Katy

Meet the creative minds and scientists bringing microbes to life for young learners

Marvellous Microbes is more than just a workshop – it’s an adventure into the unseen world of microorganisms. Perfect for children aged 4-7, this project combines our creative brilliance at Cap-a-Pie with the scientific expertise of researchers from Newcastle and Durham Universities. Through engaging storytelling, music, and interactive activities, young learners will discover the incredible roles microbes play in our world. Join us as we chat with Artistic Director, Brad McCormick to learn about the journey from concept to reality.

What inspired the idea for the Marvellous Microbes workshop?

A few years ago, we worked with Dr Pavlina Theodosiou and Dr Sharon Velasquez-Orta on our show Climate Change Catastrophe! and learned about their amazing work using microbes to generate energy. 

We thought it was a really strong area to focus on for a piece on its own because not many people are aware of what microbes can do, but they are so important for us and the environment.

It was also a world that would really lend itself to working with young people – microbes and what they do isn’t far from stories of magical creatures you might find in an adventure story. 

Can you describe the process of integrating storytelling with scientific concepts? 

Because it’s a workshop for younger children (4-7 year olds), it was about identifying the key messages/scientific concepts and getting those across. Anything more than that risks getting too complicated for the age group. In consultation with the researchers, we chose the important ideas. I planned the workshop based on those and then checked in with them to double-check the science.

How did Katie Doherty’s music and Laura Lindow’s direction enhance the project?

We’ve worked with Katie several times, and the process is so easy because you explain the science, tell her the basic message of the song, and she always comes back with an incredibly catchy song that captures the research brilliantly. Roma Yagnik did a fantastic arrangement of the song and used it to inspire all the other music that you’ll hear – all of it brings lovely texture to the workshop.

It’s been quite a while since we’ve worked with Laura in this way, the past few times, she’s been a scriptwriter on our shows Woven Bones and Credit. I really enjoyed being back in the rehearsal room with her, she’s so clear, has great ideas, and the room is very light when she’s running it.

How did the collaboration with researchers from Newcastle and Durham Universities come about? 

We’d known Sharon and Pavlina (Newcastle) for some time, and in the past couple of years, we’ve also collaborated with Dr Lorraine Coghill, who works in Science Engagement at Durham University. Lorraine was a great help with some of the science, but she also put us in touch with the G. J. Russell Electron Microscopy Facility at Durham University, who took beautiful microbe images that are seen in the show.

What role did the scientists play in shaping the content of the project?

When I first chatted with them, the three key questions were:

  1. What is your research?
  2. What do you want the young people to know/think about?
  3. What are the misconceptions about microbes that you would like to address?

After they answered those and other questions I had, it was a matter of putting the content together and then coming back to them to make sure it was accurate, taking on any notes they had, and rectifying any errors that crept in. Researchers are invaluable in the process – even if you’ve misunderstood the science, fully understanding it can open up new opportunities in the workshop.

What key messages about microbes do you hope young people will take away from the workshop? 

That microbes are everywhere, they’re really amazing and even though there are some that can make us ill, they are so important for the planet. 


How do you balance scientific accuracy with engaging content?

I would argue that the accurate science is the engaging part! The challenge is to make it accessible, but I’ve found that researchers are always good at distilling their complex subject down into ideas that people can understand – I would say Pavlina and Sharon are particularly good at this. And as a performer/facilitator, knowing that the science you’re talking about is sound and comes from rigorous and highly skilled research gives you real confidence when you’re delivering a workshop. which helps to make it more engaging.


What types of hands-on activities can people expect in the workshop? 

There are some dance moves that will be happening, but the main thing is that everyone will be invited to move around as a microbe (and maybe even speak like one).


How do these activities help in understanding the role of microbes?

Kids of KS1 age are still engaging in imaginative play at home and school, and what we’re doing in the workshop is inviting the kids to play a game with us: pretending that we’re in someone’s tummy seeing fish fingers float past, imagining that we’re next to molten hot lava or in Arctic ice (all real places that you’ll find microbes). These activities help to put the learning in their bodies, makes it fun and hopefully encourages them to imagine being microbes in their play outside of the workshop and to tell others about them.


How did Rachel Glover, Imogen Melhuish, and Anne Hornsby contribute to the project? 

