About Us
Living Learning is a company that devises and produces interactive and instructive theatre for primary and secondary schools. Since its inception, it has established an excellent reputation for the vibrant and challenging workshops it offers in Mathematics and Classics, which are designed to lift subjects off the page and out of their classroom dimensions. The company has toured extensively in schools in Oxfordshire and London, and now enjoys a growing presence throughout the South East.
The company’s Living Classics workshops have ranged from examining A-Level texts with Classical Civilisation A-Level students, looking at the epic stories of The Battles of Thermopylae and Troy with Year 8 pupils, to introducing the ancient world of myths and legends through Theseus and the Minotaur with Years 3,4 and 5. It is currently running two workshops: ‘Telling Tall Stories’ for primary schools, and ‘Athene Nike’ for secondary schools.
In November 2006 the company also launched Living Maths. These workshops take the form of an interactive plays, which can only reach their conclusion through the students completing mathematical tasks. Their current workshop, ‘Love in the Air,’ is designed for secondary schools, and can be adapted to suit the needs of different groups.
Living Learning was created by Richard Darbourne and Paul O’Mahony. They both graduated from Oxford in 2003, and since then have worked and performed extensively in theatre throughout the UK, Japan, Hong Kong and India. Their work has included performances with The Royal Shakespeare Company, The Orange Tree, Arcola, Battersea Arts Centre and English Touring Opera.
“An exciting idea and one which engages its audience and speaks to them in their own language. Sparkling dialogue with wit and humour help create the climate for mathematical engagement and insight into the history of mathematics. It promotes intellectual curiosity and introduces the challenges of the subject through entertaining, interactive drama - I strongly recommend all schools to snap this up.
- Chair of Examiners, GCSE Mathematics, 2007.
“We believe it is the responsibility of theatre makers to encourage the active involvement, understanding and enjoyment of young people in the medium, as a means both to enrich their development and to strengthen the presence of theatre in as many lives as possible.”
