The Transformative Power of Live Theatre

As our high school students navigate the exciting and sometimes challenging journey of adolescence, one powerful way to enrich their intellectual and emotional lives is through exposure to live theatre and canonical literature. Over the coming weeks, our Year 9, 10 and 11 students will have the opportunity to attend professional productions of Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, and 1984. We are proud to provide this important experience to deepen their understanding of classic texts and bring classroom learning to life.

Engaging with live theatre not only enhances students’ connection to literature but also fosters empathy, cultural awareness, and higher-order thinking — benefits that extend far beyond the English classroom.

Recent research from the University of Arkansas and Birkbeck University London highlights the measurable advantages of theatre experiences for adolescents. A 2018 study by Kaufman and Libby found that students who attended live performances demonstrated stronger comprehension of complex plots and vocabulary, improved social perspective-taking, and higher tolerance levels than those who only read the text or watched film adaptations. In short, seeing literature performed deepens engagement in a way that reading alone cannot replicate.

Similarly, a 2019 study by O’Toole and Dunn found that children and teenagers exposed to live theatre developed emotional and cognitive skills vital for navigating the modern world — including empathy, self-efficacy, and the ability to engage with difficult social issues.

Why it Matters

In an era dominated by digital media, live theatre offers a rare opportunity for students to slow down, reflect, and immerse themselves in rich language and human connection. These experiences build not only academic capability but personal depth — equipping students to become compassionate, critical thinkers.

How Families Can Support

• Encourage attendance at local theatre productions, especially those that align with school texts.

• Discuss performances at home to deepen interpretation and connection.

• Support and prioritise excursions to live performances when offered through school.

• Explore theatre together as a family to build shared cultural memories.

By encouraging our students to experience great literature on stage, we’re opening a door to deeper thinking, richer learning, and a lifelong appreciation of the arts.

Let’s inspire them to not only study great stories — but to feel them come alive in the theatre.

Ms Emma Post
English Faculty Coordinator