Artsmark

Artsmark is the creative quality standard for schools and education settings, awarded by Arts Council England, recognising their commitment to high quality arts and cultural education.

Strutting Player is proud to be supporting schools and education settings on their Artsmark journey, inspiring children and young people to create, experience, and participate in great arts and culture.

We offer education settings who are working towards, or currently hold an Artsmark Award, with the following opportunities:

Artform

Theatre, Drama, Performing Arts

Aims, objectives and outcomes:

AIMS: To understand Theatre, Drama and Performing Arts To work as a team To create individual and collectives voices and narratives To cultivate emotional literacy, including increase in confidence and self-esteem To enhance ownership and enfranchisement

Learning Objectives:
1. to explore Theatre, Drama and Performing Arts in a practical setting

2. to develop teamwork and communication through a series of collaborative activities

3. to discover individual and collective voices and narratives in storytelling and theatre workshops

4. to encourage emotional literacy through practical exploration of character and situation

5. to foster enfranchisement and engagement by taking ownership of projects

Learning Outcomes:
1. understanding of Artform

2. group cohesion

3. creative articulation and expression, and improved confidence and self-esteem.

4. independence, and emotional resilience

5. enfranchisement and ownership

About the activity

There are three activities as part of the offer, but if you have specific requirements, please do not hesitate to get in touch, susie@struttingplayer.co.uk.

1. “What fools these mortals be”

This is a project exploring the idea of ‘otherness’ through looking at Shakespeare’s fools.

‘Otherness’ can be defined in lots of ways, for example disadvantage, another culture, SEND, or simply not fitting in.

Fools in Shakespeare are seldom foolish, and the words in their mouths are often those of wisdom and insight, although some are simply funny. In fact, Shakespeare actually gives them a lot of dramatic power.

The project will take these characters and give them their voices, and by so doing, nothing to say worth hearing.

  • Duration: 10-22 weeks.
  • Outcome: a performance showcasing young people’s interpretation of both Shakespeare and ‘otherness’
  • Key Stages: 2-5
  • Resources: a room with minimal furniture, and enough space for approximately 20 people to move around safely; a projector and laptop
  • Cost: £40 for an hour a week workshop or £200 for 5 hours across a week, or a day a week + photocopying costs (where relevant)
  • Location: in your setting

2. Creating a Production Company

This project allows young people to create a production incorporating all the elements that entails.

The production would be primarily theatrical, with the choice of an existing play (scripted), or something the young people create themselves (devised), or a combination of both. However, other Artforms can be incorporated into this as outlined in the job roles below:

Job Roles Skills Required
Co-director – in charge of Actors creativity, communication skills (verbal and non-verbal), organisation, imagination, teamwork
Actors confidence, communication skills (verbal and non-verbal), improvisation, imagination, teamwork
Crew – backstage communication skills (verbal and non-verbal), IT, organisation, innovation, improvisation, teamwork, Music, STEM
Stage Manager – in charge of Crew communication skills (verbal and non-verbal), IT, organisation, innovation, improvisation, Music, STEM
Design Team – in charge of the ‘look’ of the production, including marketing images Art and Design, creativity, communication skills (verbal and non-verbal), IT, innovation, teamwork, Music, STEM
Communications Team – in charge of marketing communication, creativity, IT, Social Media savvy, innovation, improvisation, teamwork, STEM
Front of House – in charge of audience communication, people skills, problem solving
  • Duration: 10-20 weeks.
  • Outcome: a production, completely run by the young people
  • Key Stages: 2-5
  • Resources: a rehearsal room with minimal furniture, and enough space for approximately 20 people to move around safely; a performance space; IT facilities; Art and Design facilities; photocopying facilities; a design budget
  • Cost: £100 for 2 hours a week workshop or £250 for 5 hours across a week, or a day a week + photocopying costs (where relevant)
  • Location: in your setting

3. Workshops

Available to both students and staff, these are skill specific, and cover a range of Theatre, Drama, and Performing Arts skills, and include, but are not limited to:

  1. Theatre geography – positions on the stage, Theatre in the Round, Apron Stage, Thrust Stage, Promenade Theatre
  2. Acting skills
  3. How to devise Theatre
  4. Approaches to playtext
  5. Approaches to Shakespeare
  6. Movement through Space
  7. Physical Theatre
  8. Boomwhackers® – how to create rhythmic sound and movement
  9. Production skills
  10. Theatre to explore emotional issues
  11. Support across the Curriculum
  • Duration: 1-2 hours a week over 6 weeks
  • Outcome: improved understanding in the above areas
  • Key Stages: 2-5
  • CPD: training to deliver the above activities
  • Resources: a room with minimal furniture, and enough space for approximately 20 people to move around safely; Projector and laptop; photocopying facilities
  • Cost: £100 for 2 hours a week workshop or £250 for 5 hours across a week, or a day a week + photocopying costs (where relevant)
  • Location: in your setting

How the offer links to the Curriculum

The activities link to:

  1. English
  2. Performing Arts
  3. Music
  4. Art
  5. Design Technology
  6. IT
  7. History
  8. STEM

In light of the new Ofsted framework, this helps meet the breadth of curriculum and quality of education requirements.

Contact details

Find out more about Artsmark at www.artsmark.org.uk.

To find out how Strutting Player can support your Artsmark journey, contact Susie Flintham, 07852 931831, susie@struttingplayer.co.uk.