David Wood: ‘Audiences for children’s theatre are becoming more middle-class as school trips decline’
Playwright David Wood. Photo: Jill Furmanovsky
Acclaimed children’s playwright David Wood has warned that young theatre audiences are becoming more middle-class because fewer schools are organising trips to shows.
Wood said he desperately wanted schools to recognise the value of theatre and bring children whose parents would not otherwise take them.
The comments were made at an event celebrating 50 years of Wood’s productions in London theatres at…
6 comments on “David Wood: ‘Audiences for children’s theatre are becoming more middle-class as school trips decline’”
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Rogues & Vagabonds 
I don’t remember being taken to see plays for children. But at secondary school, we were often taken to see plays by Shakespeare, Chekhov, and others. They also took us to see an Opera, which I thought was wonderful.
Best wishes, Pete. x
Well, that gave you an excellent theatrical education!
That’s not good. We were never taken to plays by teachers. Not once. I didn’t miss a play once I was older because my mother took to all of them. Schools…never. It should be done.
At junior school we had a visit from a Theatre In Education company. First school theatre trip was “Treasure Island” at Birmingham Rep. After that, many Shakespeare and other plays.
Not good at all. I’m glad you had your mother take you. We had school trips but to have nothing is a dereliction of duty when it comes to education. It’s a simple concept – drama gives tools for life. How stupid do the powers-that-be have to be not to get it? But they never do. I get extremely exercised about it!
That sounds excellent. I’m guessing you didn’t leave school recently!