Arc Theatre in Barking & Dagenham

25/03/2026

We've just completed two exciting weeks of our 'Streets Ahead' road safety awareness programme in the Borough's primary schools for Barking and Dagenham Council Accident Prevention with BeFirst!

"Thank you for delivering such an engaging and well-run workshop. Your clean delivery, enthusiasm and ability to capture the children's attention made this session both enjoyable and meaningful. We truly appreciate the positive impact you had on their learning today.”
Leys Primary School, Dagenham

Thank you to all the great schools that hosted our dynamic performance programme for Years 5 and 6 this year!

To find out more, contact [email protected] or visit www.arctheatre.com

13/03/2026

This week, to commemorate International Women's Day 2026, ArcTheatre BarkingDagenham has been touring our 'No More Whispers' Female Ge***al Mutilation awareness programme to students in secondary schools across London, funded by a Private Donor in honour and memory of Angelique 'Angie' Benrahou.

Part of our challenging Violence Against Women and Girls series of work, 'No More Whispers' is an interactive drama workshop using live Forum Theatre along with multi-media film presentation to raise awareness of the issues surrounding the criminal practice of FGM, helping young people and adults explore this sensitive issue and its consequences within the context of human rights and VAWG.

"The feedback I have received has been extremely positive. It is a very challenging topic to explore with young people, and the team delivered it in a thoughtful, engaging, and interactive way. I would be grateful if you could share my appreciation with everyone involved, and thank you once again for giving our school the opportunity to benefit from this valuable session."
Havering Deputy Headteacher, 2026

To find out more, visit: https://arctheatre.com/programmes/no-more-whispers/

International Women's Day

25/02/2026

From our partners at Epping Forest District Council:

"Last Wednesday (18 Feb), , along with Vice-Chairman, Cllr Lion and Cllr Balcombe attended one of the Stay Safe and Well events at Fyfield Village Hall. It was very well attended, with free blood pressure checks and lots of community groups providing information all in one place.

Cllr Mead said:
"The live performance on scamming by Arc Theatre, which was brilliant and interactive, as always.
"I was lucky to speak to people as they were leaving and know they got a lot out of the day - the comments were extremely positive. I have attended quite a few of these events now - they are so informative and helpful.
"Thanks to the Epping Forest District Council Community and Wellbeing team for organising the event and the many providers with helpful information, along with our community champions."

Last Wednesday (18 Feb), , along with Vice-Chairman, Cllr Lion and Cllr Balcombe attended one of the Stay Safe and Well events at Fyfield Village Hall. It was very well attended, with free blood pressure checks and lots of community groups providing information all in one place.

Cllr Mead said:

"The live performance on scamming by Arc Theatre, which was brilliant and interactive, as always.

"I was lucky to speak to people as they were leaving and know they got a lot out of the day - the comments were extremely positive. I have attended quite a few of these events now - they are so informative and helpful.

"Thanks to the Epping Forest District Council Community and Wellbeing team for organising the event and the many providers with helpful information, along with our community champions."

There is another Stay Safe and Well event, in North Weald on Monday 30 March. For more information and to book your free place, visit https://eppingforestdc.bookinglive.com/book/add/p/718

27/01/2026

Today is , and we join the Mayor of London and communities across London, throughout the UK, and globally to remember the victims and survivors of genocide.

"On Holocaust Memorial Day, we remember the atrocities of the past and our shared responsibility to educate people and ensure the Holocaust is never forgotten." Sadiq Khan: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17nNBySFjv/

The theme for 2026 is 'Bridging Generations' and ArcTheatre BarkingDagenham continues its sixth year of counter hate and extremism work for the Mayor's , with our 'Unlimited' programme for children aged 9-11 in primary schools in the London Boroughs of Barking and Dagenham Council, Brent Council, Havering Council, Newham London, Redbridge Council and London Borough of Waltham Forest. 'Unlimited' uses a fictional historical story set in WWII ('Outsider' by Clifford Oliver) to sensitively open up the debate on difference, prejudice, tolerance, empathy and respect with young people.

As a passionate human rights organisation, we fully support the Mayor's aim to reduce hate, intolerance and extremism with communities in our capital city... and beyond.

Groundwork London

Arc in action at a Barking primary school
Images c.Theresa Snooks for Arc, 26.1.26

29/10/2025

We are absolutely over the moon that our Education Director Natalie Smith has been awarded the Long Standing Impact Award 2025 from the Mayor's Shared Endeavour Fund for her work on Arc's 'Unlimited' performance programme for primary schools in London!

Natalie devised Arc's groundbreaking counter hate/extremism programme back in 2019 and it continues to be in huge demand across London, delivering to children in Years 5 & 6 in approximately 150 schools over the last six years.

Congratulations to Natalie on her well-deserved award, and we are extremely excited that the latest 30-date tour of 'Unlimited' kicks off in a couple of weeks!

Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership Groundwork London
https://www.linkedin.com/company/mopacldn/

First image courtesy of and following images c.ArcTheatre

13/03/2025

We were delighted to pilot our new healthy choices/va**ng prevention programme ‘Not So Sweet’ at Gascoigne and Rose Lane Primary Schools at the end of February, thanks to funding from the Barking and Dagenham Council Drug and Alcohol Grant!

