The recent closure of schools has led teachers and parents in to a new world of home-schooling.  Teachers have had to adapt and become television presenters, and parents have had to become teachers.  Now more than ever there is a need for online teaching and resources to engage children.

The creative team at the Princess Theatre and Arts Centre have reacted to this need and released a series of online art workshops, delivered by talented artist, costume and theatre designer, Catherine Hawkridge. Catherine has worked for ITV, Aardman Animation and the Royal Opera House on a vast amount of productions. 

The 3 online children’s art workshops, aimed at Year 5 & 6 children and hosted on the Princess’s Youtube channel, have already attracted nearly 1000 views.  The classes include an introduction to work that you will use over the series and culminates in the production of your own shadow box theatre, puppets and scenery.  The whole series is bespoke to our area and in a time when there is a need for online teaching resources, to have something ready made by talented professionals is a relief for those in charge of daily education (parents and teachers).

Beccy Armory, leading the artistic team, says “it was important to us to be a part of helping our local families and teachers in the efforts of keeping children engaged with learning during this current lockdown.  So we decided to use our links with incredible practitioners and create online classes that meant something to our community.  We are now working hard on an online spoken word and poetry workshop with CBBC regular, Chris Redmond, and there are more plans ahead at the Princess education wise.”

Cllr Louise Parkin, Chair of the Princess Management Committee, “The reaction from teachers and school children is great, made even better when we receive pictures of finished work.  We are committed to assisting schools locally with a cultural and creative education programme at the Princess, now and in the future.”

All the workshops are available here on the Princess website: or via their YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5iW1SSWlioT5nZls2B0gJA

The Princess would love to see any of your work so please send pictures to  info@theprincesstheatre.co.uk 

If you are a teacher and would like to get in touch with the Princess about upcoming resources and education programmes please email education@theprincesstheatre.co.uk