Schools' Programme 2026
We are delighted to be partnering with Opera North, The Rubbish Shakespeare Company and Mind the Gap Theatre to bring high-quality creative experiences to pupils across Ripon as part of this year’s Ripon Theatre Festival. We know that for some pupils this could be a highlight of the year!
Whether you’re looking for us to come to you or a school trip to the theatre, with a range of live performances and workshops, there’s bound to be something that suits.
The magic doesn’t stop when the curtain closes – our theatre experiences help you deliver curriculum content whatever age range you teach:
- KS1 gain experience of high-quality live music
- KS2 use drama approaches to understand how to perform plays to support their understanding of the meaning of language
- KS3 deepen their understanding of Shakespeare; tackling challenging texts through the lens of performance
- KS4 explore Shakespeare in a practical way; identifying and interpreting themes, ideas and information within a key GCSE text
Our Schools’ Programme is made possible through public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
If you have any questions about our Schools’ Programme, please email hannah@ripontheatrefestival.org
If you’re ready to book your spot just complete the enquiry form and we’ll get back to you to confirm what’s possible. Please register your interest no later than 27 March.
Schools' Enquiry Form
Mini Magic Flute, Opera North – Performance
Join Opera North on a fun, enchanting musical adventure inspired by Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute and specifically designed for 4-7 years old.
Led by a trio of opera singers and an accordionist, Mini Magic Flute follows a Prince’s search for a Princess, but nothing is quite as it first appears… Join a host of fantastical characters – from a bird-catcher to a dragon – on this magical adventure.
A craft activity will be shared with you in advance of the show so that your pupils can create something special at school to bring along and use during the performance.
Important details
Date: Friday 10 July 2026
Schools’ performance times: 11.00am & 1.30pm
Venue: Ripon Arts Hub, Allhallowgate, Ripon, HG4 1WB
Performance length: 40 minutes (no interval)
Cost: £120 per class (max 30 pupils)
Lunch option: Space for pupils to eat a packed lunch available on request.
Rubbish Shakespeare Company and Mind The Gap Theatre
The Rubbish Shakespeare Company (RubSC) – Workshop
A children’s and family-friendly theatre company, with roots in Creative Education, RubSC’s mission is to make Shakespeare for All.
Shakespeare – boring? Difficult to understand? Not with The Rubbish Shakespeare Company. Bring the curriculum to life with an engaging, high-energy, hands-on workshop for all abilities.
Option A – Shakespeare Through the Ages
Ever wondered what it was like to live in Shakespeare’s world? In this whirlwind workshop, pupils will step back 400 years and experience the sights, sounds, and surprises of Elizabethan England – all while laughing, playing, and learning in true Rubbish Shakespeare fashion. From costumes and manners to language and theatre tricks, they’ll get a taste of the chaos and creativity that shaped the Bard’s plays.
- Explore life in Elizabethan England – what people wore, ate, and how they spoke.
- Discover how historical events, society, and culture shaped Shakespeare’s stories.
- Play games that reveal why Shakespeare wrote the way he did.
- Try acting, improvising, and performing using authentic Shakespearian styles.
Option B – Romeo and Juliet Overview
Dive headfirst into the world of Romeo and Juliet – two star-crossed lovers, feuding families, and a dash of Rubbish Shakespeare chaos! In this workshop, your pupils will bring the story to life through fun, hands-on games and activities – locking in their learning while creating memories that will stick in the classroom. And don’t worry: it’s not run by boring academics – our Shakey-sperian Actors are fully qualified in fun!
- Explore the characters and discover what makes them tick.
- Understand the twists, turns, and secret subplots of the story.
- Try performing with tips and guidance from real Shakespearian Actors!
Important details
Slots: Tuesday 7 July pm & Wednesday 8 July am & Wednesday 8 July pm
Venue: Classroom or school hall
Workshop length: approx. 2 hours
Cost: £150 per class (max 35 pupils)
To follow the visit to your school, all students and their families have the chance to enjoy a FREE performance of Rubbish Romeo and Juliet.