Rachel was instrumental in putting together all the technical elements for the show – making sure the speakers and other devices talked to each other and generally solving any problems and coming up with innovative solutions.

Imogen put together a beautiful and portable design. We gave her the challenge of the set and costume being able to be transported on my bike, which was quite a tight parameter, but what she’s achieved with the amount of space/weight we gave her is impressive.

Anne is an expert in audio description. On this and our previous show The Vanishing Act, she educated us on how to integrate description into the show to make it more inclusive for visually impaired audience members.

Also worth mentioning is Anna Melling of ‘Talk to the Hand’ who helped with the Makaton signs in the show.


Can you share any particular moments or ideas from the team that were especially impactful?

From our first conversation, the researchers identified the challenge of a microbes workshop being: “making the unseen, seen” which really stuck with me, and I was thinking about that idea when I was planning and rehearsing.


What has been the most rewarding aspect of working on Marvellous Microbes for you personally? 

I’ve really enjoyed trying to integrate access into the workshop. We’ve included integrated audio description and Makaton signs into the script, which was a really interesting challenge. I feel like the skills I’ve learned on this will impact delivery of our other work as well.


Can you share a memorable experience or anecdote from the development process?

The microscopist from Durham University, who took some amazing images of micro-organisms for us, dropped by rehearsals on the first day to see what we were up to. We performed Katie’s song, and he seemed genuinely blown away that someone had written a song about microbes.

Meet the creative minds and scientists bringing microbes to life for young learners Read More »

Professor Andrew Newman on the importance of brain health

We recently collaborated with Professor Andrew Newman from Newcastle University. Together we created a new project on brain health and dementia for Key Stage 2 students. Below Andrew explains how we can look after our brains, and his experience of working with Cap-a-Pie and primary school students.

Andrew Newman stands in front of a white board and smart board. The smart board has the following text displayed on it: Memory in that game you were asked to remember things that you had seen recently. With dementia you may struggle to remember thongs that happened not long ago.

Can you explain why brain health is important, especially in relation to dementia prevention?

People are aware of the importance of maintaining a healthy heart, as this reduces the chance of cardiovascular disease. However, they are less aware of the importance of having a healthy brain, which helps prevent dementia. In a research paper published in the Journal Nature in 2024, a distinction is made between non-modifiable (about 60% of cases, which you can’t do anything about) and modifiable risk factors (about 40% of cases, which you can influence, affecting some 22 million people worldwide). The risk factors include blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, weight, alcohol, smoking, depression, hearing, inflammation, pollution, sleep, exercise, diet, socialisation, and education. Clearly, educating young people about the importance of these factors could mitigate the toll dementia takes on individuals and their families, as well as reducing the cost to wider society.

Why did you want to collaborate with Cap-a-Pie on a project about brain health?

I’ve known about the work that Cap-a-Pie undertakes in making the results of research available to the wider public for some years and have been impressed by it. They were the ideal partners for this work on healthy brains with young people.

What are some key factors that contribute to maintaining a healthy brain?

It is important to remain healthy during your life so that the small blood vessels in your brain are not damaged. Keeping physically active, managing blood pressure, limiting alcohol consumption, and not smoking are important. Research has also shown that staying in school beyond the age of 16 and connecting with other people reduces the risk of dementia later in life.

How does understanding brain health early in life contribute to overall well-being in later years?

The development of healthy habits in young people, which they maintain throughout their lives, reduces the chance of developing dementia in later life.   

What unique perspective or expertise does our theatre company bring to the project on brain health?

The teaching and communication skills demonstrated by Brad and Katy provide an excellent medium to engage young people with these topics. They find the exercises fun and, at the end, can demonstrate what they have learnt, which is great to see.

How do you see the arts and theatre playing a role in educating and engaging students about complex scientific topics like brain health?

The arts and theatre have a unique role in communicating complex ideas. I was surprised how easily the young people understood what was being communicated.

How has the collaboration between you and the theatre company enhanced the effectiveness of your work?

This collaboration has enabled me to engage with communities in a way that would otherwise be very difficult. If it results in just one person not developing dementia, then it is worth the work involved. One school student said that she had told her uncle, who was hard of hearing, to get a hearing aid as this may help him avoid dementia – which was great to hear about. 

