Milton Keynes Theatre is looking for four primary or secondary schools to become Matilda Champion Schools in Milton Keynes or surrounding areas (yes, that means you Bedfordshire) to work with Milton Keynes Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and their production of Matilda The Musical.

Matilda Champion Schools will work with the RSC and Milton Keynes Theatre on a programme of work inspired by Matilda The Musical. Schools will make a two-year commitment and will be interested in creating curriculum resources that uses Matilda The Musical as inspiration for creative writing, dance and music across the school. They will also need to demonstrate the ability to recruit, work with and share their skills and knowledge with five other schools during the two-year project period.

What happens in Year One?

Champion Schools will work with their regional theatre and the RSC to stage a special 45 minute edit of Matilda The Musical as their school play. This edit has been specially commissioned and is not available to other schools. To start the programme up to 4 teachers per school attend two days of CPD in their region. Working with RSC and regional directors, music directors and choreographers they will develop the skills to start to stage the musical with their students. Looking closely at the text and music of the production teachers will gain insights and understanding of the staging process and will develop and grow their skills of teaching drama, dance and music.

After these ignition days, school work with their students on the musical: casting, designing and rehearsing.

Towards the end of their rehearsal period, professional RSC/Regional artists come into school for three days to help schools in the final stage of the production, supporting, mentoring and staging the musical alongside the teachers.

The show is performed in school to audiences made up of the school, family and other local schools. The license for the 45 minute edit lasts for 12 months from the start of the programme.

What happens in Year 2?

Champion Schools recruit 5 local schools in order to share their learning of the first year with the aim to develop arts practice and curriculum in their community of schools. The content and shape of the year will be planned closely with the schools and Milton Keynes Theatre, for example it could include a series of CPD days, staging another musical alongside Milton Keynes Theatre etc.

What is the cost?

The cost of the two year programme is £700 to include the 45 minute edit, CPD and artist in school workshops in Year 1.

What do I do next?

To ensure a fair process schools are asked to fill in an application form. Schools who best meet the criteria will be selected by Milton Keynes Theatre and the RSC. Closing date is Friday 5th January 2018 and you will be notified by Monday 5th February 2018. Request an application form from Rachael Hutchinson – Creative Learning Manager on rachaelhutchinson@theambassadors.com and submit it by Friday 5th January 2018.