On Mon 23 Mar, we were delighted to welcome back Milestone School to our stage, alongside Alderman Knight School joining us for the first time. Together, the two schools presented a special double bill of original performances, showcasing the creativity and imagination of their students.

Inspire is our free theatre-making programme for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The project prioritises accessible, creative exploration, placing less emphasis on traditional directing and rehearsal and instead encouraging participants to shape their own artistic journeys.

Over the past 10 weeks, freelance practitioner Sam Strachan has worked alongside our Children and Young People (CYP) team to support both schools in devising two original performance pieces. Throughout the programme, our stage has been transformed into a vibrant space full of imagination, play and creativity.

These sessions have supported students to build confidence and independence, strengthen social connections and develop emotional literacy. Most importantly, they have created opportunities for self-expression and a genuine sense of pride in their achievements.

Sam Strachan, free-lance practitioner, says:

“Having worked with Milestone School last year, it was a joy to welcome them back and to work alongside Alderman Knight School for the first time. Over the past 10 weeks, we’ve seen each student go on a remarkable journey, building confidence while developing their imagination and creativity.”

What the Students Achieved is Remarkable

Both schools took part in a double bill performance shaped entirely by their own ideas and experiences. Every scene, movement and moment emerged from their creative process. The sharing was not about perfection but about celebrating courage, creativity and collaboration.

Alderman Knight School: Losers

Alderman Knight School explored themes of connection through their shared love of gaming. Losers examined the highs and lows of play and what helps us navigate frustration and setbacks. The piece was fully devised by the young people, with every idea rooted in their own conversations and teamwork.

Milestone School: The Great Shake-Up

The Milestone group created a piece centred on movement and physical play, exploring communication beyond words. The Great Shake-Up celebrated silliness, nature, connection and the joy of human interaction, inviting the audience into a playful and expressive world.

Georgia Shire, CYP Producer, says:

“It’s been a pleasure working with both schools over the past 10 weeks as they worked towards their double bill performance. We’re excited about the possibility of bringing Inspire back for a third year in 2027 to help even more students grow in these essential skills.”

Supporting Inspire

Inspire currently receives only limited external funding and is largely subsidised by The Roses. This support covers:

• Accessible transport for participating schools
• Specialist practitioner delivery
• Staffing and creative resources
• Use of our theatre spaces

We believe that creativity should be available to every young person, regardless of financial or practical barriers. With your support, we can continue to make that vision a reality.

Help Us Continue Inspire in 2027

We are now looking ahead to 2027, where we hope to expand Inspire by delivering more drama sessions to the schools involved.
You can support us by:

• Making a donation
• Sponsor the programme – get in touch with hannah.grainger@rosestheatre.org for more information.
• Speaking with us about supporting our CYP programme

To get involved, please contact our Development Manager at: grace.end@rosestheatre.org