In what ways do you hope this project will influence students’ understanding and awareness of brain health and dementia?

The project has given the young people an understanding of the relationship between brain health and dementia that will last a lifetime. Hopefully, they will talk to their families and friends and spread the information more widely.

Professor Andrew Newman on the importance of brain health Read More »

Three primary schools students pull a pose with outstretched finger tips.

How Foundation support Fuels Cap-a-Pie’s mission to Inspire and Engage Thousands of Young People across the Region

We’ve got some exciting news to share! Thanks to generous support from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Cap-a-Pie will be continuing to inspire and engage young people through our partnerships with schools. Paul Hamlyn Foundation funding will help us continue to reach over 800 young people each year.  

This three-year funding means a lot to us. It means we can expand our support for teachers in schools across Newcastle and North Tyneside. We will deliver innovative workshops, create new projects, and support teachers to implement our approaches independently. 

At Cap-a-Pie, we’re all about sparking creativity and curiosity in young minds. Our workshops explore important topics like environmental issues, local history, and cutting-edge science. But it’s not just about the subjects; we explore themes like community, belonging and equality, encouraging students to think critically about the world around them. 

Let us tell you about some of our exciting projects. Take Fizziwig the Pig, for example. It’s not your typical mystery-solving adventure; it gets children thinking about our relationship with nature in a whole new way. Then there’s Deltas, where we teach students about the physical and human geography of delta regions in places like India and Bangladesh. And in Coal Mining & Climate Change, students explore the history of coal mining in the North East, exploring technological advancements, addressing the current climate crisis, and contemplating solutions. In Animate Materials, students explore the future of materials chemistry, while in Brain Health, they learn about keeping their minds healthy and understanding dementia.  

We’ve seen first-hand how our workshops engage young people. Participants sharpen their critical thinking skills, deepen their learning, and become more confident. Whether it’s through discussions or hands-on activities, we want every student to have the chance to express themselves. 

And thanks to this funding, we can do even more. We’ll be working closely with schools to provide continuous professional development for teachers, ensuring that the impact of our work extends far beyond our workshops. 

Katy Vanden, Producer at Cap-a-Pie put it best: “We’re thrilled that the Paul Hamlyn Foundation is supporting our work with local schools. Engaging young people in creative activities that support their learning and development is crucial, and we see the impact every day. It’s all thanks to the generosity of the foundation that we can continue to make this difference.” 

But don’t just take our word for it. Matthew Hetherington, Deputy Headteacher at Christ Church CE Primary School said:  

“Cap-a-Pie provide an invaluable opportunity for our children. The strong foundation of dramatic enquiry allows children to immerse themselves in a project, bringing the learning alive for them in the classroom. This is especially great for those with more profound barriers to conventional learning, such as low confidence, speaking English as an additional language, or those with special educational needs; it is rewarding to see how much these children come out of themselves and the level of understanding they can achieve during a project.” 

So, here’s to creativity, curiosity, and making a real difference in the lives of young people. Together, with the support of the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, we’re shaping a brighter future, one workshop at a time. 

How Foundation support Fuels Cap-a-Pie’s mission to Inspire and Engage Thousands of Young People across the Region Read More »

Climate scientist Alistair Ford standing next to Hotspur Primary school students who are acting out a scene.

Celebrating Earth Day: Building a Greener Future through Creative Engagement 

In the quest for environmental sustainability, actions, both big and small, pave the way for a brighter, greener future. At the heart of our efforts lies a commitment to making a tangible difference. On this Earth Day, we’re reflecting on the work we do and also thinking ahead to how we can further contribute. Our mission is not merely to prioritise, but also to educate on the urgent need to safeguard our planet.

Here at Cap-a-Pie, we create shows and workshops with and for our community that are relevant, interesting and thought-provoking. At our core, we specialise in bringing people together for a shared creative journey. Through partnerships with schools, communities, educators, researchers, and scientists, we craft theatre experiences that spark curiosity about the world around us, with environmental sustainability being an important topic we cover.  Each year, during our consultations with young people, their concern for protecting the environment consistently emerges as the top thing they care about. As a result, we ensure their ideas are incorporated into our work.

