New online play reading service to ‘level the playing field’ in Drama and English

Moya Productions has brought together actors and theatre professionals to create a play reading service to make exam texts more accessible to young people, particularly those from less privileged backgrounds. 

Designed in response to reduced access to live theatre due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ReadThrough is built on the belief that seeing or hearing a story brought to life enriches the learning process and gives greater insight into themes, context and characters. 

The founders said: ‘We believe ReadThrough can help bridge the gap between students and theatre. Our aim is to bolster students’ understanding of their set texts by seeing them performed live. Through technology we can overcome issues of access caused by the pandemic, socio-economic or geographic constraints.’

Working with schools across the country, ReadThrough wants to ‘level the playing field’ and support all students in Drama, English and other relevant studies. The team plans to offer full readings of curriculum texts using professional actors and directors. 

Alongside the online service, ReadThrough will also offer bespoke workshop sessions for Drama or English classes in which they will concentrate on selected scenes with students in real-time. 

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The first live ReadThrough will be Macbeth on 11 February from 4 - 6pm, featuring Joe Lycett and other well-known names to be announced shortly. To reserve a space for your school, teachers should email seatsplease@wearereadthrough.com. 

ReadThrough is offering schools two distinct packages: A full read-through with a Q&A, and a lesson-length workshop. Teachers are invited to get in touch with the organisation to let them know which texts their students are studying and which package they are interested in. 

On the website, it reads: ‘It doesn’t matter if you don’t have [a] budget to allocate for a ReadThrough, we are actively engaged in finding funding so that we can bring our service to every school that needs us. So please get in touch and we will see how we can best help you. We believe it’s not a service, but a disservice, if it doesn’t serve all.’

Actors who will regularly be involved in the project include Esther Smith (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Trying), Nari Blair-Mangat (Macbeth), Alasdait Buchan (An Inspector Calls, Richard III), Edward Franklin (Valhalla, Shakespeare in Love), Elisabeth Hopper (Ghosts, The Tempest), and Mark Weinman (The Salisbury Poisonings, I May Destroy You). 

The service has already received support from high-profile figures including Dame Emma Thompson, Stephen Fry, Simon Callow, Amma Asante and Shazad Latif. 

Fry said: ‘Sometimes you hear about an idea and you find the only correct response is to smack your forehead. Of course! ReadThrough is just such a winner of an idea. Please do everything you can to help us all make ReadThrough a living reality.’ 

Initial funding has been provided by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, and a KickStarter campaign is open to the general public. 

www.wearereadthrough.com