Beginners Please!

Schools

Beginners Please!

“Beginners please!” is the phrase that all actors hear over the tannoy, 5 minutes before a show starts, calling them to the stage.

Our Beginners Please! programme calls local primary pupils (KS1&2) to the Salberg Studio Theatre stage at Salisbury Playhouse to benefit from a professional performance experience that builds confidence, resilience, oracy and cultural capital. It's a project that has been celebrated by both HRH Prince of Wales and HM the Queen.

Schools create a performance over the year, to suit their curriculum, their pupils and their capacity and perform it in the summer term for an audience of friends and family.

Each year we have around 10 schools performing in the Salberg Studio Theatre, and they choose a package that suits their requirements.

The basic package offer for Beginners Please! is:

  • A 2 hour technical/dress rehearsal in the Salberg Studio Theatre
  • A 2 hour performance slot in the Salberg Studio Theatre
  • Professional technician operating the show

Schools can then choose to develop their offer by adding on different activities such as a range of different workshops (both in school or at Salisbury Playhouse), an additional performance slot, or a backstage tour.

You can pick the number and type of activities to suit your budget, timetable and location. You can spread activities across the year or compress activities into shorter time periods (e.g. mini projects or Arts Weeks).

2027 Tech and Performance Weeks

21 June 2027 (Monday-Friday)

28 June 2027 (Monday-Friday)

12 July 2027 (Monday-Friday)

Morning slot: 9:45-11:45pm

Afternoon slot: 1-3pm

Evening slot: 6-8pm

Downloads List

Managing Costs

We understand that school budgets are tight, so here are some of the ways schools manage the costs of this project:

  • Parental contribution fundraising via the PTA, Friends Association or school events
  • We can arrange a staggered payment, splitting the costs over two financial years
  • Tickets for the Showcase Performance - how you ticket the performance is up to you. You can choose to make it free or charge parents a ticket price.

How to book

Email education@wiltshirecreative.co.uk to request a link to the booking form. Complete the form choosing two possible dates and pick two slots within the day.

Once we receive the completed form, we will call you to arrange any In-School Workshop Dates and confirm your Technical and Dress Rehearsal and Showcase Performance dates. You will then be emailed an agreement.

Image gallery

Every time I come, I see children perform in a way that I might not have envisaged. It's such a tiny proportion of the money that we're given, What else would you spend it on that created this level of value?

Head at Manor Fields

FAQs

Can we just book a workshop for our school?

Absolutely! We can run bespoke workshops for your student at any time of year. You do not have to sign up for Beginners Please! to access these.

Can you help us find a play?

Yes! We can also support you in finding a script or creating one with your students.

Is Beginners Please! just for Drama?

Not at all. We encourage you to use the opportunity as best suited to your skill set and students and encourage all art forms, e.g. Music, Dance.

How many students can take part in Beginners Please!?

Workshops are up to 30 students - bigger groups would require two workshops, or a second practitioner. We would be able to accommodate up to 2 classes of students on stage.

We don’t have any staff with Drama experience. Can you help?

All Beginners Please! schools have a planning chat with our Education Officer, who can provide advice. We can work with you to plan the best type of show for your group, support you rehearsing and building the show and work towards something that showcases the groups individual strengths.

Is Beginners Please! appropriate for SEND and Neurodiverse students?

Yes - talk to us about their needs and we can work with you to include them. Familiarisation visits to the theatre are always free.

A few of my group don’t like performing. Is there anything else they could do?

Yes, we offer up to two young people the opportunity to run the lighting and sound for the show in the tech box, with support from the professional technicians. A member of staff would need to accompany them. We also encourage schools to make their own set and props.