Free schools programme
We would love to invite Year 6 pupils in Blyth to attend an outdoor, immersive theatre performance of Salt & Smoke: Stories of Blyth
In groups of up to 15 pupils, you will follow a 1hr 30 minute walking performance around Blyth town centre, students will also have the opportunity to take part in an optional 30 minute creative workshop that will focus on character analysis, drama feedback, and community story-gathering.
When: Friday 25 September 2026 - various times between 9.30am and 3pm.
Where: Start and finish at Blyth Market Pavillion
Time required: 2 - 2hr 30 minutes approx
Cost: FREE
Register your interest
Register your interest now via this online form and we will be in touch after the summer holidays to make arrangements with you.
Educational and Curriculum Value
This school trip (performance and optional creative workshop) directly supports Key Stage 2 subjects including:
History
Local history study – the show is built entirely around Blyth's history across 500 years, which fits the KS2 requirement for pupils to study an aspect of history or a site in their own locality.
Changes in Britain / social history through time – the different characters (an 18th-century salt trader, a 19th-century architect describing the "great fire," a 1950s courting couple) give pupils a tangible sense of change over time in one place, spanning several centuries.
A significant individual/event – the sailor and Antarctic explorer character connects to the "great explorers" strand often taught in KS2, and the great fire episode offers a local case study of a significant historical event.
Geography
Map and fieldwork skills – audiences navigate the town using a map, mirroring the KS2 requirement to use maps and carry out fieldwork/observational skills in the local area.
Human geography / settlements – the show explores how Blyth's streets, market place, and public buildings have shaped and been shaped by community life, linking to human geography and place knowledge.
English
Spoken language, storytelling and drama – oral storytelling by costumed characters models narrative techniques, character voice, and spoken word performance, useful for speaking-and-listening and narrative writing objectives.
Reading for pleasure / non-fiction links – could be paired with local archive material or non-fiction texts about Blyth's history.
Art and Design
Costume, staging, and props (referenced in audience feedback) can support teaching on how design communicates historical period and character.
PSHE / Citizenship (cross-curricular)
Themes of community identity, local pride, and belonging connect well to citizenship objectives around understanding communities, though this sits outside the core National Curriculum subjects.
Students will explore how Novo Theatre build characters, tell stories and make performances in unexpected places. We’ll shed light on the many jobs within theatre and give pupils the chance to ask questions about what it’s really like to be a theatre-maker.
More information
Schools Itinerary
There will be a series of performances taking place throughout the day between 9.30am and 3pm.
Performances last approximately 1hr 30 minutes and involve a 1 mile walk around Blyth town centre, starting and finishing at Blyth Market Pavillion.
Following the performance, schools can take part in an optional Creative Workshop that will last approximately 30 minutes.
Group size: 15 pupils with your school’s recommended ratio of adults to students.
Accessiblity
The 1 mile walking route is fully wheelchair accessible. An Access Guide is available to download, and a Social Story can also be provided if this would be useful for your pupils.
Weather
This is an outdoor event and pupils will be required to wear appropriate clothing and footwear. The optional Creative Workshop will take place in an indoor location, with access to toilets and space for snacks/lunch if required.
Register your interest
Register your interest now via this online form and we will be in touch after the summer holidays to make arrangements with you.