Gap Theatre Project 2003 – The Story Museum

Partners: Yerbury Primary School, Islington
Supported by: Arts Council England, Ernest Cook Trust, The Moose Foundation for the Arts and The Mercers' Company 
Created and directed by: Renata Allen and Leisa Rea
Dates: May - July 2003

Making theatre, changing lives…

The pilot project of this new peer-mentoring scheme aimed to create an original piece of theatre, devised by inner city primary school children, ‘gap year’ students and creative industry professionals. The project was designed to offer a unique programme, which used the language of
theatre to respond to the needs of children who are in transition.
Through this new scheme, Company of Angels wanted to:
 
     - empower primary school children, inspire confidence, and raise
       self-esteem through theatre, as they prepare to make the transition
       to Secondary School
     - harness the potential of ‘gap year’ students and give them training
       and experience to develop creatively and mentor younger children
     - nurture the creativity of teachers and to support their arts delivery by
       linking them with industry professionals and
     - ignite creativity amongst the whole school community by creating
       an original piece of theatre

Minding the gap – the background:
There is overwhelming evidence that the Arts directly impact upon the learning and social development of children at school. In reality however, the arts often get sidelined as teachers are bound to meet government targets for numeracy and literacy through formal testing. The Gap Theatre Project addresses the fact that teachers need support to deliver the arts.
It links creative professionals with Primary School communities.

There are very few opportunities for students on a Gap Year to develop creative potential within themselves and their communities. Existing  programmes aren't always inclusive and come at considerable cost to
the student. This project bridges that gap.

Impact / Outcomes:
School children developed on a creative level by involvement with an intensive performance related project about their experience of transition from one key stage (Primary education) to another, (Secondary education). They also developed personally through contact with the
‘gap students’, who became role models and supportive mentors.

‘Gap year’ students developed on both creative and personal levels by working closely with arts professionals and by mentoring younger children as part of a team.

Teachers built links with arts professionals and gain confidence to deliver ambitious arts projects in school.

The success of the first Gap Theatre Project was reaffirmed by the second collaboration with Yerbury Primary School in 2005 (‘You Zoo’). The model was then expanded to rural Cambridgeshire (‘The 25 Farewells') and West Berkshire ('You are Here! (Where?)').

Click here to read the Story Museum evaluation report by director Leisa Rea.