Partnering with local organisations to bring families together through creativity
Over the 2026–27 academic year, we will partner with local organisations to host creative half term activities at the theatre for children aged four to seven and their families.
The Old Vic will partner with four local community organisations to invite families they work with to a programme of workshops that will support wellbeing through shared creative intergenerational experiences, fostering connection, belonging and inclusion. Sessions will involve drama, interactive storytelling and arts and crafts.
Applications are open to community organisations only, on behalf of the families they support.
The programme will consist of:
- A welcome session for community group leaders: a 90-minute welcome workshop for community group leaders to learn more about the programme
- A drama and theatre session (family workshop one): a 45-minute interactive drama workshop, welcoming and introducing families to The Old Vic. The session will explore theatre techniques to increase confidence and support wellbeing
- An interactive storytelling session (family workshop two): a 45-minute interactive storytelling session. The story will focus on a Theatre Mouse who goes on an adventure around The Old Vic, learning about different backstage roles within the theatre, including costume design, lighting and music
- An arts and crafts session (family workshop three): a 45-minute arts and crafts workshop exploring an element of theatre design, including puppetry, masks or props. Families will work together to make a craft which could be used to tell their own stories or theatre productions.
All sessions will be held in the Clore Learning Centre in the Backstage building at The Old Vic.
The programme will run from Oct 2026–Jun 2027. Participating community groups need to be available for all dates of the programme:
- Welcome session for group leaders: Thu 24 Sep 2026
- Family workshop one (drama and theatre): Thu 29 or Fri 30 Oct 2026
- Family workshop two (interactive storytelling): Thu 18 or Fri 19 Feb 2027
- Family workshop three (arts and crafts): Thu 03 or Fri 04 Jun 2027.
Applications for Half Term Family Workshops are currently closed.
This opportunity is open to local community organisations only. Individual applications from families cannot be accepted.
If you are a community group based in Lambeth or Southwark and would like to register your interest, please email education@oldvictheatre.com
- The Old Vic will partner with four local community organisations each year
- This project is only open to community groups based in Lambeth or Southwark
- Each organisation will recruit and provide participants for their sessions. We cannot book individuals onto the workshops
- We can host up to 30 participants per family workshop (approximately 10–15 families)
- The guide ages for each session are four to seven years old. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Older and younger siblings are also welcome
- This programme aims to work with participants who have limited access to the arts. We are particularly interested in partnering with community groups who work with people from backgrounds underrepresented in theatre, such as people from Global Majority backgrounds, people with access requirements and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds
- This programme is offered free of charge to all community group participants.
- Half Term Family Workshops aim to be open and accessible to all
- We will discuss any access requirements your participants may have before the project begins and will ensure appropriate support is in place
- We can adapt workshop content to suit your participants.
If you would like to discuss your group’s access requirements or have any questions before applying, please contact education@oldvictheatre.com
If you have any questions, please contact education@oldvictheatre.com