We’re excited to announce our new Schools Partnership Programme, designed to bring high-quality musical theatre opportunities directly into schools across Southampton.
At Mayflower, we believe that access to the arts should not be defined by background, postcode or circumstance. Following a review of our youth engagement strategy, this new programme represents a significant step forward in creating deeper, more meaningful impact for young people across the city, particularly those who face barriers to attending theatre venues.
Working in partnership with Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill, Redbridge Community School and St. Patrick’s Primary School, this initiative embeds arts activity within schools themselves, helping to remove barriers, build confidence and open the door to the life-changing power of musical theatre. Our work with St. Patrick’s Primary School is delivered in collaboration with Southampton & IOW Music, a growing partnership of local, regional and national organisations, working together to build an inspiring and inclusive programme of music making that reflects the cultural diversity of our areas.
Across all three schools, students will benefit from a shared core offer, including regular workshops led by professional practitioners, performance opportunities both in-school and at Mayflower venues, and hands-on pathways into production arts and backstage roles. The theatre visits, often extended to families, will be supported with subsidised or free travel, alongside creative learning activities that support curriculum aims.
Importantly, this programme also creates clear progression routes into Mayflower’s wider youth participation work, giving young people the opportunity to develop skills, confidence and aspirations for the future. While each partnership shares the same core offer, every school programme has been shaped in response to the needs of its own community.
As Patrick O’Sullivan, Head of Participation at Mayflower, explains: “We’re committed to making the arts accessible to all communities. Bringing our work into schools ensures young people can experience the transformative power of live performance.”
These partnerships reflect a shared commitment to nurturing the next generation of theatre makers, audiences and leaders, while strengthening the cultural fabric of Southampton through education and collaboration.
The initial partnership period runs from October 2025 to July 2026, with a shared ambition to review impact and explore expansion into more schools in the future.
