Real Friends (Schools Tour)
‘Real Friends’ is a completely free schools touring show designed for year 5 and 6 pupils. The project has been made possible with funding from the Mayor's Safer Communities Fund (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
The majority of the cast is made up of a of adults with a combination of Learning Disabilities, Neurological Diversities (such as Autism) and Physical Disabilities. The project explores hate/mate crime, bullying, invisible disabilities and more. We investigate the importance of knowing who are your 'real friends'; and how you can do your best to be a friend to people who need your support the most.
The play is interactive. We 'freeze the action' and the pupils have an opportunity to discuss what is happening in the scene.
We then have live conversations about the issues raised so far. We then revisit and change the action, based on the pupil’s suggestions and observations. This technique is called forum theatre.
The performance runs for one hour, typically from 10am - 11am and is performed in the school hall.
Please scroll to the bottom of this page for additional detailed information.
The first 2026 tour (January to March) is now FULLY BOOKED
Please contact info@brightsparkstheatre.com to express interest for booking a slot for the second tour of the project (late 2026/early 2027 tbc)
Jan 13th
Wykebeck Primary School, Brander Street, LS9 6QH
Jan 20th
Bracken Edge Primary School, Newton Garth, LS7 4HE
Jan 27th
Weetwood Primary School, Weetwood Ln, LS16 5NW
Feb 3rd
West Oaks SEN Specialist School and College, Westwood Way, Boston Spa, Wetherby, LS23 6DX
Feb 10th
West Oaks SEN Specialist School and College, Buckingham Rd, Headingley, LS6 1BP
Feb 24th
Future Steps Hub (Broomfield South SILC), White Rose Office Park, Beeston, LS11 0LT
March 3rd
Lawns Park Primary School, Chapel Lane, LS12 5EX
March 10th
Broomfield South SILC, Broom Place, Belle Isle, LS10 3JP
March 17th
West Oaks SEN Specialist School and College, Crowther Pl, Woodhouse, LS6 2ST
What is the Real Friends project?
Real Friends is a free interactive performance piece that improves Disabilities awareness. Its themes include hate/mate crime, bullying, and Invisible Disabilities.
The performance lasts approximately one hour.
The cast are made up of Adults with Learning Disabilities; Physical Disabilities and neuro-divergent conditions such as Autism; plus the production team (stage manager, director and support workers.)
The performance is supported by a teacher’s resource pack, which can be downloaded here.
Resources | Bright Sparks Theatre Arts Company
The performance can be for years 5 and 6 if there is enough room in the hall to accomodate both year groups.
If not, it is up to you whether you feel the project is more appropriate for year 5 or year 6.
What we need from you:
A ground-floor hall space with a power socket and a four-way extension lead, for sound playback through our portable PA system.
We will perform on-the-flat even if the hall has a raised stage.
14 school chairs for use by our cast and crew. Two tables, one for our stage manager and one for our props.
The hall should have a minimum performance space of 6m wide by 4m deep, with enough additional space for the audience.
The pupils can sit on benches, mats or on the floor, or a combination of these, at your discretion.
Timings
The stage manager, Marc, will be the first to arrive. This will no later than 8.45am. He will set up the sound equipment and arrange the chairs for the cast members.
The rest of the team will arrive between 9.15am and 9.45am.
Vehicles on-site are as follows:
Susan, our sole cast-member who uses a wheelchair, will be dropped off and collected as close as possible to school reception, vehicle registration DF73 SUY.
John (director) will need to unload/load our PA and props boxes as close as possible to the performance space, vehicle registration LD18 LTZ.
Unless an alternate start time has been agreed, the performance will begin at 10am. Please have the class(es) queuing in the corridor a couple of minutes before 10pm.
For each school, we will check the time at which we need to be clear of the hall in time for lunch set-up (in the cases where the performance space is also the dining hall).
Additional information:
All our equipment is PAT tested.
All support staff are DBS checked and have at least level 1 safeguarding training.
This project has been made possible with funding from the Mayor's Safer Communities Fund (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
