Every child, parent and teacher should experience the freedom of a Theatre of Learning

For 10 years Big Wide Talk has been working with children, letting them think, learn and speak for themselves in Theatres of Learning. Thousands of children have taken part and exceeded everyone's expectations. Challenging, bored and difficult to engage children have taken their turn in the spotlight for the first time. Parents and teachers have listened and seen all of the children as never before. Children love working with us and never forget the experience, but it's what we do with the experiences long term, the meaningful reflection we generate, the movies we make, and the new thinking we engender that is important for everyone.

April 2013

Since the beginning Big Wide Talk has sought to demonstrate that education (including art and science), care, management, research, and economic development must be part of single, locally delivered services for children, parents, schools and communities. The Big Wide Talk model of social engagement and support that includes Theatres of Learning, reaches the needs and resources of people and communities. Many examples are presented in this website.
We are currently working to write up how the model developed and its impacts, to serve as a platform for future development.
We are also working to spark a new generation of Big Wide Talk dialogue via this website, Twitter and the Big Wide Talk Facebook page. We hope the parents we have worked with, and others new to the work, will share their experience here in the UK with people in other countries.
Presently we are exploring the lives of some women in South Africa. We begin with Mary Burton. Beva Runciman, another person who participated in the South African fight for freedom, will follow her. Humanity aside what these women exemplify is the way in which learning and reflection nurture empowerment, the key driver for education and the support of children.
If you have further questions please get in touch, using Twitter and Facebook or email ann.jamieson@bigwidetalk.org.

What people say about us:

"This was the best day of my life! It was better than Legoland!"

Joshua, age 8, talking to his Mum about the Cambridge Cloth Place

"These are Y5 children who can be challenging and hard to engage and yet in the Theatre of Learning they were all intensely engaged. Their enthusiasm for this self-directed style of learning has continued and has had a knock on effect across the school.Lesson plans can be linked to what the children want and need to know."

Vicky Dupras, Head Teacher, Avonmouth Church of England Primary School, Bristol

"It’s truly amazing, so glad we came"

Martina Whitley, Parent, Westbury-on-Trym

"To see how the children fill spaces when they are given the chance is wonderful. We should think more carefully about the amount of space children can use when we build schools."

David Howarth, then MP for Cambridge

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