Edinburgh International Festival launches 'Play On: Stages'

The theatrical project, Play On: Stages, has seen the construction of outdoor stages in four primary school playgrounds, which are accompanied by bespoke packages to encourage creative arts engagement. 

Supported by Aberdeen Standard Investments, the International Festival has built stages at Hermitage Park Primary School, Lorne Primary School, Leith Primary School, and St Mary’s RC (Leith) Primary School. 

Each stage will provide teachers with a platform from which to develop learning and creative activities, assisted by the digital educational resources created by the Festival. These will introduce pupils to the stage and the different artforms that feature at the Festival each year. In the future, the pupils will co-design the backdrop of their stage. 

Caroline Donald, head of learning and engagement at Edinburgh International Festival, said, ‘The outdoor stage at Hermitage Park Primary has already generated a lot of excitement for the pupils and working with the feeder schools for Leith Academy is an excellent opportunity for us to build upon our successful residency. 

‘We are looking forward to seeing this project grow from strength to strength as artists start developing creative initiatives with the schools, when possible within the guidelines.’

Faye Calder-Kelly, headteacher at Hermitage Park Primary School, said, ‘The stage is a fantastic addition to the school’s creative resources. The children are really enjoying imaginative play on the stage and making up performances for their peers. The stage allows us to take drama lessons outside and gives the children a professional performance space. We are really looking forward to a time we can share our performances with the wider school community.’

www.eif.co.uk