In 2021 we began collaborating with the Living Deltas Research Hub to create a unique Deltas project exploring Asian mega-deltas and our connection to nature, including places like the Mekong and Ganges deltas – some of the most valuable and vulnerable parts of the world.  Through fun and creative activities, school pupils learn more about how we can protect them from climate change and human impact.

Reflecting on their experiences, one pupil put it simply, “If we don’t respect nature, there will be consequences for humans”. Another pointed out, “When we get water everyday it’s easy but for others it’s not.” And one teacher noticed a big change, “My students’ understanding of human geography overall has drastically increased and their curiosity is such that we seem to always be returning to conversations around sand mining, water and co-existing with wildlife amongst other things.”

Our award-winning Climate Change Catastrophe! filmed theatre show and education programme was created with young people and engineers from Newcastle University, and it was chosen to be shown at COP26 in 2021. Since then, the show has been seen by hundreds of children and adults across the North East. To coincide with Earth Day, we’re making the show available to watch on YouTube from Monday 22 April for a week. Find out more here.

Teachers can also access our Climate Change Catastrophe! resources, which include downloadable lesson plans featuring fun and creative activities tailored for Key Stage 2 learners. 

Young people who took part in the project valued the opportunity to share their thoughts on climate change with a wide audience. A student commented, “I think it’s very good that ‘Climate Change Catastrophe!’ is being shown at COP26, it’s a better chance of kids’ ideas getting out into the world.” Another said, “I feel very angry. It made me want to save the world.”

Our brand-new Marvellous Microbes workshop raises awareness of research into microbes, particularly how this is enabling environmental sustainability. But that’s not all. Our workshop will be entirely transportable by bike, as we plan to transport all necessary materials via this eco-friendly mode of transportation. This not only minimises our reliance on fossil fuels but also sets a precedent for future projects. Through careful evaluation and learning, we aim to refine our approach and inspire others to embrace sustainable practices.

One pivotal step we’re taking is the adoption of the Theatre Green Book across all our productions. The Theatre Green Book, an initiative led by the entire theatre community, aims to promote sustainable practices within the industry. Serving as our compass, is directs us towards eco-friendly practices that reduce our carbon footprint and promote sustainability.

Moreover, we’re focusing on local partnerships and venues accessible via cycling, walking, or public transport. By prioritising proximity and sustainable travel methods, we’re not only reducing emissions but also strengthening community ties.

Every action, no matter how small, contributes to the larger movement towards environmental stewardship. Together, let’s continue to champion sustainability and build a more resilient world for generations to come.

Celebrating Earth Day: Building a Greener Future through Creative Engagement  Read More »

Brad McCormick sits with two actors Liam Scarth and Bridget Marumo standing either side. They are in front of primary school children sitting at desks.

10 years of creativity: Brad’s highlights as Artistic Director

This month, we’re marking a significant milestone as our artistic director, Brad, reaches his 10-year anniversary with the charity. From captivating theatre-based workshops in primary schools, delving into topics like the English Civil War and chemistry, to directing thought-provoking productions like ‘Woven Bones’ and ‘Climate Change Catastrophe!’ for Cap-a-Pie, as well as Kitchen Zoo’s enthralling shows ‘The Three Bears’ and ‘Wolf’ at Northern Stage, Brad’s journey has been nothing short of inspiring.

To celebrate Brad’s 10-year anniversary, we’ve asked him to share 10 standout moments from the past decade. Join us as we take a trip down memory lane and uncover the stories behind the scenes, where creativity met passion and community engagement thrived.

