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Welcome to Pintsize Theatre Podcasts!

Patron: Dr. Geoffrey Readman

 

Pintsize Theatre Ltd (Reg charity no: 1142448) is an award-winning theatre in education company from Nottingham, England established in 1998. Since September 2020 we have moved from live, touring theatre to providing online resources to support pastoral care and promote age appropriate, evidence based critical thinking skills in Years 6 - 11. All content on this site is in line with DfE guidelines and the result of 26 years of research with schools, safeguarding agencies and charities in our area. Testimonials relating to all our previous work, can be found in the TIE Archive section of this website.

Please note that all subscription payments detailed below, as of June 2024, are now voluntary. We very much appreciate newly subscribing schools financially supporting this website with a ‘one off’ charitable contribution - it enables us to create new work and cover our running costs - but payment is no longer mandatory.

24/7 access to all our resources is now free to all schools and full parent/carer access remains free, on request.

Financial support for our charity is still very welcome and we do hope new school subscribers might take the suggested ‘one off’ contributions, detailed below, into consideration.

Ian-Photo-Pintsize-Podcasts-Home-Page
Writer/director Ian Court on first day of Podcast recording - September 2020

SITE CONTENTS

See the Teachers' Notes - ESSENTIAL VIEWING video

There are two LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP subscription packages available. If you wish to make a contribution to our charity, an invoice will be sent to the school's lead contact, once the subscription is requested. Once joined, UNLIMITED ADDITIONAL USERS from the school's teaching staff, can add themselves FOR FREE.

N.B. Subscriptions cover UNLIMITED USAGE AND LIFETIME ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES FOR SCHOOL AND STAFF.

Primary Schools Membership Plan
SUGGESTED PAYMENT £95 ( NO VAT APPLICABLE) ‘ONE OFF’ LIFETIME SUBSCRIPTION PAYMENT
5 podcasts (all Year 6)
For further details and to join, press here

Secondary Schools Membership Plan
SUGGESTED PAYMENT £295 ( NO VAT APPLICABLE) ‘ONE OFF’ LIFETIME SUBSCRIPTION PAYMENT
11 podcasts plus 1 film (Year 7 – 11)
For further details and to join, press here

Subscriptions cover unlimited staff access over the lifetime of the school.

All payments are voluntary.

Contact ian@pintsizetheatre.co.uk for payment details and invoice.

Each podcast is accompanied by:

  • a resource pack to promote further investigation of the issues raise
  • a podcast script
  • staff and student response sheet
  • a ‘JUST THE PLAY’ version of the recording with audience interaction and ‘stop watch ticking‘ edited out

All our podcasts have already been trialed as live, interactive drama workshops and are in full accordance with current DfE guidelines. New podcasts will be added at no extra cost.

Our ‘JUST THE PLAY’ option offers a much shorter ‘narrative only’ alternative for teachers delivering the podcasts who might wish to keep all discussion until after the story has been fully told. PLEASE NOTE: schools may wish to consider using this version, not only to support pastoral care but also in curriculum areas such as English and/or Drama.

Below are typical staff/student responses to each, from previous tours.

‘ABIGAIL’S STORY’

PODCAST (1 HOUR 6 MINUTES)

Years 6 - 9

CSE/Grooming Awareness and Online Safety.

AVAILABLE TO BOTH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY MEMBERSHIPS

“I thought that the workshop was of excellent quality and the students were thoroughly engaged throughout. It was definitely informative and sobering and I think it will have made a genuine impact on the students, in terms of internet safety.”
- Selston High School Academy, Broxtowe - Staff Response Year 8

“I think that it was powerful because it is basically telling you to speak out and stay safe. And it made me aware of how people online, are not always who they say they are.”
- Killisick Primary, Arnold - Student Response Year 6


‘KAREN AND LEE’ 

PODCAST (54 MINUTES)

Year 9 and above

Teenage pregnancy and parenting/RSE/consent to sex/alcohol awareness.

