All the World’s Our Stage: 25 Years of impact and a bold vision for what’s next

Mike Tucker, Head of Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation

Last month, Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation marked a milestone with the launch of our new 2030 strategy, All the World’s Our Stage, at a special Parliamentary Reception in Portcullis House.

It was an evening of celebration and reflection hosted by Manuella Perteghella MP, Chair of the Shakespeare All-Party Parliamentary Group. Over 150 supporters, educators, parliamentarians, young people, alumni and friends gathered to mark 25 years of impact, and look ahead to what’s next.

We were lucky to be joined by participants from our 2024/25 programmes, and members of our inspiring Youth Board. Performances by Argyle Primary pupils and speeches from alumni Alys and Adanna showcased the heart of our work: giving young people the voice, platform and support to grow in confidence and build skills for life.

Their reflections echoed the thousands of stories we’ve witnessed over the years: children overcoming stage fright; wrestling with language they once found impenetrable; building friendships, resilience, and self-belief. It is clear that the power of Shakespeare is not just as a text on the curriculum, but as an invitation to perform, to connect, and to belong.

A Moment to Celebrate and to Look Forward

Since our first Festival in Milford Haven in 2000, more than 350,000 young people have stood in the spotlight with Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation. Each of them, in their own way, has been able to say, “This is my story too.”

Right now, the need for what we offer has never been greater. The arts are being pushed to the margins in education. Participation in drama at GCSE and A-Level is falling. And yet the evidence is clear: drama is not an ‘extra’. It is essential to developing oracy and literacy. Essential to engagement, especially for those at risk of exclusion. And essential to mental health, wellbeing, and belonging.

That’s why we’re proud to launch our new strategy, All the World’s Our Stage, which sets out a bold vision for the next chapter.

Our Vision

Our strategy was co-created with our community – teachers, theatre partners, school leaders, and young people themselves – and its message is simple: every child, whatever their background, deserves access to creative opportunity.

Over the next five years we will:

🎭 Reach 25,000 young people in the next 25 months

🎭 Expand our work with children facing disadvantage — including pupils with SEND, those in care, and those in underserved areas

🎭 Invest in the teachers who make this possible, through new training, networks and creative CPD

We are ready to grow — and we’re inviting everyone to join us.

• If you're a policymaker, come and see the work in action. Attend a performance in your constituency. Help us keep cultural education on the agenda.
• If you're an educator, become a Shakespeare School. Let us collaborate with you to bring joyful, high-quality drama to your pupils.
• If you're a prospective supporter, your gift could place a child on a professional stage.
  Donate now.

Find Out More

You can explore our full strategy and watch the short film we premiered at the event on our website:

👉 Read All the World’s Our Stage and watch the film here

Thank You

This unforgettable evening would not have been possible without the generosity and enthusiasm of so many. We’re deeply grateful to our host, Manuela Perteghella MP and the Shakespeare APPG, and to every contributor who brought the strategy to life: our performers, speakers, alumni, teachers, trustees, and Youth Board.