By Grant Stanley 19/3/25
The mixed year group 10/11 recently went on a trip to the Liverpool Empire Theatre to watch the play 'Blood Brothers'. The play is a prerequisite for their GCSE Literature studies but it was also an opportunity to provide them with experiences and opportunities to help them progress and achieve success in and outside of the classroom. Plays are meant to be performed live, and being in the same space as the actors creates an atmosphere that cannot be achieved just through reading it aloud in class. This provides children with a variety of educational and 'capital' cultural experiences that will help to shape and influence the adults that our students go on to become.
Engagement in the arts has the ability for life changing impact; and what better way to spark interest and inspire young people than immersion in a high-quality theatrical event like Blood Brothers. We aim to maximise the learning potential of a theatre visit both on and off the curriculum. Live performances can provide students with creative ideas for their own devising work, and enable them to consider how meaning can be communicated on stage. Seeing a live play can also enhance a student’s emotional intelligence, especially their ability to recognise and appreciate how other people think and feel. Theatre almost acts as a window to a broader world, because it shows us many different perspectives and experiences. Exposing children to performance arts can contribute towards higher understanding and acceptance as they become more aware of the world around them. This development of emotional intelligence is especially important as it will contribute to healthy conflict resolution between peers and teach students how to express their emotions in appropriate ways. The topics that arise in Blood Brothers is perfect for discussion and deeper consideration on actions and their effects on others.
Arts education is a great way to challenge students whilst also making learning enjoyable, and judging from the reactions to the play, the smiles on their faces and the lively and enthusiastic discussions about the performance and topics, all had a thoroughly enriching, enchanting and educational experience.
