STEP
 Southwark Theatres’ Education Partnership
STEP is a borough-wide partnership linking the theatre community and education sector in the London Borough of Southwark.
Southwark Council is one of STEP's strategic partners
STEP aims to equalise, extend and deepen the theatre and drama experience of all young people living in Southwark through the development of strategic partnerships between schools, youth and community groups and theatres and performing arts organisations. STEP aims to encourage young people to achieve their full potential through the creative force of theatre and performing arts activities.
STEP’s objective is to work closely with Southwark schools, youth and community groups and theatres and performing arts organisations to develop creative approaches to learning and provide innovative projects which stimulate children and young people’s personal development and contribute to their educational attainment.
 Sir Ian McKellen, STEP Festival 2004
Congratulations on starting this initiative. The reason it’s important for me is because theatre isn’t academic – you have to get up on your feet and participate and experience it and that chance to perform should be available to all of us. STEP can make that possible in Southwark. The beauty of theatre is that it allows us to discover our place in society. Why? Because all the world’s a stage.
Simon Hughes MP, STEP Festival 2007
Drama is very important. Some people are good at reading and writing. Some people are good at maths. And some people are good at drama and acting which is important because it allows us to experience things from another point of view.
The STEP Festival
The STEP Festival is the focal point of each year's work; a celebration of theatre created by, with and for young people in Southwark. Bringing together theatre and performing arts organisations, large and small, to promote the vast range of imaginative and creative work for young people on offer throughout the borough. The jam-packed two week programme provides young people in Southwark with the chance to participate in theatre and drama in all its forms.
The 2009 STEP Festival, STEP Up and Tell gives Southwark’s young people the chance to tell their stories and those of the communities in which they live. An empowering opportunity to celebrate the heritage and culture of Southwark where participants develop a sense of pride and ownership over their surroundings, giving a voice to those who are not always heard. The festival will run from November 16 to November 27, involving over 2000 young people in activities ranging from drama and dance to performance poetry and theatre criticism.
STEP
A development agency that:
- promotes the work of Southwark theatres and performing arts organisations to the education/youth and community sector
- develops and extends partnerships between theatres and performing arts organisations to maximise resources and build on the skills base within the borough
- engages in audience development
- develops educational partnerships between performing arts organisations and formal and informal provision
- works with Southwark Children’s Services and schools to embed performance arts in the curriculum, with an emphasis on the EveryChild Matters outcomes, Enjoy and Achieve and on the creative development of teachers
- works with Southwark Culture Service to improve individual life choices for young people through enjoyment and experience of the performing arts, with an emphasis on the Cultural Olympiad and celebrating cultural diversity
- works with partners to be at the forefront of innovation in the development of performing and live arts for young people
- aims to be a replicable model for strategic educational performing arts development.
 Further information
STEP history further information downloads
2008
2007
2006
Contact
Beccy Allen
STEP Creative Director
Tel: 020 7708 6124
info@step-partnership.co.uk
www.step-partnership.co.uk
c/o Theatre Peckham
Havil Street
London SE5 7SD
STEP Patrons
Michael Billington, Sir Deian Hopkin, Riz Ahmed
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