  1. Performing Research was our flagship programme that encouraged researchers to think about using theatre as a way to engage the public and create impact. We engaged dozens of researchers over 4 years, many of whom we still work with today, and helped to establish us as a leader in creative industry and higher education partnerships.
  2. The Town Meeting was my first production with Cap-a-Pie. A fully immersive and interactive show about town planning, I played Benjamin Rennold, a planner brought into help a small town make a big decision. It was made in collaboration with an academic who was conducting research as the show was happening. Benjamin’s approach sparked intense debate and discussion among the participants, highlighting the complexities of town planning decisions. 
  3. For many years we worked with Barbara Priestman Academy, a secondary school in Sunderland for young people with Autism and access requirements for learning. In 2016, we produced a show What are they like? as part of the NT Connections programme and were selected to perform the show at the National Theatre. The young people were amazing, and it was a very special to be there.
  4. The Important Man is another show we’re really proud of. Made during the centenary of the First World War, it focused on the massive rise of fortune telling and spiritualism at that time. It was incredibly fun to create and perform and was our first time working with our now frequent collaborator, Scottish writer and director Laura Lindow.
  5. In so many ways the pandemic was an incredibly difficult time, but it did force us to change the way that we worked so we could still deliver projects to our participants. Remotely putting together an entire workshop series on the English Civil War including specially made films, audio clips and professionally designed slides and lesson plans was tricky, but we were incredibly proud of the result. Teachers delivered the workshops by themselves, to hundreds of Key Stage 2 students, and gave us great feedback on the quality of the resources, something we’ve tried to replicate in our work since then.
  6. Climate Change Catastrophe! was a show that we’d wanted to make for some time as everyone here at Cap-a-Pie is interested in environmental sustainability. This was also primarily made during the pandemic – originally conceived as a live theatre show, we filmed it instead and now have a lasting resource that was shown at COP26 in Glasgow and is still being used by us in the classroom. 
  7. The way we made Climate Change Catastrophewas by asking young people to help us devise and direct the show with professional actors and designers bringing those ideas to life. This way of working means the young people have agency and understand that they’re being listened to. Their imaginations also really bring the show to life. We’ve continued this way of working in our latest show (coming soon) The Vanishing Act and will probably keep doing this.
  8. Our work in schools has become the backbone of what we do. Having built up years of experience it means we’re working much more effectively than before, knowing how we can best get young people engaged in topics through drama, creativity and Philosophy 4 Children (an approach to teaching to help children learn by asking questions and exploring ideas). I still think about a workshop I did 10 years ago when I tried to get some Year 2 students to do a very complicated warm-up game – it very quickly fell flat and I’m now much more in tune with what different year groups can access.
  9. We really treasure the relationships we have with our local schools, some of which we’ve been working with for many years. They give us honest feedback about what we do, support our organisational development and champion our work to others. We wouldn’t be where we are now without them.
  10. As well as using theatre in what we do, philosophy is a big part of the work. It allows children to develop their speaking and listening skills, and we’re always delighted by their powers of reasoning. In a recent workshop which deals with our relationship to nature, there’s an exercise called ‘good farm/bad farm’ where students are shown possible farms (such as a T-Rex farm or a Magic Wand farm) and they have to say whether it would be ‘good’ or ‘bad’. In the first option, a cow farm, one student felt it would be a bad farm “because cows don’t listen”. It’s hard to argue with that.

10 years of creativity: Brad’s highlights as Artistic Director Read More »

19th Century Coal Mining in Newcastle

Exterior shot of the seating and parachute ceiling at outdoor theatre at Hedley West Farm in Gateshead.
Outdoor Theatre at Hedley West Farm, Gateshead

In June 2022, we delivered a project in partnership with Newcastle University Education Outreach team at the Robinson Library, inspired by some archival material about coal mining disasters that took place in Heaton and Wallsend in the 1800s. In both cases, many men and young children lost their lives.

Over the course of a week, Year 5 and 6 students from both Carville Primary and Chillingham Road visited the University to see some of the historical documents and artefacts, and learn more about coal mining and the local history. After this, they created a performance devised from everything they had learnt and found interesting or fascinating. The students were intrigued and moved by the fact that children as young as 5 were sent down the mines to work. These pieces of theatre were performed outdoors in a beautiful venue in Gateshead, West Hedley Farm. Luckily, the weather was on our side and both schools did really well. 
 
To create a piece of theatre in a week is a huge achievement and to do it outdoors in the round too! Well done to all involved. 

“The children were incredibly proud of their achievements, and it was great to see the child-led learning take place.”

– Year 5 Teacher

19th Century Coal Mining in Newcastle Read More »

Climate Change Catastrophe! at COP26 by Brad McCormick

In mid-November 2021, Cap-a-Pie headed to COP26 – the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow. Our filmed theatre show ‘Climate Change Catastrophe!’ had been chosen to be shown as part of the conference.