The Rubbish Shakespeare Company’s rollicking production will be a highlight of our Family Day in Ripon Spa Gardens on Sunday 12 July:
Enemies. Balconies. Kissing… SAUSAGE ROLLS!!??
Three hapless idiots perform Shakespeare’s tragedy using only tatty wigs and a burst airbed they found by the bins. This frenetic 60 minutes of fourth-wall-breaking, ludicrous action features clowning, slapstick, and mischievous storytelling. This Shakespeare isn’t boring – but it is bonkers!
‘High-class’ ★★★★★ (Fringe Review)
‘Side-splittingly funny’ ★★★★ (The List)
Date: Sunday 12 July – two performances, times tbc
Venue: Ripon Spa Gardens
Cost: Free
Dancing With Colours, Mind the Gap Theatre – Performance for Specialist Schools
Dancing with Colours is an interactive performance for young people (4+) and their grown-ups. Co-created with learning-disabled people it is a participatory performance that blends movement, music, and most importantly, colour!
Expect a joyful, sensory, (and very messy!), colourful experience as artist JoAnne invites you to dance with pastels and paint, bringing the space to life. Whether you prefer to watch or jump right in, JoAnne hopes you’ll leave feeling inspired to find moments of creativity in your own lives.
Important details
Date: Thursday 9 July 2026
Schools’ performance: 1pm
Venue: Harrogate Road Methodist Church, Ripon HG4 1TG
Performance length: 65 mins
Cost: email hannah@ripontheatrefestival.org to discuss your requirements
Images provided by Elly Welford
The Rubbish Shakespeare Company (RubSC) – Workshop
A children’s and family-friendly theatre company, with roots in Creative Education, RubSC’s mission is to make Shakespeare For All. As for those who’ve had negative formative experiences with Shakespeare, RubSC want to show Shakespeare is not, in fact, rubbish!
Shakespeare – boring? Difficult to understand? Not with The Rubbish Shakespeare Company. Bring the curriculum to life with an engaging, high-energy, hands-on workshop for all abilities.
Delve Deeper – Romeo and Juliet (this can be adapted for other Shakespeare plays)
For pupils who know their Mercutios from their Montagues, it’s time to step into the director’s chair! In this workshop, they’ll guide our delightfully hammy Shakespearian Actors, making creative decisions and defending them using the text. Experience the glorious chaos of a Rubbish Shakespeare rehearsal room – where risk-taking and laughter are all part of the “plan”.
- Direct a real actor delivering genuine Shakespearian lines.
- Make artistic choices and explain them with references to the script.
- Play, experiment, and revel in this 400-year-old masterpiece!
Important details
Slots: Tuesday 7 July pm & Wednesday 8 July am & Wednesday 8 July pm
Venue: Classroom or school hall
Session length: approx. 2 hours (can be delivered as 2 x I hour sessions to different groups)
Cost: £150 per group (max 35 pupils)
To follow the visit to your school, all students and their families have the chance to enjoy a FREE performance of Rubbish Romeo and Juliet.
The Rubbish Shakespeare Company’s rollicking production will be a highlight of our Family Day in Ripon Spa Gardens on Sunday 12 July:
Enemies. Balconies. Kissing… SAUSAGE ROLLS!!??
Three hapless idiots perform Shakespeare’s tragedy using only tatty wigs and a burst airbed they found by the bins. This frenetic 60 minutes of fourth-wall-breaking, ludicrous action features clowning, slapstick, and mischievous storytelling. This Shakespeare isn’t boring – but it is bonkers!
‘High-class’ ★★★★★ (Fringe Review)
‘Side-splittingly funny’ ★★★★ (The List)
Date: Sunday 12 July – two performances, times tbc
Venue: Ripon Spa Gardens
Cost: Free