Journalist Hattie Fisk, who writes for Drama and Theatre, a resource used by schools to enhance teaching around the subject, visited the first ever school workshop that took place in the Soho Poly to get a taste of what the theatre has to offer.
The article delves into the theatre’s rich history, starting with its exciting launch back in 1972, where it became a space for creatives to start their careers and bring important issues to the stage, giving underrepresented writers a voice.
During her visit, she spoke to Dr Matthew Morrison and talked to him about why he decided to bring the theatre back to life. He said: “For 20 years, it had just been turned into a complete junk ground. There were no theatrical fittings, but instead there were filing cabinets tipped over the floor. There was just nothing.”
He went on to tell Fisk how accessibility was at the forefront of his mind when he started the project. He said: “Accessibility is of course important for theatre spaces, but even more so for this one because of its history. We want to make sure as many people can access this place as possible. We want it to hark back to what it was in the ‘70s, where anyone was invited.”
The reporter sat in on the first ever school workshop run by the Komola Collective and led by the playwright Ben Musgrave. Key Stage 3 students were able to throw themselves into the workshop, teaming up to create a big monster and have fun acting together.
Closing the article Fisk said: “This is a beautiful project for the local community – young and old people alike. If you are based in London, I highly recommend investigating the Soho Poly. You never know, one of your students could be the next big name to set foot on its stage.”
Read the full article on the Drama and Theatre website.
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