Talented Erdington Academy students will be treading the boards at Birmingham’s most prestigious theatre, after working with a professional artist.
The upcoming performance of Roald Dahl’s Matilda will be taking place this summer at the Birmingham Hippodrome, the iconic 126-year-old Victorian theatre which is home to the Birmingham Royal Ballet.
This comes after the launch of a brilliant long-term partnership with Hippodrome artist Victoria Basterfield, who has been developing students’ creativity and confidence as part of the Hippodrome Education Network programme (HEN).
The partnership brings professional-standard drama into many aspects of school life, including in-lesson curriculum support, the extracurricular drama club, GCSE lessons and PSHE.
Ami Love, Head of Drama at the school, said: “Through our partnership with HEN, we’ve gained the insanely talented Vicky, who has brought so much enthusiasm and passion to the drama department.
“The students are thrilled at the potential of performing at the Hippodrome, and the staff are just as excited – we have had an influx of staff members from across the school volunteering at drama club!”
The production will see Erdington students star in a full performance of Matilda The Musical. And with auditions set to start after the Easter break, Ami, Vicky and the drama department have already begun introductory sessions exploring the story and songs.
Mrs Love said: “Students have already begun engaging in healthy competition for the leading roles – with lots of students hoping to be cast as the famous cake-eating Bruce Bogtrotter!”
And it’s not just the much-anticipated musical that has students embracing Erdington’s partnership with HEN.
Students have been developing literacy and social awareness through Vicky’s bespoke Year 9 workshops based on the book The Hate U Give, encouraging students to explore themes of racism, injustice and identity.
Vicky has also worked with targeted groups of Year 8 boys, using drama to explore social issues such as knife crime in Erdington, which has given the boys confidence and communication skills.
Mrs Love said: “The students are loving these workshops, which entrust them with tackling quite serious topics. They’ve come together to create some punchy, powerful performances, and have handled these discussions with impressive maturity.
“They also adore Vicky. There’s been such a positive impact already – a huge increase in attendance to drama club, a leap of confidence for more shy students, and lots of unlocked potential. We’re so proud of how our students have embraced the HEN programme.”
The wider partnership has also enabled students to attend various live performances to see the world of the stage for themselves – including Hamilton, Aladdin, Black Sabbath the Ballet, the Robin Hood Pantomime, and the Percy Jackson musical.
Mrs Love said: “The power of performance and theatre is, in my eyes, immeasurable. Even if students aren’t truly interested in a career in theatre or the arts, by just simply watching a live production in a professional theatre is imprinted on their memory for life.
“Performing on a professional stage will have the same impact, if not even stronger than simply watching, because they will be living and breathing the characters and the story. It’s an empowering thing to do.”
“There’s been such a positive impact already – a huge increase in attendance to drama club, a leap of confidence for more shy students, and lots of unlocked potential,”
– Ami Love, Head of Drama
According to Erdington staff, there is a tangible buzz around the school surrounding the upcoming Hippodrome performance.
Mrs Love said: “The partnership with the Birmingham Hippodrome powerfully reflects Erdington’s mission to ‘enrich lives and transform futures.’
“By engaging with a nationally recognised theatre, our students are given access to high-quality professional practice they might not otherwise get. Many of our students at Erdington don’t attend external clubs, so this opportunity is going to be so special and unique for them.
“Through HEN, we are actively investing in our students’ artistic development while also equipping them with transferable skills that will support them in whatever futures they choose to pursue.
“Being a part of the Hippodrome partnership has truly been life changing, both for me and the students!”