Half Moon shines light on how to put on professional theatre

Hundreds of GSCE drama students are in the last two days of learning how to create professional theatre in a programme at the Half Moon in London’s East End.

Students learning to stage professional thetare - Credit: Half Moon

The week-long project at the youth theatre in Limehouse, which ends tomorrow, was aimed at giving them a practical insight into the business, technical and artistic aspects of professional theatre practice, not just acting.

“This annual programme offers them an introduction to theatre-making that would be impossible in their schools,” Half Moon’s Beccy Allen said. “It encourages students to learn about career options and routes into the industry.”

The youngsters have been working in groups with 15 theatre professionals to create all aspects of a production such as lighting, sound, set design, stage management, acting and marketing. They then came together to stage a contemporary play.

The 11 Tower Hamlets schools taking part this year are Bishop Challoner, Bow Secondary, Central Foundation Girls’, George Green’s, Langdon Park, London Enterprise Academy, Oaklands, Raine’s Foundation, Swanlea, John Cass and St Paul’s Way, as well as Newham’s School 21 Southwark’s St Michael’s.

Students learning to stage professional thetare - Credit: Half Moon

The Careers in Theatre programme has been running for 15 years and has given an insight into professional theatre to nearly 5,000 youngsters from east London.