Bright Torches: Helping young people develop confidence alongside critical thinking skills
Bright Torches is a group of actors, directors, storytellers and writers who have come together, under the leadership of founder and lead practitioner Tom Davey. Their work is designed to create fun and inspiring learning experiences through lively, playful activities where young people develop confidence alongside critical thinking skills.
Their mission is to inspire and encourage individuals of all ages to 'burn bright' and engage with the world of literature through drama-based activities that support the academic, social and emotional development of young people.
They work with schools to support the teaching of Shakespeare, 19th Century novels, poetry and other set texts, and promote spoken literacy.
Bright Torches works with 3-18 year olds and their teachers, supporting spoken literacy and providing dynamic and engaging experiences inspired by their own backgrounds in theatres. Projects include:
- Key Stage 1 Storytelling helps teachers help bring a story alive using rehearsal-room inspired approaches, helping to energise literacy, oracy and raise confidence across KS1 and KS2.
- Epic Stages for Year 6 pupils
- The Merry Wanderers Transition Project to support pupils in making a smooth social and academic transition from primary to secondary school. The project ends with a whole-cohort performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream, created and rehearsed with English teachers and attended by parents, carers and others
- CPD opportunities for Primary school English teachers and trainees, and Secondary school English teachers, drama teachers and trainees.
- Bright Torches regularly runs CPD for the English and Media Centre and supports English PGCE and SCITT programmes across the UK including the UEA and University of Oxford.
Bright Torches is currently encouraging schools, MATS, transition leads, and English departments interested in their Merry Wanderers and other projects to contact them as early as possible. Benefits of early contact include:
- Early access to dates, CPD and funded opportunities
- Priority given to schools who contact them early
- Demand is expected to exceed available places
- Funded regional places from 2027 will be offered first to schools already on their list
If you'd like to book workshops, or discuss a project or CPD opportunity, or need further information, please email Tom Davey at [email protected].
