The Venue, Leeds College of Music

Conference Chair: Maev Kennedy

Opening address

Chair: Maev Kennedy

Is it possible to define an ideal school theatre? This session explored this question and considered current approaches to integrating theatres within educational environments and learning environments, how to provide community users with the facilities they expect, and the benefits of engaging with the theatre sector in the design of your school theatre.

Peter Rabbett, Education Consultant
Sid Higgins, Executive Director, National Youth Theatre of Great Britain
Alistair Boag, Theatre Director, Stahl Theatre, Oundle School

Chair: Ric Green

This session looked at the development of design standards for school theatres. What advice and guidance already exists and what is required in order to inform Building Schools for the Future and other school theatre building programmes in the public and private sectors. How are theatre uses established within the brief to ensure the theatre is fit-for-purpose?

Anthony Ruck, Arts and Cultural Adviser to BSF West Midlands, MADE
Mark Foley, Principal, Burrell Foley Fischer LLP
Geoff Halliwell, Director, Bond Bryan Architects

West Yorkshire Playhouse

Chair: Pamela Lea

Secondary schools, academies and independent schools that have completed school theatres shared their practical experiences of design development, space planning, procurement, construction and fit out and offer their advice to others about to go into similar cultural capital projects.

Margaret Rudland, Former Headmistress of The Goldolphin and Latymer School, London with Steve Roberts, AMPC
Nicoline Harrington, Assistant Head and Director of Specialism, Rodillian School, Leeds
Oliver Haden, Vice Principal, Langley Academy, Slough

Chair: Rosellen Mates

The final session of day one aimed to draw out the educational benefits of having excellent facilities for creative, arts and theatre activities and why these support learning.

Natasha Coccia-Clark, Head of Drama, The Bridge Academy, Hackney
Andrew Perry, Assistant Head (Arts), Townley Grammar School for Girls, Bexley

Maev Kennedy

Plasa Focus:Leeds 2010 at Royal Armouries Leeds

Chair: Maev Kennedy

Panelists
Paul Durose, Chairman, School Theatre Support Group
Dan Aldridge, Head of Operations, Stage Electrics
Richard Jones, National Specialism Coordinator Music and Performing Arts, Specialist Schools and Academies Trust
Anthony Ruck, Arts and Cultural Adviser to BSF West Midlands, MADE
Mhora Samuel, Director, The Theatres Trust

Royal Armouries, Leeds

Visit the exhibitors taking part in Plasa Focus.