We’re thrilled to share that Cap-a-Pie has been shortlisted for Best Arts and Education Partnership at the North East Culture Awards 2025. The awards celebrate the region’s incredible creative talent and we’re proud to be recognised for our work with schools and universities across the North East.
Photo: The Vanishing Act at Hotspur Primary School, Mark Savage Photography
Here at Cap-a-Pie we bring learning to life through creative, participatory projects. Our partnership with local schools and universities has enriched cultural and scientific education for children across the region.
Since 1996, we’ve specialised in collaborative theatre and education projects, blending storytelling, theatre, music and research to make complex ideas accessible and engaging. Working directly with schools and universities, we make sure projects are both creative and evidence-informed, giving children a voice in shaping the work and connecting learning to real-world issues.
Between September 2024 and September 2025, we engaged young people from across Newcastle and North Tyneside through partnerships with eight schools and with Newcastle and Durham Universities. Schools include Lemington Riverside, Broadwood, Christ Church CE, Hotspur, Byker, Chillingham Road and Carville Primaries, and Sir Charles Parsons School.
Through these long-term partnerships, we support young people’s development and access to arts activity while helping teachers build confidence in delivering creative approaches in the classroom.
Evaluation across 2024-25 shows that Cap-a-Pie’s approach consistently boosts young people’s engagement, confidence, teamwork, oracy and understanding of curriculum topics. This included 95 school workshops with 839 participants.
Our work is particularly impactful for students with additional needs, English as an additional language, or those who face barriers to learning. Teachers report lasting benefits, adopting drama strategies across subjects and seeing stronger student participation and critical thinking.
Photos (left to right): Marvellous Microbes, The Vanishing Act at Hotspur Primary School. Mark Savage Photography
Our projects are inspired by what young people care most about and are developed with teachers and researchers. Each project uses theatre to explore big ideas in a fun and supportive way:
Coal Mining & Climate Change explored the region’s coal-mining heritage and visions for a sustainable future. Students debated innovation versus safety, explored extreme weather and imagined fairer energy systems.
Marvellous Microbes brought science to life for 4-7-year-olds through storytelling, music and movement. Co-designed with scientists, it used integrated audio description and Makaton to make learning accessible.
The Vanishing Act used cabaret-style theatre to explore the decline of insects, with children’s ideas shaping songs, choreography and storytelling.
This is just a snapshot of our work and you can read more on our website. You can also read more about our recent projects in our latest blogs:
None of this would be possible without the teachers, researchers and funders who make our work so meaningful. Here’s what some of them had to say:
“Working with Cap-a-Pie has had a transformative impact on our children at Lemington Riverside Primary School. Their creative approach brings the curriculum to life in a way that is both inspiring and accessible for pupils of all ages.”
Craig Heeley, Headteacher, Lemington Riverside Primary School
“The Cap-a-Pie projects made a real difference to how my students learned. I especially saw students with additional needs or language barriers thrive in these creative settings. Their confidence grew, and so did their ability to express themselves.”
Rebecca Reay, Primary School Teacher
“They translated difficult topics into fun and engaging classroom activities that help the students to engage and understand… I took away a renewed appreciation of Cap-a-Pie and the work that they do.”
Dr. Alistair Ford, Newcastle University
“As a scientist, I recognise that hard facts alone aren’t going to change the world for the better. We need the creativity of drama and music to create a sense of community and inspire collective action.”
Dr Meryl Batchelder, Ministry of Eco Education
Our partnerships show how arts and education can work together to transform learning. Through hands-on, imaginative projects, children explore science, history and society in ways that are engaging, inclusive and thought-provoking.
We’re so proud to be shortlisted alongside so many inspiring organisations and we can’t wait to celebrate with everyone at The Stockton Globe Theatre on 27 November.
