Clients

Brentwood Extended Services first came into contact with HENs Theatre Company back in May 2008. They organised a High School Musical workshop, which has proven to be extremely popular. To this date nearly 300 children of Brentwood have attended similar High School Musical events some of which have done it more than once!

Following on from those popular workshops they have also run a Pantomime workshop at Christmas and throughout this summer we had Harry Potter workshops, both of which were extremely popular. As well as lots of arts and crafts things the children are encouraged to sing, dance and play lots of games. We hand out evaluation forms at the end of each session and one of the questions is `Would you like to do it again?’ and the answer is always a resounding YES!

I can guarantee that if I organised another holiday activity with HENs Theatre Company then it always be very popular. I usually have a waiting list for these activities!’

Susan Lilley
Extended Services Project Worker, Brentwood

Brentwood Borough Council worked with HENs to develop a media and film course for young people in need of social, emotional and behavioural development. Ufilm was run for 6 weeks in Jan 2009 and I am pleased to say the company developed the project extremely well to suit the needs of the participants, and every young person taking part gained a number of skills, exploring young people’s issues and creating a short film to explore this.

HENs also worked to accredit each young person with a City and Guildhall Arts Award. I am pleased to say that Brentwood Council were so pleased with HENs’ delivery of the project, that we will be working in partnership again this coming January.’

Lucy Gill
Culture, Community and Youth Development Officer, Brentwood

Ufilm - This totally unique project was delivered in January 2009 over 12 after-school sessions in 6 weeks. It enabled a large group of teenagers to express their concerns and issues through film and resulted in 3 separate movies being made. HENs developed and delivered every aspect of this project, from initial trust building with 20+ teenagers who had been referred to the project by local secondary schools to passporting the necessary skills and techniques that young film makers need as well as providing a large number of industry professionals to work with the youngsters. This large group formed smaller working units who scripted, acted in and helped edit the finished product. The project resulted in a red carpet premiere which their families and friends attended to see the finished products and to hear from the young people themselves what they had gained from the experience.

Ufilm was so successful it has been commissioned again by the Brentwood Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnership and the sequel will be delivered in January 2010.

Eric Smith
Community Safety & Cultural Services Manager, Brentwood Borough Council

I commissioned HENs to develop a forum theatre production to tour local secondary schools which would raise awareness of the dangers to young people from binge drinking. They used a real life story as the basis for this piece and also worked in tandem with a local charity ‘Alcohelp’ to deliver training to PSHE staff. The performance was aimed at Year 9 pupils as at this age most young people have not developed dependency on alcohol but are subject to massive peer pressure to ‘dabble’ or experiment. Hundreds of 13 year olds in Brentwood and Basildon schools attended performances and the feedback from them and their teachers showed what impact HENs had. A special professionals performance also received high praise from colleagues in the PCTs, Social Care and Police.

I would recommend HENs Theatre Company productions without hesitation – they are totally professional, flexible and very skilled in delivering bespoke packages for commissioners.

Eric Smith
Community Safety & Cultural Services Manager, Brentwood Borough Council

We have worked with HENs Theatre company on a variety of projects and have always found them to be thoroughly professional, but at the same time the children and young people thoroughly enjoy themselves whilst learning. They have devised plays to meet requests (‘I can see clearly now’, smoking cessation) and are willing to adapt to fit the requirements of the schools in which they are working. It is always a pleasure to work with HENS.

Maureen Miller
Co-ordinator, SchoolsPlus Extended Schools Consortium, Watford

HENs Theatre Company are a very professional, organised, reliable company. They are timely and quick in their response to any queries. Very positive feedback from the schools. Kids comments include 'fantastic,' 'brilliant,' 'great fun people and I really enjoyed it', 'you were the best performers I have ever seen!' Teachers comments include 'enjoyable script with fun characters and the children learned and were involved' The Disney and Harry Potter workshops were very well attended and popular.

Chris James
Extended Schools Co-ordinator, Potters Bar