At Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust, the performing arts continue to play a vibrant and inspiring role in the lives of our students. Whether performing onstage or discovering the magic of live theatre from the audience, we are proud to foster creativity, confidence and self‑expression from the very beginning of their journey with us.
For our primary pupils, this begins with rich and varied early experiences - ranging from theatre visits and pantomimes to special preview performances hosted by our secondary schools. Several of our primary schools also enjoy exciting partnerships with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), who support pupils through live performances and workshops. This year, five of our Trust schools will take their Shakespeare learning even further by performing Macbeth live on stage at Hartlepool Town Theatre as part of the Macbeth Schools Project in March. This unforgettable opportunity allows pupils to explore Shakespeare through professional guidance, immersive rehearsal work, and the thrill of bringing the play to life in a real theatre setting.
These early encounters with the arts help pupils build confidence, ignite curiosity and develop a love of performing that continues to grow as they move into secondary school and sixth form. As we look ahead to the summer term, our secondary schools are preparing a fantastic line‑up of productions that promise to showcase the incredible talent within our Trust:
- St John’s – Little Shop of Horrors
- Our Lady & St Bede – High School Musical
- Carmel College – Sister Act
- The English Martyrs – Annie Musical
Many primary pupils will once again be invited to enjoy rehearsal previews, giving them an inspiring glimpse into the world of secondary‑level performance and the opportunities that await them.
We are also delighted to recognise the continued investment in our performing arts provision. Funding success - including the recent St John’s performing arts grant - is helping to elevate our facilities and enhance the quality of creative experiences across our Trust. With each improvement, we strengthen our commitment to offering outstanding performing arts pathways for all.
Across BHCET, our students shine in countless ways: singing, dancing, acting, spoken word and more. Their talent is vast, their enthusiasm is infectious and there truly is something for everyone in our performing arts community.
As we move towards an exciting season of performances and projects, one thing is clear - the future of the arts at BHCET is bright, bold and full of possibility.