AVAILABLE TO SECONDARY MEMBERSHIP ONLY

“I thought it was brilliant. It was very accessible to the pupils and covered some very ‘uncomfortable’ truths, truths that youngsters don’t always have the freedom to hear/speak about. The pupils were gripped and very interested. It was fact-heavy, frank and direct.”
- Kirkby College Academy, Ashfield - Staff Response Year 9

“The play was good and very useful in an educational way. I liked the way they made it realistic and the sound effect of the baby was quite distressing to listen to. The whole piece was amazing!”
- Nottingham Academy, Sneinton - Student Response Year 9


‘ROSIE’S STORY’

PODCAST (42 MINUTES)

Years 6 - 8

Alcohol awareness, sex based stereotyping, bullying, hidden harm.

AVAILABLE TO BOTH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY MEMBERSHIPS

“I thought that the production was brilliant! We saw the last, about online grooming and thought it was amazing – this one was equally good. it creates something deeply thought provoking. I loved the fact that it didn’t patronize the children and was direct enough, for them to clearly understand the message of the piece. It wasn’t sanitized and therefore too vague to understand. Thank you so much and please come back again!”
- St Stephen’s C of E Primary, Nottingham - Staff Response Year 6

“I really enjoyed the play! Thanks for coming to help us understand the effects of drinking alcohol.”
- Magnus Academy, Newark - Student Response Year 7


‘SAM AND OLLY’ 

PODCAST (1 HOUR 12 MINUTES)

Years 6 - 8

Childhood obesity/body image/domestic violence.

AVAILABLE TO BOTH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY MEMBERSHIPS

“This was an excellent provision which grabbed the children’s attention and taught them a great deal in an interactive and supportive way. I feel it is by far the best way I have experienced of teaching this sensitive but important issue.”
- Orchard Primary School Ashfield - Staff Response Year 6

“I enjoyed the play, as humour was used to show the difficulties people face with weight, how they feel about the way they look, and what they eat.”
- The Dukeries Academy, Ollerton - Student Response Year 8


‘DOROTHY'S STORY’ 

PODCAST (1 HOUR 15 MINUTES)

Years 6 - 8

Homelessness, crime and anti social behaviour.

AVAILABLE TO BOTH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY MEMBERSHIPS

“The play and workshop in particular, raised so many issues that are relevant to our pupils. Not only have the children had to think about crime and anti social behaviour, but issues associated with relationships too. Thank you. Another valuable performance. The actors were fantastic.”
- Birklands Academy, Mansfield - Staff Response Year 6

“It made me feel like I know how people feel, when they are homeless.”
- Northfield Primary, Mansfield - Student Response Year 6


‘GEORGE'S STORY’ 

PODCAST (59 MINUTES)

Year 9 and above

(Please note that this podcast contains very strong language and references to violence - appraisal by staff prior to delivery is essential)

Community values, vigilantism, ‘hate’ crime and its impact on the elderly, the disabled and those from ethnic minorities.

AVAILABLE TO SECONDARY MEMBERSHIP ONLY

“As always a high quality performance that captured the attention of our young people. The workshop provoked interesting and relevant reaction and discussion where young people were asked for their opinion on what was right or wrong and how anti social situations could be handled in a more peaceful way. Brilliant!!”
-Bassetlaw Learning Centre, Worksop - Staff Response Year 9 and above 

“I think the play was truly fantastic and taught everyone a valuable lesson about neighbourly love and community. The play combined people of an old age and young people. The overall play told us about drugs, racism and disabled people and used examples of these in the play which sent a clear message to me. Thank you very much!”
- Long Eaton School, Derbyshire - Student Response Year 10


‘ASHLEY’S STORY’

PODCAST (1 HOUR 10 MINUTES)

Years 6 - 8

Bullying, peer pressure, anti-social behaviour, and road safety.

AVAILABLE TO BOTH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY MEMBERSHIPS

“Absolutely spectacular - spot on!”
- Dayncourt School aka South Nottinghamshire Academy - Staff Response Year 8

“I think that the play was a good influence on me; it taught me that consequences can stay with you, for the rest of  your life.”
- Ramsden Primary, Workop - Student Response Year 6


‘JOE AND JOANIE’

PODCAST (49 MINUTES)

Years 9 and above

Pornography, sexting and the impact of online abuse on adults, children and families - its harms, particularly in relation to children, girls and women. Male violence directed at girls and the debilitating and dangerous effects of online, pornography addiction.

