“Drama is life, with the dull bits cut out,” as Alfred Hitchcock once said, and we know that our children and young people are always after that next surge of excitement in a world full of dopamine.
Yet we want our young ones to have healthy and wholesome fun and ideally, we’d like to experience it with them sometimes. (We might even sneakily throw in some relevant education, without them noticing.)
Vanessa Redgrave said she believed that theatre is as essential to civilisation as safe, pure water. So, while we might not initially think of taking the kids to see a live performance of a comedy or drama, here are some reasons why it could be the best thing to do this year…
Award-winning theatre production company OVO promises an unforgettable season of bold, imaginative, and dynamic performances in one of the UK’s most breathtaking, historic settings: the Roman Theatre of Verulamium in St Albans.
Seven reasons to take your children to an OVO open-air performance:
- Give them an advantage in their exams
As most parents will know, Shakespeare’s plays often form part of English and Drama at GCSE and A Level. OVO’s open-air outdoor performances really bring it to life and make Shakespeare relatable for young people today. Their adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (June 27 to July 13) offers a musical re-imagining of the play, which is on several GCSE Drama exams and iGCSE English schemes of learning, as well as some A- Level English Literature exam boards. Meanwhile, The Pantaloons’ comedic rendition of Hamlet (July 14 – 20) is also a key A Level English Literature text.
Moving away from the Bard, OVO’s adaptation of The Great Gatsby (August 8-24) transports the audience to the roaring 20s and is a text often used for the comparison section of the English Literature A Level syllabus. Finally, OVO’s youth ensemble is presenting Lord of the Flies (August 28-31), which is on the GCSE English Literature syllabus for many exam boards. What better and more memorable way to support children’s learning than bringing these stories to life inside the grounds of the UK’s oldest-producing theatre?
- Encourage creativity and self-expression
Theatre offers children a chance to tap into their creative side, whether it’s through acting, writing, or other artistic outlets. When they attend a performance, they’re not just watching actors; they get to experience the magic of live music, set and costume design and even see how lighting and sound come together to create the atmosphere, and it can feel even more immersive in an outdoor setting.
- Let them see different ways to tell a story
Understanding what a script is as well as being able to identify the way it is structured is also on the National Curriculum as are stage directions and the subtlety of story nuance. Seeing a stage performance will help children in key areas of the primary and secondary curriculum and even help them make comparisons between theatre and television or TikTok.
Artistic director of OVO Adam Nichols said: “The word theatre originates from the Greek theatron, meaning the ‘seeing place’. Ancient Greek theatres, such as the magnificent 2,400-year-old Epidaurus, which seated up to 14,000 people, were open to the skies, so both the stage and auditorium were equally illuminated. Performers and public could see one another, and spectators could look past the stage to the real world beyond. The simple fact of being able to see outside the space breaks the barrier between the audience and the performers – it becomes a collective, collaborative, democratic experience.”
- Nurture their appreciation of history
Share with them the experience of being in a fabulous historical setting with an amazing past. OVO’s productions are set against the stunning backdrop of the Roman Theatre of Verulamium, the UK’s oldest producing theatre, which dates back to 140 AD.
- Get them off their screens
Get them out into the open air with the rest of the family. Theatre offers an escape from the stresses of daily life, school pressures, and technology whilst also providing an enjoyable and memorable experience.
- Be inspired by other young people
Take them to see other children on stage. OVO’s youth ensemble returns with William Golding’s classic tale of survival and human nature, Lord of the Flies. Launched last year, the community ensemble provides local people with opportunities to perform in high-quality productions in a professional environment.
- Great for learning life skills
A visit to the theatre is an immersive opportunity. Research has shown that people who visit the theatre can develop confidence in communicating and public speaking by becoming more aware of the power of voice projection and body language. Seeing a show also expands their creativity and imagination.
Hertfordshire teacher Sharon Gilkes-Anthony said she has seen children who go to the theatre are often in a stronger position to analyse stories and examine texts and characters: “Being able to interpret tone of voice, body language and develop empathy are all excellent skills for English and Drama as well as the wider school curriculum.”
Find out more and book tickets now at www.ovo.org.uk
Theatre Productions
- Les Misérables (6–21 June)
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream (27 June–13 July)
- Hamlet (14-20 July)
- A Room of One’s Own (20-21 July)
- The Bear (24-26 July)
- A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (29 July-2 Aug) – Hertfordshire based theatre company, Act 4
- The Great Gatsby (8–24 Aug)
- Lord of the Flies (28–31 Aug) – OVO’s youth ensemble
Music Events
- Mark Morriss of The Bluetones (8 Jun)
- Ver Players Ukulele group (29 Jun)
- Hertfordshire Big Band (16th July)
- Our Friends Electric (10 Aug)
