Disney is set to launch a new education programme that aims to provide primary school teachers with the professional support and development required to produce their own musicals. Currently focused on London, the project will allow primary teachers to create their own productions of Disney musicals including The Lion King, Aladdin and The Aristocats, and embed a theatre arts programme into the participating schools.
Five London primary schools will be selected to take part in the Disney Musicals in Schools residency programme, which is a collaboration with London-based Eastside Educational Trust. The Disney films selected have been adapted into 30 minute musicals by Disney, in partnership with licensing body Music Theatre International. The programme will then be delivered by musical theatre professionals, who will work in schools in collaboration with teachers to develop the skills needed to create future musical theatre productions.
The young performers taking part will have the opportunity to perform their work at a showcase at the Lyceum Theatre in the West End, which is currently home to The Lion King musical. This comes as a direct result of the main aim of bringing the programme to the UK, which was to create sustainable theatre programmes in under-resourced primary schools in London. The scheme additionally provides opportunities for musical theatre professionals to work in this artistic context.
The programme will be 17 weeks long, and will work on the participating children's acting, singing and dancing skills, as well as providing some experience in backstage work. This will be in the lead up to performing the production of the chosen show at each of the primary schools, followed by the West End showcase. This new scheme is eagerly anticipated in the UK for 2017, with workshops at schools beginning in September. The scheme originated seven years ago in the US.