The Royal Exchange’s work with schools and colleges is a vital part of our programme. We are redeveloping this offer to enable students to connect with the theatre in a variety of ways.
All schools and colleges attending a production created by us will get a Schools and Colleges Resource Pack. This includes exclusive interviews, educational resources, career insights and self care tips for all your students to enhance your students viewing of the show.
“The Resource Pack was really useful particularly the director’s comments about the production.”
Holy Cross College
You can download past resource packs below:
Schools & Colleges Trailer
Some helpful FAQs to help with you visit
Do you run any show specific workshops and Q&As?
Yes, we do organise Q&A’s for some of our shows with cast & crew members. Please email engage@royalexchange.co.uk for more details.
We are currently developing some workshop ideas of how we can engage students, we have some really exciting opportunities coming up so please sign up to our schools mailing list to be the first to hear about future offers.
Do you provide theatre tours?
Tours will soon be available to all. Please sign up to our schools mailing list to be the first to hear about the launch
Do you run any workshops In schools or colleges?
Specific workshops in schools such as Devising or Shakespeare workshops are not currently part of our offer. However we do offer a workshop tailored towards careers in theatre, but these are only limited. Please email engage@royalexchange.co.uk for more details.
During June and July each year we deliver taster workshops for our Young Company that include (Performing, Writing and Directing/Technical/Design). If you think your students would benefit from these tasters, please email engage@royalexchange.co.uk.
Do you do any work with primary schools?
Our work with Primary Schools is currently focused in our Local Exchange areas – Cheetham Hill & Crumpsall, Beswick, Tameside, Leigh and Rochdale. Please get in touch with us if your school is in this area engage@royalexchange.co.uk
We work with North West Drama on their Children and Shakespeare festival each year, check here to find out more
We also work with One Education on their annual Singaround project each year. Please check here for more details.
Local Exchange Schools
Cheetham Hill & Crumpsall, Beswick, Tameside, Leigh and Rochdale are all areas we are currently focusing on. Please get in touch with us if your school is in this area engage@royalexchange.co.uk
Can you come to our Careers Day?
If you have a careers day or fair coming up that you would like us to be part of then please email engage@royalexchange.co.uk We are a small team so we can’t guarantee we are able to attend.
What’s your work experience offer?
As we get a huge volume of requests we unfortunately don’t accept ad hoc work experience requests. However instead we do offer a set week at the theatre each year called Careers In Theatre Week. This has been highly successful each year and is something that young people can apply to be part of. We will send newsletters out as and when these applications open.
What ages do you work with?
Currently, our main age-group we are working with is 14-21 (unless you’re in a Local Exchange area, as potentially there are additional projects as part of this)
My students are from low income backgrounds, can they access anything?
We have an ArtsPot scheme that covers workshop fees and travel within Greater Manchester. We also try to offer free show tickets to schools who need it, subject to availability.
Do you have opportunities for SEND schools or students with additional needs?
Yes, we do – both Young Company and Collective are open to SEND students and we can provide additional access support if needed. We’ve delivered festivals and projects specifically with SEND schools before so we will try to target the opportunities most interesting and applicable to you.
When we come to the theatre where does our coach park?
There is a space on Cross Street where the coach can drop off. If your coach needs to park then please check the Manchester Council website here for information where to park.
Can we bring packed lunches into the theatre?
Yes you are more than welcome to bring packed lunches into the theatre before the show. If you are planning on doing this please let us know first before doing so, so we can reserve an area for you in the Great Hall.
How will we receive our tickets?
Your tickets will always be sent to you prior to the performance and it is the schools and colleges responsibility to print off the tickets before attending a show. You will NOT receive them at box office.
Can you provide resource packs for the productions?
Yes, each show we provide a tailored resource pack that we send out to prior to each school and college attending.
What is your theatre etiquette when visiting?
Our theatre space is very unique and may be unlike any other theatre your students have been to before. The Royal Exchange seating is in the round and you are never more than 9 meters from the actors which means that watching a production can be a very immersive experience. This also means that audience members and actors are close to each other and if you can see them, they can see you!
We have therefore created a few top tips for watching a show at the Royal Exchange:
1. We ask that mobile phones and electronic devices are turned off completely. Buzzing and bright screens can be a distraction to the actors and other audience members as well as ringing!
2. Members of the audience should remain quiet during a production. It’s great to see students enjoying themselves, but please keep in mind that people have paid to listen to the actors, not the audience, so save comments and discussions to after the show.
3. Writing notes should be saved until the interval or the end of the show as this can sometimes distract other patrons.
4. Hot or smelly food whilst very tempting is also a distraction. Please don’t bring warm or fast-food into the auditorium. Sweets, chocolate and ice-cream are fine as well as drinks that aren’t in glass bottles.
5. It is important that teachers sit with their students for the duration of the performance to ensure behaviour is monitored.
6. Finally, enjoy the show! If you have any questions or feedback, we’d love to hear from you.
Risk Assessment Document
Get in touch
We’re a small team delivering the work for children and young people. We'll get back to you as soon as we can.
