Youth Theatre in School Program
Our Youth Theatre in Schools Programme was launched to address a growing gap in creative education and ensure that all children — not just those in privately funded schools — have access to the transformative power of theatre.
The programme began at Edwards Hall Primary School in Eastwood, Southend, and quickly expanded into three more schools: Eastwood Primary, The Westborough School, and Hamstel Junior School. Founded by Unpuzzled’s Artistic Director, Victoria Jones, after seven years of teaching in primary education, the project was created in response to a nationwide decline in drama provision. With drama not included in the national curriculum for primary schools — and with secondary school drama departments closing at an alarming rate over the past 15 years — opportunities for young people to engage with the performing arts have dramatically decreased. This has contributed to a decline of more than 40% in students taking arts subjects at GCSE and A-level.
At Unpuzzled Theatre, we believe drama is about far more than becoming an actor. It builds confidence, communication skills, articulation, voice projection, teamwork, and empathy — while also supporting wellbeing and mental health. It equips young people with vital life skills that benefit them far beyond the stage.
We were proud to offer our after-school theatre programme fully funded for a full academic year (September 2023 – July 2024), removing financial barriers and ensuring every child could participate. Through this initiative, we continue our mission to make the arts accessible, empowering, and life-changing for young people in South Essex.
Video by Form Visual
When You See Me
When You See Me was a year-long creative programme working with refugee and asylum-seeking families living in temporary accommodation across South Essex. Each week, we delivered a diverse programme of drama, dance, circus, and art workshops, creating welcoming spaces for families to connect, express themselves, and build community. Together, we explored the idea of home — what it means, how it changes, and how it is carried with us — and collaborated to write and perform a deeply moving song about their journeys to the UK.
The project’s title reflects its core purpose: to challenge the dehumanisation often faced by people seeking refuge and to affirm that every voice is valued, every experience matters, and every story deserves to be seen and heard.
When You See Me was more than a creative programme — it was a celebration of resilience, identity, and the shared humanity that connects us all. It also laid the foundations for our 2025 production, The Rocket, a powerful new work inspired by the stories, questions, and conversations that emerged from this project.
Art by Bella Hinton
Because every voice is equal — and every heart can understand.
Our work first took root internationally, where we combined theatre and education to support English language learning in new and creative ways. In Thailand and South Korea, we developed and delivered English as a Second Language (ESL) after-school programmes that used drama, storytelling, and performance to build confidence, improve communication skills, and make language learning more engaging and accessible. These projects not only strengthened language skills but also fostered cultural exchange, creativity, and self-expression — demonstrating the power of theatre as a tool for education and connection across borders.
Thailand and South Korea