AVAILABLE TO SECONDARY MEMBERSHIP ONLY

Please note, that this is our very first podcast not based on an extant text, so feedback is not yet available. It has been created in response to schools expressing profound concerns about the impact of online pornography on the students in their care.


‘TOM’S STORY’

PODCAST (47 MINUTES)

Years 8 and above

Teenage gambling, hidden harm, identity fraud and the consequences (both financial and interpersonal) of poor risk assessment and compulsive, addictive behaviour online. Please note that although this podcast’s focus is on gambling addiction and its effects on both the individual and their family, the resource pack also touches on the deleterious effects of online gaming, ‘loot boxes’ and the need for responsible financial management in the home.

AVAILABLE TO SECONDARY MEMBERSHIP ONLY

This is our second podcast not based on an extant text, so feedback is not yet available. It has been created in response to schools expressing profound concerns about the impact of online gambling on the students in their care.


‘ELLIE’S STORY’

PODCAST (50 MINUTES)

Years 8 and above

(Please note that this podcast contains strong language and references to gang related violence, homophobic bullying, and illegal drug taking.)

County Lines, hidden harm, coercive control, grooming and the consequences of gang/drug related serious crime. Please note that although this podcast’s focus is on County Lines, it also reflects on the importance of disclosure to a trusted adult, homophobic bullying and how and why child safeguarding can break down. 'Ellie's Story' also reflects on the potential harms caused by the threat of false allegations of abuse, directed by minors at significant adults in their lives.

AVAILABLE TO SECONDARY MEMBERSHIP ONLY

This is our third podcast not based on an extant text, although some of the narrative has been inspired by 'LUVU2', our 2013 live action play about online grooming. Feedback on 'Ellie's Story' is not yet available. It has been created in response to schools expressing profound concerns about the impact of the 'County Lines’ on the present generation of teenagers, some of whom are being drawn into criminal gangs.


‘BARRY AND GARY’

PODCAST (52 MINUTES)

Years 9 and above

(Please note that this podcast contains strong language, and references to hidden harm, 'identity' politics, and homophobia.)

Freedom of Speech, Hidden Harm, Risk Appraisal, Censorship, 'Identity' Politics. Please note that although this podcast’s focus is on Freedom of Speech, it also reflects on child and adult safeguarding and the challenges faced by schools attempting to manage the competing rights of diverse groups, with conflicting agendas and beliefs. It examines coercive control of speech and censorship and why and when it happens; ‘Barry and Gary’ poses the question - which is it better to be, honest or kind'?

AVAILABLE TO SECONDARY MEMBERSHIP ONLY

This is our fourth podcast not based on an extant text. It has been created in response to schools expressing concern over freedom of speech and discussion in the school environment.


‘WHAT ABOUT ME?’

FILM (17 MINUTES)

Year 11 and above

Class A drug use and its impact on family life/domestic violence/hidden harm.

AVAILABLE TO SECONDARY MEMBERSHIP ONLY

(Please note that this film contains very strong language, scenes of violence and drug taking- viewing by staff prior to delivery, is essential)

“This video is by far one of the best contemporary source materials to use in addressing social issues surrounding Class A drug use. The emphasis on the perspective of a younger sibling of a user is a powerful emotional approach.”
- John Berridge - Chair of Nottinghamshire Drug and Alcohol Action Team & Former Assistant Director of Education 2004

“A brilliant British film about drug addiction and its effects on a family. It’s an issue film and is heartbreaking, honest and fantastically acted.”
- BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL 2004

AIMS

Pintsize Theatre’s aims in supporting pastoral care in schools, follow current DfE guidelines and objectives. We also specifically intend to promote evidence based, critical thinking across the curriculum and to:

  • foster enhanced insight and resilience in avoiding and coping with risks to health and safety, too often encountered in the modern world.
  • help older children and teenagers gain a contextualized, rather than underestimated or exaggerated sense of what constitutes ‘risk’.
  • foster healthy scepticism in relation to received values.
  • assist older children and teenagers to become aware of pathways to help and support within the family and school environment.

Please contact ian@pintsizetheatre.co.uk for further details.