Learning, education and training potential of the performing arts

I’ve long regarded theatre itself as a crucial facet in education and it doesn’t always have to be pigeon-holed as “theatre for young audiences”. Learning is, after all, a lifelong process, and children and young people can often get a lot out of work which was not specifically created for them.

Take the marvellous Nutcracker, which I saw, courtesy of Northern Ballet, at the splendid new Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury earlier this week. Yes, it’s such a confection that of course it works well for children and there were quite a few youngsters in the audience including, I was pleased to note, some enthusiastic boys.