“We are thrilled to be one of the first schools taking part in The Polka Theatre’s Creative Connections project! With reading as a key priority in our curriculum, this is a wonderful opportunity for our children to experience the magic of storytelling brought to life through drama. We’re equally excited about the valuable CPD opportunities this project offers for our staff — helping us grow as educators while inspiring a lifelong love of reading in our pupils.”| Polka
Based in Wimbledon since 1979, Polka creates world-class theatre to entertain and inspire young audiences.| Polka
Polka also confirms the return of its Catapult artist development programme, with increased seed funding supported by The Garek Trust Polka Theatre’s Artistic Director and Joint CEO Helen Matravers, Executive Director and Joint CEO Lynette Shanbury, and the whole team at the Wimbledon venue are pleased to announce details of additional shows coming to Polka...| Polka
We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new schools partnership programme, Creative Connections. Creative Connections is a new, fully funded scheme, designed to increase engagement with theatre and storytelling in schools. Using our learning and expertise from projects exploring literacy, oracy and storytelling, we hope to work with…| Polka
Applications now open for state schools in London, Surrey and Essex to bring celebrated new play directly into schools Polka Theatre is delighted to announce the 2026 Schools Tour of Sisters 360, the next production in Polka’s schools touring programme and first to be fully subsidised. Following the hugely positive response to tours of ‘Romeo...| Polka
We caught up with Sarah Middleton, writer of our new show and winner of the Polka Playwriting Award to chat all about Dweeb-A-Mania! What inspired you to write Dweeb-A-Mania? I wanted to make a show specifically for children aged 8-13 - something that would empower and uplift audiences whilst giving…| Polka
Project Teachers reflect on the first year of Talking Tales at The Priory Primary School, in conversation with Tory Sandars (Project Manager). Together they share the challenges, surprises, and successes of bringing drama and storytelling into their classrooms and school. What were your initial thoughts and expectations when you joined the project? Shish, Year 1...| Polka
Polka Theatre’s Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive Helen Matravers, Executive Director and Joint Chief Executive Lynette Shanbury, and the whole team are pleased to announce the cast and creative team for Dweeb-A-Mania – the winner of the inaugural Polka Playwriting Award, which champions playwriting and the creation of new work for young audiences aged...| Polka
Exciting plans are afoot for Polka Theatre this summer. You may have spotted that between 18 August and 16 October 2025, there are no performances in Polka’s Main Theatre (there are two fantastic shows playing in our Adventure Theatre though – discover What’s On). The reason for this unusual gap, temporarily ‘going dark’ as we...| Polka
It’s a wrap for our Creative Learning Week at Polka this year! Every year, our amazing Creative Learning department produces a full week of activities, showcasing participants from every project, class and scheme we run during the year and celebrating everyone’s wonderful achievements. All started with a brilliant performance by our Freefalling Young Company,...| Polka
Hello! I’m Rachael and a Polka Practitioner on Talking Tales. This is a co-inquiry project where Key Stage One teachers from six primary schools’ partner with drama practitioners to learn drama activities they can then embed in the curriculum. The aim of this is to improve children’s oracy through creativity. I’m partnered with two schools,...| Polka
9,000 free school tickets available this academic year Subsidised ticket scheme has provided over 76,000 free tickets to schools in 20 boroughs since 1994 Polka Theatre is proud to celebrate 30 years of its Curtain-Up! programme – a pioneering subsidised ticket scheme that offers free tickets to school groups facing…| Polka
