The Associate Schools Programme is the RSC’s long-term partnership programme with schools and regional theatres across England. The programme uses RSC rehearsal-room pedagogy to transform how Shakespeare is taught in schools, with a focus on schools serving areas of structural disadvantage. Teachers benefit from workshops, training and continuing professional development (CPD) activities, while students enjoy opportunities in performance, leadership and career development.

The RSC has invited 16 theatres around the country to serve as Associate Regional Theatres, delivering the Associate Schools Programme in their local areas. We’re proud to have served as the RSC’s Associate Regional Theatre for Kent and Medway since the launch of the programme and we now work with the RSC to bring the programme into with more than 20 schools around our region.

You’ll join a community of Kentish schools that have committed to bringing Shakespeare’s work to young people in new and exciting ways, supported by practitioners from the RSC and the Marlowe. At the same time, you’ll connect with a wider network of nearly 300 schools across England, joining a national research programme studying the impact of Shakespeare’s work on young people.

Benefits for Associate Schools include:

• Transformational CPD opportunities for teachers, including special teacher training days and workshops.
• Unique opportunities for students interested in theatre careers.
• Invitations to take part in local and national performance festivals of work by young people.
• The chance for students to connect with or join the RSC’s 450-strong network of Shakespeare Ambassadors, young people who are passionate about the arts and about making a difference.

We’re currently working with 22 primary, secondary and special state-funded schools in two clusters across Kent and Medway, part of a nationwide cohort of 280 schools across the country. Some of our schools are new to the scheme, while others have been selected specifically to mentor schools in three specialist areas: primary education, secondary education and special educational needs. We encourage students to work with and learn from other schools across the region – and for teachers to do the same.

Yes. We present an Associate Schools production with the RSC each year, with students from all 22 partner schools taking part. Voyage of their Lives, our site-specific 2025 production, took place across two days along the atmospheric shoreline at Samphire Hoe in Dover and featured contributions from 660 young people.

Schools take part in the programme for at least two years.

We’ve recruited our full complement of schools for the current academic year (2026/27), but we’ll be looking for schools to join the 2027/28 programme from April 2027. To stay informed about all education opportunities at the Marlowe, email education@marlowetheatre.com.