Theatre In Education

Live performances talking about big issues.

Our live performance pieces are designed to open up important conversations in ways that are accessible, creative and engaging for the audiences we work with.

We are not afraid to talk about big issues. Our live performance pieces are designed to open up important conversations in ways that are accessible, creative and engaging for the audiences we work with.

Each piece is carefully developed for a specific setting (often schools, young people or community spaces) using powerful storytelling to explore complex topics in a way that feels relatable and thought-provoking.

Performances are typically followed by facilitated discussion and supporting resources, helping audiences reflect on what they have seen and understand where to seek advice or support.

How we
make it.
Every Breaking Barriers Theatre in Education programme is co-created with young people, frontline organisations and community partners who understand these issues from the inside.
We consult widely, gather real stories and work closely with the people closest to these issues to ensure our productions are authentic, relatable and built from lived experiences for maximum impact.
Crossing the line

Crossing the Line

Crossing the Line is a 20 minute monologue designed for year 5 and 6 students to learn about dangers of child criminal exploitation (CCE), dangers of gang grooming and where to seek help.
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Blind Side

A 20-minute monologue on violence against women and girls, for ages 9 to 13. Commissioned by Tameside Council and Greater Manchester Police, and shaped by the input of around a thousand young people.
WHO IT’S FOR

We work with primary and secondary schools looking for something that lands harder than a PSHE lesson. Local authorities and police forces commissioning prevention work that young people will actually sit through. Youth services and community organisations who need a way into a subject their young people won’t raise first. And safeguarding and violence reduction teams who want the message delivered by someone other than a professional in a lanyard.

Some commissions start with an existing piece and a date. Others start with a problem you’re seeing locally and no idea how to open it up. Both are fine.

Education and prevention are vital to tackling the threat posed by exploitative County Lines drug networks. Breaking Barriers’ approach brings together powerful, engaging theatre with tailored support for educators and school safeguarding staff, followed by workshops that help children consolidate and apply their learning. The theatre production engages pupils in an age-appropriate way, without diluting the seriousness of the message, and the accompanying workshops and activity resources provide real depth and long-term value. The NCLCC is proud to support this initiative, and we look forward to hearing the feedback from the schools taking part.
Superintendent Dan Mitchell
National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC)/span>
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Immersive Experiences

We co-create immersive experiences with local communities, bringing stories, heritage and public spaces to life.

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Filmmaking

We produce high-quality films that document impact, capture projects and campaigns, and tell stories with care and creative ambition.
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Theatre in Education

We create and deliver programmes that use the power of live performance to open up vital conversations with young people on the issues that affect them.
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Talent Development

We develop the next generation of creative talent, offering structured pathways, paid opportunities and ongoing mentoring to early-career creatives from the communities we work in.
Projections lighting up Rochdale town hall during the Stories We Tell audio walk
12
NOV
Stories We Tell - Rochdale November 2026
12 Nov 2026
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12 Nov 2026
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