you can't find what you need, please do get in touch to see if we can develop something to suit your specific needs. We love creating!
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