Arc’s Education Director, Nat Smith At Arc said, “The Year 6 children loved the new play ‘Chellies’ by Clifford Oliver At Arc, and found it easy to link the story about sweets to vapes.

“Most of our audience had knowledge of vapes and the addictive qualities of Ni****ne, but nearly all were shocked by the effects of va**ng on young people’s brains, long-term health issues and many of the other facts we shared with them.

“Overwhelmingly the pupils told us that they had learnt a lot of new information as a result of taking part in the session!”

We very much look forward to being able to extend the reach of this vital new learning resource to more of the Borough’s young people!

Arc in action at Gascoigne Primary School
Images c.Theresa Snooks for Arc, 27.2.25

23/01/2025

New for primary schools this spring!

Funding from Barking and Dagenham Council has enabled Arc to create a new Va**ng prevention programme for KS2 primary pupils in 2025.

Statistics from a recent NHS England survey* show that a quarter of 11 to 15-year-olds have tried va**ng, and nearly 1 in 10 do it frequently.

In support of the Government and NHS ambition for a smoke-free generation by 2030, Barking & Dagenham Public Health is funding a brand-new pilot prevention programme for KS2 primary pupils.

Using interactive Forum Theatre with professional actors and expert facilitation to address issues surrounding addiction, physical and mental wellbeing, choices and consequences, and the law surrounding illegal substances. This dynamic new resource is designed to:

• Raise awareness of the dangers and risks of addiction including va**ng,
• Bust the myths and misinformation about va**ng,
• Increase understanding about the facts and impacts of va**ng, smoking and wider drugs,
• Improve young people’s critical thinking skills about the choices they make for their health,
• Highlight how to avoid peer pressure, exploitation, and getting involved in criminal activity,
• Signpost how and where to get help, whilst promoting healthy lifestyles.

Arc’s latest multimedia workshop programme is currently available as a pilot on limited dates this spring.

For availability contact Nita Bocking at Arc: [email protected]

*Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England, Published October 2024

23/01/2025

23/01/2025

New for secondary schools in 2025!

Thanks to Barking and Dagenham Council NCIL funding, Arc is excited to be delivering a brand-new women's safety awareness programme to KS3 secondary school students in the Borough this spring!

'Time's Up!' is our latest interactive performance programme using live Forum Theatre to challenge harassment and intimidation on our streets and transport system.

This dynamic new youth engagement programme has been specially designed for all genders to be educated together on the issues, and aims to:

*Address and challenge unwelcome and inappropriate behaviour,
*Improve empathy and understanding of the impact of such negative behaviours on health and wellbeing, whilst emphasising the legal/criminal consequences for perpetrators,
*Increase confidence in reporting harassment, intimidation and sexual offences on the streets and public transport,
*Introduce the 5Ds of Upstander behaviour (as defined by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust): Distract, Delegate, Document, Direct and Delay,
*Signpost where to get help, advice and support, and what to do in an emergency as a witness or victim, including Safe Havens across the Borough.

We have just three places remaining on this 7-date tour of the Borough this March... schools should contact [email protected] to book!

12/12/2024

We’re now almost halfway through our latest 30-date tour of Arc’s ‘Unlimited’ counter hate programme for children aged 9-11 in northeast-London primary schools, funded by the Mayor of London’s Groundwork London

‘Unlimited' is a dynamic multimedia programme using live theatre to challenge hate and extremism and encourage kindness and respect for all, in schools across Barking and Dagenham Council, Havering Council, Newham London, Redbridge Council and London Borough of Waltham Forest

As a grassroots community organisation, we are committed to supporting the Mayor’s campaign to spread positive messages across schools in our local communities.

We’re looking forward to restarting delivery in the New Year! Are we coming to your school? 🙋‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🙋🏻‍♂️🙋🏿‍♀️🙋🏼‍♂️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏼🙋🏿‍♂️🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏼‍♀️🙋‍♀️

23/10/2024

We're absolutely delighted to be working for the 5th year with our funders and partners at the Mayor of London's !

Arc is hugely proud to represent our Mayor of London Sadiq Khan with our award-winning 'Unlimited' performance programme - using theatre to challenge hate and extremism in primary schools in northeast-London Boroughs.

The Mayor's campaign to promote unity, urging Londoners to take care of each other and reject hate is very close to our hearts and something we are deeply committed to supporting by spreading positive messages across the schools in our local communities.

The latest tour of Arc's 'Unlimited' programme starts after half-term to children aged 9-11 in another 30 primary schools across Barking and Dagenham Council, Havering Council, Newham London, Redbridge Council and London Borough of Waltham Forest.

In the meantime, here are some images and media links to our 2024 Induction Event with our Funders in London last week!

https://x.com/MayorofLondon/status/1841727586377793596

https://x.com/MayorofLondon/status/1841201911665393783

Images courtesy of the Mayor's Shared Endeavour Fund

10/10/2024

We have been delighted to visit secondary schools in the Old Oak & Park Royal Development Corporation areas of West London again this autumn term with our 'No More Whispers' Female Ge***al Mutilation (FGM) programme, thanks to generous new funding.

We have just two more schools to deliver to on this tour... however, if you are are an education, youth, health or welfare/social care professional working/living or studying in OPDC areas, including Hammersmith & Fulham Council, Ealing, and Brent Council, please get in touch to participate in our FREE online staff training INSET on Monday 14 October at 3.45pm!

Contact [email protected] for more information and to register!