The Citizen’s Rehearsal is a series of interactive theatre workshops designed to slot seamlessly into school calendars, delivering a variety of high quality sessions based on the Government’s recommended Programme of Study for KS1 and KS2, and the statutory requirements for KS3 and KS4.

It is very telling that the day after the Brexit referendum, the most googled question was “What is the EU?”. Our Citizen’s Rehearsals teach young people how to play a full part in democratic society. Giving young people the opportunity to actively engage in contemporary issues allows them to develop empathy, understand how to get their views across, and debate solutions in the most effective way. Research shows that democratic societies are more likely to succeed when the population is actively engaged with local and national politics. We have therefore chosen a pedagogical approach that is based on gaining practical, real life experience that is linked to the young citizens’ local community. It is a rehearsal; getting it wrong doesn’t matter, what matters is getting involved.

How?

Using theatre as the medium of delivery, our workshops are designed to give young people the space to explore what it means to be a citizen. Using theatre, we can give young people the tools to try on different scenarios in a safe environment. This puts young people at the helm, giving them an understanding of how they can approach group decision-making, and be heard by their local community.

What is citizenship? Watch this BBC bitesize video…