We were really excited to share the news with everyone, especially the students who helped us to make the show:

“I think it’s very good that Climate Change Catastrophe! is being shown at COP26 because it’s a better chance that kids ideas are getting out into the world”

– Year 5 student, Hotspur Primary School

Our one-hour slot included a brief introduction by me and our engineer collaborator, Dr Alistair Ford; then the 6 episodes of ‘Climate Change Catastrophe!’ were screened, followed by a Q&A with people in the live audience and those watching at home.

Despite competing against well-known composer Brian Eno, who was on elsewhere at the same time as us, our screening was almost at capacity and hundreds more were watching a live stream of the event.

We heard and saw loads of positive reactions to the films with some young people in the audience particularly enjoying themselves. We also had some great questions come in including “Why do you think governments don’t listen to children?” and “Can we legislate our way out of the climate crisis?”

Thankfully Alistair was on hand to handle the trickier questions.

Even if the outcomes from the conference don’t seem enough at this point to make a significant difference to the climate crisis, it was a great privilege to be a part of COP26. And as one student put it:

“Maybe most of our ideas can’t happen, but at least they show something can happen” 

Find out more about Climate Change Catastrophe! here.

Climate Change Catastrophe! at COP26 by Brad McCormick Read More »

How we made Climate Change Catastrophe! – Brad McCormick

‘Climate Change Catastrophe!’ has always been a collaboration between Cap-a-Pie and three groups of people.

In the first phase of the project, we mostly worked with two of those groups: engineers at Newcastle University who are studying climate change; and primary school-aged children.

Through working with these two groups, we were able to generate material for 6 short films that cover a wide range climate change science: the greenhouse effect, carbon capture, heatwaves and more. The research and expertise of the researchers was poured into a series of lesson plans that were brilliantly delivered by teachers in the classroom and parents at home (all of this happened when schools were closed at the beginning of 2021). Students created characters, scripts, scene ideas, drawings and more to help us make the show.

April 2021 is when we started to work intensively with the third group – our amazing creative team of freelance actors, designers, production managers and filmmakers.

Hannah Goudie-Hunter and Liam Scarth will be the two faces you will see on-screen when the films come out – they play all the characters and do a brilliant job of interpreting, enhancing and performing the children’s ideas.

Katie Doherty wrote all the music that you will hear in the show – from jingles to instrumentals to incidental music as well as three unbelievably catchy songs that you will be humming along to in next to no time. One of the songs, ‘Who’s Gonna Stop the Rain?’, includes a rap in the middle and we were very fortunate to have this performed by local rapper Kema Kay.

Verity Quinn designed the sets and costumes. Our set is a beautiful classroom space – the warm colours and sharp geometric lines that you’ll see on the film makes the set great to look at, but what is also brilliant is that the space is also incredibly versatile. We cover a lot of ground in these films – classrooms, newsrooms, arctic landscapes, cities underwater – and the set allows us to do all of those things.

Dan Saggars is the lighting designer – as well as providing lighting on-stage to cater for all our different settings, Dan had the idea to install special lighting panels behind the windows of the set (you’ll see what I mean when you see the film). They were so versatile and allowed us to really use the window space in our classroom set.

Production Manager Rachel Glover is a regular Cap-a-Pie collaborator, making sure everything is running smoothly, keeping us on track and on time – not an easy job when there is so much to be done.

Finally, Lindsay Duncanson, Marek Gabrysch and Dan Wallder were the filmmakers behind capturing all these scenes on film and putting them together – consulting on angles, laying tracks for tracking shots and making sure everything can be seen and heard. They even indulged us with some stop-motion animation!

Now that the films are all finished, we’ll be working with another group of people – our audience – who we’re hoping will watch, learn and even change their behaviours based on the combined work of young people, engineers and creatives who put together ‘Climate Change Catastrophe!’

You can watch the show on our website. We’d love to hear what you think. Tag us on social media @capapiecreative on Facebook & Twitter.

How we made Climate Change Catastrophe! – Brad McCormick Read More »

Climate Change Catastrophe! – Jack Gardner

I am a Year 2 teacher and Arts Lead at Hotspur Primary School, an inner-city comprehensive school in Newcastle upon Tyne. The school is nationally recognised for its innovative arts projects and high-quality pastoral care for all pupils.

