The Acklam Green Centre welcomed over a hundred children and young people from 11 local schools for a performance of William Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’.

The Year 1 to Year 10 pupils, aged five to fifteen, are from the Middlesbrough Associate Schools.  The group comprises of: Archibald Primary School as Lead School, Abingdon Primary School, Acklam Grange School, Acklam Whin Primary, Berwick Hills Primary, Breckon Hill Primary School, Newport Primary School, Macmillan Academy, Priory Woods School and Arts College, St Thomas More RC Primary and Thorntree Primary.

As part of the Royal Shakespeare Company Associate Schools Project, which is aimed at embedding Shakespeare in education, the participating schools each brought to life a section of the 400 year-old comedy, set on a remote island and revolving around a major act of betrayal and a plot of revenge.   The young thespians took part in two performances to packed audiences in Acklam Green Centre’s large conference hall.

Anita Jefferies, Head Teacher at Archibald Primary School, which led the project, said: “The Royal Shakespeare Company is committed to partnering with Middlesbrough Schools.  The training and support they provide gives pupils amazing opportunities and improves their overall confidence.   Through the Associate Schools Programme, three pupils have now been selected to train with the Royal Shakespeare Company.   It is wonderful that we have the facilities at the Acklam Green Centre to host a festival of this size.”

The performances were attended by families of the children and guests from the local community, including some of the team from Actes.  Sandra Phillips, Chief Executive commented: “All of the performers were absolutely fantastic. To see children as young as five bring to life a Shakespearean classic was really impressive.  We all thoroughly enjoyed it.”

The Acklam Green Centre offers versatile facilities ideal for business events, conference and meetings as well as a base for many community and activity groups.

Sandra added: “It was great to see Acklam Green Centre’s Conference Hall being utilised as a performance space as its’ state-of-the-art soundproofing, sound and light equipment and fully racked seating mean it is ideal for theatrical performances of this kind and we hope to see more local schools and theatre groups making use of the facilities.”

For further information about the Acklam Green Centre contact 01642 811 121.

Acklam Green Centre is hosting Team Building and Corporate Days starting from £35 per person after teaming up with leading events companies offering archery and Bubble Football.

The packages include full event management, hire of meeting room and sports facilities and lunchtime catering and refreshments courtesy of in-house caterers Café Connect. As well as the fixed price packages, which incorporate sporting activity with the experts from North East Archery and Combat and Bubble Football North East, bespoke packages can be arranged upon request.

Donna Smith, facilities manager at Acklam Green Centre, said: “Our unique facilities incorporating professional meeting space, in-house catering and on-site sports pitches mean we’re ideally placed to deliver team building and corporate days.

“We’re pleased to team up with leading events companies as we get set to welcome businesses from across the area over the coming months.”

Members of staff from Actes, which owns Acklam Green Centre and the Resource Centre, recently took part in an archery session to try out the teambuilding activity for themselves. The event also supported Actes’ work towards the North East Better Health at Work programme designed to improve the health and wellbeing of the organisation’s workforce.

For further information about the corporate packages please call 01642 811 137.