Impact Report 2022

11 IMPACT REPORT

2. The North Wall and the OX2 Collective

The North Wall Arts Centre was established by the School with the express aim of creating a shared space – for the School and the community. Its public programme is highly acclaimed and The North Wall Trust further supports the School’s mission to educate and to inspire by running innovative ArtsLab residencies, making use of our empty boarding accommodation during the holidays. The North Wall Trust was established in 2012 with the School as its principal sponsor. An example of one of our many joint projects is OX2 Collective, a youth theatre comprising of pupils aged 13 to 17 from The Swan School and Cheney School together with home schooled pupils and pupils from St Edward’s, who all worked towards a production of The Ramayana Reset by Ayeesha Menon, which was performed at The North Wall as part of The National Theatre Connections Festival in April 2022.

The project had a positive impact on all the young people involved, from forming friendships with other young people in Oxford and sharing experiences with each other, to developing confidence in leadership roles and skills in performance. Everybody involved benefitted hugely and they continue to be proud of their achievements. THE COMPANY IS MADE UP OF 17 YOUNG PEOPLE OF VARYING AGES AND HAS TWO DIRECTORS. THIS IS THEIR FIRST TIME WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS PROJECT AS THEY ARE A NEW COLLECTIVE. NOT THAT YOU WOULD KNOW THAT FROM WATCHING THEM AS THEY SEEM VERY IN TUNE WITH EACH OTHER AND WORK BRILLIANTLY AS A TEAM. STEPHANIE KEMPSON NATIONAL THEATRE CONNECTIONS MENTOR DIRECTOR

IT WAS A WONDERFUL SHOW AND I THINK IT WAS REALLY GOOD FOR ISOBEL TO DEVELOP HER SELF-CONFIDENCE. THANKS SO MUCH TO ABIE AND KAT FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOU PUT IN AND THE

ENCOURAGEMENT YOU GAVE TO THE PERFORMERS. PARENT