I am also a trustee for Cap-a-Pie theatre company, having enjoyed their work both as a collaborator and audience member since 2016. Cap-a-Pie create child-led theatre based on academic rigour. They play an important role in Newcastle’s cultural landscape. As a theatre company they are excellent at redistributing power for young people; providing a safe space and platform for children to express themselves. This is particularly evident in their most recent project ‘Climate Change Catastrophe!’

“We use stories to help us understand the world and therefore the best way to create a better future is to first imagine one.”

‘Climate Change Catastrophe!’ saw Cap-a-Pie work with hundreds of children across the North of England as well as scientists and engineers at Newcastle University to create a free six-part online series about climate change. By collaborating with KS2 children, Cap-a-Pie were able to create an emotional narrative that was underpinned by engineering, climate science and academic rigour. We use stories to help us understand the world and therefore the best way to create a better future is to first imagine one. A project like ‘Climate Change Catastrophe!’ transforms the challenges of the environmental changes ahead into something that is playful, inquisitive and investigative for children. Consequently, those involved feel empowered about dealing with a subject that could have been overwhelming and intimidating.

The project was rolled out during the second lockdown in which children were accessing the content either online through the school’s platform or, for a small number of children, in the classroom. Some of the feedback from teachers who delivered the content created by Cap-a-Pie included:

“Cap-a-Pie really went above and beyond with the materials that they provided for the online learning because they gave different options.  So you could either get your kids to watch the video that they’d recorded or you could go through the slides yourself.”
– Christ Church School

“Climate Change Catastrophe project was delivered fantastically under current circumstances. The children were able to engage fully with the videos/tasks delivered as they were clear, effective and enjoyable. This was a brilliant little unit of work to do on climate change. The thing that I took from it was really positive.”
– Hotspur Primary School

“The material in the activities was really age appropriate and they were fun activities. I could see from the amount of work that the kids had done that they were interested in it. For example, designing your own microbe and the diary entry – you could tell they were interested in it.”
– Cragside Primary School

We had high levels of engagement with the project from those who were home learning which is a testimony to Cap-a-Pie’s ability to inspire young people as home-learning engagement was one of the biggest challenges we faced during the second lockdown.

For those taking part, seeing their suggestions made into a series of films gives them confidence in their ideas and actions. For the audience, the end product gives you hope that this mobilising, mega-modern young generation, who are able to orchestrate political activism on previously unimaginable scale within less than 48 hours, may just be able to succeed where previous generations have failed.

As of 12 of May 2021 episodes will be available to watch on Cap-a-Pie’s YouTube channel. Find out more here. Enjoy!

Climate Change Catastrophe! – Jack Gardner Read More »

Culture Recovery Fund News

Cap-a-Pie is so pleased to have been awarded funding from the Culture Recovery Fund. It’s really critical support for us to enable us to continue engaging with schools, communities and audiences.

It will allow us, and our freelancers, to get back into classrooms engaging with schools in our local area. We will be delivering fun and creative theatre workshops for children and teachers. We know schools and teachers have been working exceptionally hard during the past year and this support will allow us to start working with them as soon as possible. Our school partners are particularly keen to start inviting arts organisations into classrooms as soon as safely possible. They recognise the value of these experiences, particularly for children facing disadvantage, and those who might otherwise miss out on cultural activities.

Support from Cultural Recovery Fund will also support Cap-a-Pie’s running costs over the next few months. It will mean we have a bit of space and time to invest in planning future projects with our communities and partners.

We’ve been working hard all through the pandemic to continue creating theatre and engaging with schools digitally and remotely. It’s been fantastic to be able to continue to be useful to our community as well as employ freelancers to work on projects. We’ve been really grateful to our funders and partners for enabling us to change things up and respond to Covid-19. However, planning and delivering all of this changed activity has had a big impact on our ability to plan and fundraise for the future – essential as a project by project funded organisation.

We’d love to hear from you as we plan our next moves. Please do get in touch with us

  • If you’re a local primary school who would like us to come in and deliver a fun theatre project with your students, please do get in touch.
  • If you’re a community or organisation who has an idea about working with a theatre company let us know. We’d love to have a chat.

Culture Recovery Fund News Read More »

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