Schools Mailshot

Supporting Families Seeking Sanctuary – Free Theatre & Community Events

We are currently working with families seeking sanctuary in Ellesmere Port and the surrounding areas, offering a warm welcome and creative experiences.

This spring, we’re providing free food, drinks, and tickets to a selection of accessible, non-verbal family-friendly shows in March and May. We’re also hosting Saturday Family hangouts – a relaxed space to connect and enjoy time together.

If you know any families who may benefit, please feel free to refer them to us or share this information.

Additionally, if your school would like to host a coffee morning for sanctuary-seeking families, we would love to collaborate and bring this to your space.

For more details or to get involved, please reach out we’d love to hear from you!

Creative Writing Workshops for Year 6

As part of our longstanding project connecting primary schools to Cheshire College South & West through theatre making, we are offering 5 local schools the chance to work with our Associate Director to help shape a brand new piece of theatre. Writing workshops with your year 6 class will be held in schools with the potential for 2 students from each year 6 class to attend a further workshop at Theatre Porto, over the Easter holidays.

‘7 Rules’ will be the theme for our writers this year and we will work alongside Cheshire College and Cheshire Dance to use their writing as inspiration for a piece that the year 5 & 6’s will be invited to watch at Theatre Porto in May & June 2025.

When:
Between 4th March – 10th April Tuesday mornings & afternoons or Thursday afternoons. 2 hours including a break / Free of charge  / Please email jess@TheatrePorto.org for more details and to book.

Pirate Princess

WORK IN DEVELOPMENT | New theatre in the making – be part of the journey

Pirate Princess is a story of hope against adversity inspired by strong and inventive women of history.

Poor Princess Poppy has been shipwrecked and finds herself stranded on a desert island in a most cumbersome ball gown. Try as she might, her unwieldy dress prevents her from climbing the mast to see where the nearest land is. With the help of the audience she transforms her outfit into a practical and fabulous solution that enables her to climb to the top in an impressive display of circus strength and hoist the flag for clothing equality for all!

Watch the short trailer here – https://youtu.be/LPXukqz16DU

The show will also look at the impact of fast fashion in the modern world and encourage the audience to reuse, recycle and reinvent.

Schools Performances Friday 21st March Tickets £5 per pupil KS1 & KS2 
Please email jess@TheatrePorto.org for more details and to book – view more?

The Farmer and The Clown

Can a friendship span the generations? Can old dogs learn new tricks? Can the young clown find its way home?

A story of unexpected friendship told through physical comedy and dance adapted from the charming picture-book by author and illustrator Marla Frazee.

An old hard-working farmer lives alone. One day, a baby clown accidentally bounces off a passing circus train and is separated from his family and friends.

Watch the trailer here – https://vimeo.com/758718094

Schools Performances Friday 9th May (10.30am and 1.30pm)  Tickets £5 per pupil KS1 & KS2 
Please email jess@TheatrePorto.org for more details and to book – view more?

Summer Art Workshops with Jake Ryan
July 2025 – in your school classroom – KS2 – no charge 

Jake Ryan, Community Artist, will be running his annual art workshops for KS2 classes, in school, at the end of the summer term. The work created by the children will go on to form an exhibition as part of Theater Porto’s annual ‘Topsy Turvy’ theatre and arts extravaganza in Whitby Park in August for children and their families to attend.

Theatre Porto are inviting schools to take part in creative workshops with artist Jake Ryan, exploring self-expression through language and visual art.

In this hands-on session, children will create playful similes to describe their positive personal qualities — such as “I am as determined as a cat that won’t leave the kitchen until it gets fed” or “I am as lively as a dance floor full of spinning tops” — and transform them into bold, abstract artworks using colour, shape, and composition. This accessible process encourages creativity, confidence in writing and speaking, and artistic experimentation, ensuring all students can take part.

The final artworks will form part of a large-scale installation at Theatre Porto’s Topsy Turvy Summer arts festival, celebrating the students’ voices in a public showcase. 

The workshops will develop skills in the following curriculum areas:

English (Writing, Speaking & Listening)

• Writing Composition: Using figurative language, including similes, to enhance description.
• Speaking & Listening: Expressing personal ideas clearly, discussing thoughts, and responding to others 
• Creative Writing: Developing confidence in using language to describe thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

Art & Design

• Exploring and Developing Ideas: Using abstract shapes and colours to visually communicate a theme.
• Making Art: Experimenting with materials, composition, and expressive techniques.
• Expressing Creativity: Encouraging personal interpretation and individual style in visual work.

PSHE & Wellbeing

• Self-Awareness and Personal Development: Encouraging children to recognise and celebrate their strengths.
• Emotional Literacy: Using words and images to explore personal identity and emotions.
• Collaboration & Respect: Engaging in peer discussion, sharing ideas, and appreciating others’ perspectives.

 

Available dates:
All morning and afternoon slots (except Thursday mornings) W/c 14th July. 2 hour workshop for one KS2 class / Free of charge  / Please email jess@TheatrePorto.org for more details and to book.