Supporting young people to reach for their ambitions through theatre practice
Take the Lead is The Old Vic’s free employability programme for students in Years 11–13 that uses theatre techniques and creative workshops to build on five core skills: communication, self-management, self-belief, teamwork and problem-solving.
This programme is created in collaboration with schools and businesses and draws on The Old Vic’s expertise as a theatrical institution to support young people to take ownership over their next steps after school, and prepare them for the working world of the future.
The impact for our pupils will last beyond school and college and will help shape their path in the future
In 2026–27, The Old Vic will partner with 40 state secondary school groups across London, engaging up to 30 students in each school from Oct 2026–Feb 2027.
Take the Lead includes five main engagements for selected schools:
- Launch Event: a two-hour launch event at The Old Vic where students will hear from exciting guest speakers giving insights into a range of different career paths. They will also take part in a networking workshop with students from other participating schools. Past guest speakers have included Inua Ellams, Laura Dockrill, Bridget Minamore and leaders from the business industry at Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and CVC Foundation
- A visit to an Old Vic production: schools will receive free tickets for their groups to see a production at The Old Vic
- Learn Your Part: a two-hour in-school workshop exploring ‘How do we use our physicality and words to communicate and work with other?’ Your students will explore the tools that actors develop in the rehearsal room to support them with employability skills. Students will also create their very own pitch to support how they speak about themselves in a positive and ambitious way
- Build Your Company: a two-hour in-school workshop exploring ‘How do we work together to create and present an innovative pitch?’ Your students will form their own theatre company and pitch the next Old Vic production
- Take to the Stage: A two-hour-30-minute workshop at the European headquarters of RBC exploring ‘How can we practically apply the skills developed on the programme to help prepare us for the working world?’ Your students will practise networking skills, building upon the pitch the created in the first in–school workshop, and take part in mock interviews with business professionals to help guide and prepare for future interviews and opportunities.
Partner schools also benefit from:
- The Prompt Book: an additional learning resource to help guide students in the Take the Lead programme with lots of helpful employability tips from theatre and business professionals, as well as templates to support future career and educational opportunities. The Prompt Book also includes space to take notes about learnings throughout the programme and beyond
- An in-person meet and greet and CPD session for teachers. We will also provide a teaching resource pack.
All of this is available for free thanks to the generosity of our supporters.
By taking part in this programme, your school agrees to take part in two workshops at an external venue and two in-school workshops from Oct 2026–Feb 2027.
Workshops are scheduled in advance and in collaboration with teachers. We will be as flexible as possible to accommodate the needs of each school.
Applications for Take the Lead are now open. Fill out the Take the Lead application form to apply.
Please see the eligibility section before applying.
Applications will close on Mon 08 Jun at 6pm.
- Applications are open to all secondary state schools based within the M25
- This programme aims to work with young people who have limited access to the arts and we are particularly interested in working with young people who are from backgrounds unrepresented in theatre, such as young people from global majority backgrounds, disabled young people and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds
- We will work with a maximum of 30 students per school group
- This programme has been developed to work with the same students for the duration of the year. This is so that we can adapt the workshops to their particular strengths and also build their skills throughout the year.
- Take the Lead aims to be open and accessible to all. We will discuss any access requirements your school may have before the project begins and will ensure appropriate support is in place
- We welcome applications from SEND schools
- We welcome applications from PRUs
- We welcome applications from alternative education providers
- We can adapt workshop content to suit your students
- We can bring in additional staff to support students during in-school workshops
- The Old Vic offers accessible performances, including Captioned, Audio Described, British Sign Language (BSL) Interpreted and Relaxed performances. Find out more about Access at The Old Vic on our website.
If you would like to discuss your schools access requirements or if you have any questions before applying, please contact us at takethelead@oldvictheatre.com
If you have any questions, please contact takethelead@oldvictheatre.com
Please sign up to our schools mailing list to hear more about workshops, skills and employment programmes, talent development and short courses for your students.
