We’re delighted to share that Primary Shakespeare Company has been awarded £150,000 from Paul Hamlyn Foundation to support the next phase of an ambitious three-year creative learning project that will be led by acclaimed theatre-maker and Rose Bruford College Programme Director Jeremy Harrison.

The project, which will take place in Wyvern School in Ashford, Kent from 2025 to 2028, builds on several years of innovative work exploring inclusive, child-led approaches to theatre, creativity and literacy in primary education.

The initiative has been developed in partnership with Rose Bruford College and the College has played a significant role in the funding bid. Rose Bruford will provide research expertise to deepen understanding of the project’s impact and long-term potential, this includes a comprehensive evaluation led by Elise Robinson, a Graduate of Rose Bruford College’s BA European Theatre Arts, who is now undertaking a PhD focused on creative learning and participatory arts practice for children with autism.

Jeremy Harrison is a leading figure in Theatre for Young Audiences. Since 2011 he has led Rose Bruford College’s Theatre for Young Audiences Centre, where he collaborates with artists, schools, and communities to champion inclusive, high-quality artistic experiences for, by and with children and young people. His work has consistently focused on developing creative methodologies that enable children to shape their own narratives, develop confidence, and engage meaningfully with the arts.

The newly-funded project will build on this ethos, exploring how creative play, storytelling and performance can support learning and literacy. Over the next three years, children and teachers in Kent will work directly with artists to experiment with new models of participatory theatre-making in the classroom. The funding will enable sustained delivery, reflective practice, and a robust evaluation framework that captures the project’s educational and social impact.

“Rose Bruford College will play a central role in shaping the project’s research outcomes. Through Elise’s doctoral work and ongoing collaboration with teaching staff, our goal is to generate evidence that can inform national conversations around arts education, early years creativity and inclusive practice.

 

“This significant investment marks an exciting new chapter for all partners involved and underscores the national importance of imaginative, child-centred creative learning.”

– Jeremy Harrison, Programme Director and Lead for Rose Bruford College’s Theatre for Young Audiences Centre 

 

Research at Rose Bruford College is improving the way that we understand performance practice, creative processes, and the evolving needs of the industry. Collaborative and vital, our research is often embedded within the communities it serves, from schools to healthcare to performance spaces, helping to shape meaningful change through theatre and performance.

Jeremy Harrison is also leading the Theatre for Young Audiences Pathway of the new MA/MFA in Performance, ensuring that the next generation of artists and practitioners are trained to create bold, relevant and socially engaged work for young people.

 

Curious about your creative career?

Find out more about the Theatre for Young Audiences Pathway of the MA/MFA in Performance.

Guided by world-leading experts and practitioners, this programme will challenge you to critically engage with the cutting edge of contemporary creative industries.