Aspire works with Year 9 (13-14 year olds) students from various schools across East London, encouraging them to actively engage with their learning and life opportunities. The Aspire students are referred to the project because they fall into the category of ‘excluded within school rather than from school’.

Touring London secondary schools 21 September - 16 October 2009.

Play and workshop package in association with Romany Theatre Company and Border Crossings Education, part of Origins Festival of First Nations.

 "Beautiful, clever, charming."

(Yr 6 teacher, Rhodes Avenue Primary School, N11)

 "The children thoroughly enjoyed themselves & had wonderful ideas for interpretation.

Aspire works with Year 9 and 10 students from schools in East London, encouraging them to actively engage with their learning and life opportunities. The Aspire students are referred to participate in the project because they fall into the category of ‘excluded within school rather than from school’. These young people may not be accessing the curriculum for a range of reasons.

The project brought together young students from different faith schools and communities. It provided an opportunity for young people educated and typically sheltered in their own communities to meet and learn with/from people from other communities, whilst working towards a Bronze Arts Award qualification. 

Based on The Jungle Book, a performance introduced the characters and the subject matter followed by a workshop which looked at difference and discrimination through animal characters. Students were encouraged to:

• Explore FEELINGS

• CHALLENGE negative behaviour

• Increase CONFIDENCE

• Rehearse STRATEGIES

Key Stage 2 students met teenage characters Zara and Lee as they faced difficult choices around smoking, drugs, eating or relationships.

Students were encouraged to:

• EXPLORE influences, motivations, emotions

• Identify RISKS

• Discover CHOICES

A five-week residency with Key Stage 3 students exploring Anti-Social Behaviour by getting to know teenage characters Keely and Darren.

• UNDERSTAND motivations

• Examine CONSEQUENCES

• Look for realistic ALTERNATIVES

“The programme gave me inspiration and confidence.” Kate, age 15
 

The project explored issues around language and identity with around 100 participants from four different, immigrant community groups in North London.

Company Report for the pilot project of Mouth Piece, February 2005 : In the summer of 2004, Polygon Arts ran the pilot project of Mouth Piece with the support of the Arts Council and the Peabody Trust. The project explores, through theatre, issues around language and identity and aims to create a performance that is rooted in the experiences of immigrants to London .

Mouthpiece Project Report.pdf