Participatory Programmes
Our Programmes
I have never seen this selection of students so excited at the prospect of presenting. All our workshops have been fantastic and so much support. Sign us up for next year! Teacher, Hampton Community College, on StageBusiness
The workshop yesterday was absolutely fabulous. All my students were engaged and challenged. I has lots of lovely texts from them thanking me for organising it. Teacher, Woodhouse College, on Play the Critc
It's been a great project and on Friday they presented a reading of their plays to all of Year Eight, which they loved - and the other students (and teachers) were really impressed. The students got a lot out of this project and we will certainly be developing the playwrighting idea. Teacher, Park View Academy, on WriteThinking
Our Programmes for State Secondary Schools in London
Our programmes are continually being expanded in response to teachers' requests. At present we offer seven in-depth programmes for state secondary schools:
StageBusiness: Marketing and budgeting to support BTEC Performing Arts (KS4)
Play The Critic: Critical thinking and review writing for theatre, dance and opera (6th form only)
TheatreWorks: Tailor-made programmes on any theme (KS 3, 4 & 5)
WriteThinking: Playwriting and Citizenship (KS 3 & 4)
DesignTasters: Lighting & Sound design and operation; Set & Costume design (KS 4 & 5)
Insights: Participatory Masterclasses (part of London Theatre Challenge)
Powerplay: In-depth theatre-based programmes for Children Support Centres (KS3 & 4)
DesignTasters - Key Stages 4 & 5
Starting with an INSET tailored to teachers’ needs, the programme offers a ‘pick and mix’ range of 8 hour courses for your students, which can help them to:
A rare opportunity to bring award-winning sound and lighting designers into the classroom to introduce teachers and students to the rudiments of technical design for theatre.
This ‘hands-on’ programme includes a 3 day INSET, a series of workshops with students, theatre tickets and a comprehensive resource pack - all focused on increasing teachers and students knowledge about equipment and the principles of design.
Since the DesignTaster course our understanding of the impact that lighting and sound can add to a performance has increased dramatically - Arts Co-ordinator at IAMS School
- Sound and Lighting Design - Autumn 2010
- Costume and Set Design- 2011
Cost: £400 for full education programme, plus £5 per theatre ticket. Teachers can attend the INSET only - £75 per person per day.
Application forms
Design Tasters - Costume & Design - click here
Design Tasters - Sound & Lighting click here
WriteThinking - Key Stages 3 and 4
A playwriting programme to raise students' awareness of citizenship issues and help them find their own literary voice. Under the guidance of professional playwrights, trainers from the Citizenship Foundation and actors, the students write a 10 minute play, a selection of which are showcased at a London theatre with professional actors.
The programme includes a full day INSET, a theatre visit to an issue-based play, 8-10 workshops and the final showcase - all supported by a resource pack.
"One of the most powerful aspects of the showcase for me was the diversity of young writers chosen. This is important work - ‘holding a mirror up to the nature of diversity’ is something many organisations aspire to, but few achieve. Mousetrap should show-off about it!". [Playwright]
"Our students gained loads - confidence in their creativity, writing and ability to express their voice". [Drama teacher, Featherstone High School]
Cost: £400 for the full education programme, plus £5 per theatre ticket, or £75 for the 1 day INSET only.
Next available: Summer term 2010
For an application form click here
TheatreWorks - All Key Stages
Students visit a theatre production which acts as the catalyst
for an exploration of a theme of the teacher's choice. Theatreworks brings specialist theatre practitioners into the classroom to collaborate with teachers on their own tailor-made workshop programme.
Past themes have included: character transformation, forum theatre, non-naturalistic and/or verbal theatre, soundscapes, the thriller genre, demystifying the language of Shakespeare, exploring set texts ... etc.
Cost: £300 for 4 x 2 hour workshops, plus £5 per theatre ticket.
Available every term.
For an application form, click here.
Play the Critic - 6th Form and Key Stage 4
Under the guidance of professional critics, 6th form and KS4 students learn how to write reviews of live performance, to develop critical thinking and writing skills.
Play the Critic is run at separate times for theatre, opera and dance students. _The students see a performance and attend a full day masterclass with critics, together with a director, choreographer or musician. Each student also receives a short personal tutorial with one of the critics, back at school.
"Brilliant. The course exceeded my expectations. I can already see improvements in the quality of their review writing." Head of Drama, Preston Manor Senior High School
"This was a very successful project for us. The students have responded so well to the task and it has launched the year with an equal emphasis on critical analysis as well as technical development". Head of Dance at William Morris Academy
Cost: £200 plus £5 per ticket (6th form programme); £150 plus £5 per ticket (KS4 programme)
Next available:
Theatre - Autumn term 2010
For an application form (Play the Critic - Theatre - KS4) click here
For an application form (Play the Critic - Theatre - 6th form) click here
For an application form (Play the Critic - Dance) click here
Read our student reviews:
Dance: If you'd like to read the latest reviews for Into the Hoods and dance pieces from Michael Clark and Mark Morris click here
Theatre: If you’d like to read the reviews on Spring Awakening, On the Waterfront and England People Very Nice written last term click here
Music: If you’d like to read some of last year's reviews on The Magic Flute click here
StageBusiness - Key Stage 4
A participatory programme to support students undertaking the 
Production Process or Business Module of the BTEC for Performing Arts - particularly the marketing and budgeting requirements.
Students work in groups to prepare marketing presentations, delivered in the style of the 'Dragons Den' to a panel of industry professionals. To help prepare students for the assignment, they will be given:
- Two workshops: one with a Marketing Consultant and one with a Producer
- resource materials
- £5 tickets to a theatre production
In addition, the teachers are invited to an INSET day and also receive a comprehensive resource pack with case studies, practical tasks and examples of budgets etc.
Cost: £300 for the full education programme, plus £5 per theatre ticket, or £75 for teachers attending the 1 day INSET only.
Next available: Spring Term 2011
For an application form click here
C145 and WestEnd 4 £10
Mousetrap runs two audience development programmes – C145 and WestEnd 4 £10. Both these programmes offer young people the opportunity to enjoy the best in
- If you’re aged between 15 and 18 and attend a state school or college, you are eligible to join C145
- If you’re aged between 19 and 23 or in full-time study, you are eligible to join WestEnd 4 £10
Special Thanks
C145 is generously supported by The Society of London Theatre, The John Ellerman Foundation, The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, The Royal Victoria Hall Foundation and The Carole and Geoffrey Lawson Foundation
WestEnd 4 £10 is generously supported by The Society of London Theatre
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Mousetrap Theatre Projects
23 - 24 Henrietta Street
Covent Garden
London WC2E 8ND
t: 020 7836 4388
f: 020 7632 4111
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