RSC Playmaking Festival 2025 – Northern Stage, 4th July

This year’s RSC Playmaking Festival 2025 brought together 185 young artists and their directors to stage a joyful, high-energy production of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing at Northern Stage.

Students from St Oswald’s Primary School, St Catherine’s Primary School, St Michael’s Primary School, Corbridge Middle School, Star of the Sea Primary School, Kenton High School, and Sacred Heart High School collaborated with creativity, confidence, and flair to bring this energetic comedy to life.

This annual performance opportunity forms part of a longstanding creative partnership between Sacred Heart High School, the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), and Northern Stage, which continues to place the arts at the centre of young people’s educational experiences.

Since their selection in September, our RSC Young Ambassadors have played a vital role in promoting Shakespeare’s work across our school community. As passionate advocates for the continuing relevance and enjoyment of Shakespeare’s plays, they have inspired others through assemblies, workshops, and conversations with peers. Throughout the year, they took part in bespoke training delivered through the RSC Associate Schools Programme, developing valuable skills in leadership, communication, teamwork, and creative thinking – all of which have empowered them both as ambassadors and as learners. Their contribution to this year’s Playmaking Festival at Northern Stage was exceptional: they supported the cast backstage, led activities with our visiting primary school performers, and helped to ensure the event was a fantastic celebration of Shakespeare’s work. We were also proud to present a foyer display at the theatre, showcasing their journey and achievements throughout the year – a fitting tribute to their creativity, commitment, and impact.

About the Programme

The RSC Associate Schools Programme supports schools across England in using rehearsal room approaches to explore Shakespeare’s work. This method enables students to engage with the plays physically and practically – as actors do – deepening their understanding and encouraging collaboration, creativity, and confidence.

As a Lead Associate School, Sacred Heart High School is proud to support a vibrant local network of schools, working closely with Northern Stage to co-create meaningful performance opportunities for students.

The Playmaking Festival is a highlight of the year – an event where young people take centre stage, share their voices, and create theatre that will stay with them long after the final bow. It is a powerful reminder of the importance of the arts in education and the transformative potential of live performance.