Read about our work with Catcote Academy below...
Here at Theatre Hullabaloo, we are so proud of all the amazing things we offer in our building in Darlington, but you may not know we do so much more than that!
Over the past year, we have collaborated with the Tees Valley Creative Education Partnership on a Creative Action Research Project, supporting teachers from seven schools across the region in developing innovative creative schemes of work.
As part of this initiative, we were delighted to work with KTS Academy and Catcote Academy, who took inspiration from our work in Family Hubs to design and develop their own immersive creative play installation. To bring their vision to life, we engaged experienced play designer Rūta Irbite, who collaborated with the schools to identify a stimulus based on journeys, transforming it into an interactive and sensory-rich environment.
After a three-month residency at KTS Academy, the installation transferred to Catcote Academy in Hartlepool, overseen by our brilliant production and producing team, alongside fantastic support from Catcote’s Head of Creative Arts, Cheryll Kung. Students played an active role in the process, assisting with unloading and setup, demonstrating their ownership and engagement in the creative journey. This hands-on experience helped to enrich their learning and reinforces the power of creativity in shaping inclusive, student-led environments.
*Alt text: A sensory installation with purple seaweed-like curtains, a blue floor with an iridescent fabric river running through & a cloud-like lit up ceiling*
The installation transfer was successfully completed, just in time for students to explore and enjoy after the half-term break. This sensory, immersive world is designed to stimulate curiosity and engagement, featuring flowing rivers, gentle wind, diverse materials, and interactive elements. The space offers a relaxing yet stimulating environment, encouraging students to explore, create, and engage with their surroundings in a way that supports both sensory development and imaginative play. We can’t wait to see how students interact with and make this space their own!
As well as our work in the school, recently Catcote’s Creative Arts KS5 class came along to The Hullabaloo to get a closer look at what we do here!
The students were particularly engaged by the hands-on nature of the play spaces within The Hullabaloo, allowing them to understand how performance spaces can be designed to be interactive and encourage creativity in children from an early age, through a sensory experience. The visit provided valuable insights into the diverse career paths open to them within the creative arts and helped to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application.
*Alt text: Bea, one of our Production staff is showing 4 students around our theatre grid, where the lights and sound are controlled*