In the run-up to Easter, we returned to two schools in the Darlington area to deliver a programme of creative dance workshops inspired by Snow White. Both schools have previously taken part in our Young Cast programme, and this ongoing partnership is part of our wider commitment to giving children and young people meaningful access to dance and theatre—often for the very first time.
Across both schools, almost 500 children in Darlington have now taken part in balletLORENT workshops and Young Cast activity, experiencing creative dance and storytelling for the first time.
The workshops are designed to build confidence, creativity, teamwork, and communication skills, while also giving pupils the chance to experience storytelling through movement in a fun and accessible way. For many children, it is their first opportunity to explore performance in a theatre context.
As our Education Manager James MacGillivray explains:
“Creative dance workshops like these give children the chance to explore storytelling, movement, and imagination in a really accessible way. You can see confidence growing in real time—especially in children who may not usually see themselves as ‘dancers’. For many, it’s their first step into experiencing what theatre and performance can be.”
Red Hall Primary School
Red Hall Primary first took part in our Young Cast programme for Rapunzel in 2023, including contributing to our Darlington film project. 100 pupils from Years 3 and 4 joined our community cast workshops in March 2023, followed by a further 94 pupils from Years 2–5 in January 2024.
This time, 60 pupils from Years 2 and 3 took part in a two-week series of workshops, exploring Snow White through movement, storytelling, and character work. Pupils responded with enthusiasm and confidence, with one Year 3 pupil reflecting, “Becoming a character made me feel like I could do anything,” while another said, “I don’t normally like dancing but I liked this.”
Assistant Head Teacher Naomi Henry said the impact was clear across the group: “Thank you so much for an amazing opportunity once again. We would most definitely love to work with you again next year.”
Heathfield Primary School
Heathfield Primary took part in our Young Cast programme for Snow White in Spring 2025, with 120 pupils from Years 2 and 3 involved in workshops in February 2025.
This year, 60 Year 3 pupils returned to take part in a further two-week workshop programme, developing confidence through group collaboration and creative exploration. One pupil simply said, “We loved working as a group to do things.”
Head Teacher Peter Kirby-Bowstead added: “Thank you so much for this opportunity – our children have loved it!”
Continuing partnerships
We will be working closely with both schools over the next year as we develop our touring model for Hansel & Gretel and the Witch.
Our education team, Adam and Tassia worked with two schools in Darlington, Red Hall Primary School and Heathfield Primary School.
