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Inspire. Educate. Participate.

Since 2015, Rust & Stardust has been working with schools and youth groups across England, including through our industry-leading Participatory Projects.

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To discuss working with us in any capacity, simply contact us.

Participatory Projects

Our Participatory Project partnerships are a unique way for young people to engage with professional theatre.

 

Working with our skilled facilitators, participants engage with a variety of art forms, including puppetry, music, dance, craft, fight choreography and more, and build confidence and communication skills in workshops which lead into live performances.

 

We come to you, source funding, and create bespoke experiences designed to suit you and which best support your young people.

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Our projects can also be paired with delivery of Discover and Explore Arts Award qualifications.

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We were really fortunate to be involved in this project.  It was different to anything we'd ever seen or been involved in before. It all culminated into a really amazing performance, making us all proud!

Lindsey Hudson,

Headteacher

The experience saw the children going way beyond the skills we would normally cover, and the standard was much higher than we would expect of children that age, yet they rose to it!

Gemma Cannon,

Headteacher

The production encouraged the children to learn so many things. This wonderful experience helped them enormously. The pupils felt they were part of something very special.

Katie Butler,

Headteacher

Our Participatory Project Plays

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The Knucker of Knodishall

A fast-paced farce featuring original songs, dances, swashbuckling fight choreography, and puppets, plus original music by Ben Harber.

The Marsh Demons of Iken

An epic tale of magic, faith and furious battles, featuring songs, dances, puppetry and stage combat, set against the backdrop of Dark Age England.

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Black Shuck

Our beloved adaptation of the famous folk legend, featuring puppetry, dance, singing, and a poetical exploration of the black dog within us all.

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Arts Award

Rust & Stardust is an Arts Award Centre offering a range of opportunities for individuals and groups working towards Arts Award qualifications.

In addition to our Participatory Projects, we offer educational shows and accompanying workshops to suit your curriculum that support Discover, Explore and Bronze Arts Award certification.
 

These can be adapted for ages 5+ and might include puppet-making, puppetry techniques, storytelling, and more.

Our Arts Award Offers

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Discover in a Day

Complete the Arts Award Discover qualification across a single day. 

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Arts Award Explore

Complete the Arts Award Explore qualification in regular sessions.

 

Education Shows

A number of our shows are suited to performance in schools which support curriculum goals at Key Stage 2, 3 and 4.

 

From our Magic of Science Trilogy or our Shakespeare adaptations to our Christmas show, The Princess and the Winter Dragon, we also offer optional accompanying workshops which powerfully unite entertainment and learning.

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Our Magic of Science Trilogy

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Seeing Stars

A funny and light-hearted look at one of science's forgotten figures, the astronomer Tycho Brahe, told with table top and shadow puppetry and projection art.

Under The Apple Tree

A joyous journey through the little-understood life of Sir Isaac Newton, one of England's greatest scientists, featuring music, projection, and table-top puppetry.

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The Poetical Scientist

A celebration of the life of one of the pioneers of science and the 'Mother of Computing,' Ada Lovelace, featuring projection, table-top puppetry and music.

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Workshops

Our workshops are a fun and creative way to explore the magic of shadow puppetry, table top puppetry, storytelling, music, craft activities, and more.

After consultation with you, Rust & Stardust's highly experienced facilitators guide classes or groups through a bespoke range of activities supporting curriculum goals which encourage them to be imaginative and expressive while acquiring new knowledge and skills.

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All of our workshops also promote sustainability in the use of recycled materials, and can be tailored to your specific needs.

Bespoke, Community & Intergenerational Projects

Working with partners organisations, including theatres, galleries, schools and charities, we have created dozens of tailor-made Educational Projects.

 

These might include the likes of our Sea of Stories programme with Age UK, where children made puppets in schools and performed alongside us for older people in day centres, or support we have given to help teachers bring learning off the page.

 

In recent years we have done everything from helping a class of children make their own puppets based on characters from The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe to directing a youth group in a production of Shakespeare's Macbeth across a single week!

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If you have an idea for creative learning and would like some help bringing your concept to life, look no further as we can help!

Digital Resources

We have a range of digital resources to entertain and enrich.

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From puppet making and craft tutorials and meet the puppets videos to our mini-series Endo the Earthworm in both English and German, access Rust & Stardust's content from anywhere in the world.F

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