Published: 11 Dec 2025
We welcomed 1169 young people from 33 schools and alternative provisions across 20 London boroughs and beyond…
On 21 November 2025, in partnership with Sonia Friedman Productions, we hosted an Education Matinee of Stranger Things: The First Shadow in the West End…
Our Education Matinees are designed to enable young people to enjoy their first theatrical experience surrounded by their peers, in a safe and joyous environment.
We focussed on getting tickets to state secondary schools and pupil referral units with high pupil premium, as for many the budget for theatre trips is not there.
With stunning special effects Stranger Things: The First Shadow, is a play that truly celebrates the magic of live performance, igniting excitement and enthusiasm for theatre!
As well as booking the whole auditorium on the 21 November, we also had 100 seats allocated for the 28 November and 12 December, due to such high demand (we sold out in an hour!)
Go Live (with support of the production team) were able to offer tickets for £10 across the auditorium.
41% average Pupil Premium across the schools that attended (national average 28%)
46% of the pupils that attended had English as an Additional Language (EAL)
73% of the pupils that attended are from a Global Majority background
42% of the pupils attended the theatre for the first time
100% of the pupils expressed an interest in returning to the theatre again
Watch our video to hear from the cast of Stranger Things about what it means to perform in front of so many young people!
Student feedback showed how remarkable the production was at sparking enthusiasm for live theatre:
‘Absolutely mind-blowing! The special effects were insane – I’ve never seen anything like it on stage. It felt like the Upside Down was right there in the theatre!’
‘I thought it might be boring ‘cause it’s a play, but nope—it was awesome. Loads of action and the story made sense even if you’ve only seen the show.’
‘This show was epic! The monsters looked so real, I actually jumped out of my seat. Felt like I was inside Stranger Things for real.’
Teacher satisfaction reached a phenomenal high with 100% reporting the Education Matinee met or exceeded their expectations, and with 100% of pupils wanting to return to the theatre, it is clear that this experience has inspired a future generation of theatre audiences. Testimonials from teachers acknowledged the success in getting young people who might never otherwise go to the theatre into West End productions:
‘This was a fantastic opportunity for our students to access a good-quality theatre production. The students we took are studying drama at GCSE, and being able to witness such a high-tech production has raised aspirations and enabled them to see the value in their studies. This opportunity has also allowed these students to form lifelong memories, as well as an appreciation for the arts, which we hope they will take into the future.’
‘The opportunity to take our students to the west end was priceless. Hearing the students audible gasps and seeing their faces light up reminds us of why we do it! Go live is offering unforgettable experiences to students and schools and we are forever grateful.’
‘The audience response was electric, it felt like a very special moment. The students were spell bound by the production.’
To hear the wonderful audience reaction watch our video of the curtain call here:
Huge thanks to all the cast and creatives, Sonia Friedman Productions and the Phoenix theatre team for working with us to create this incredible experience!
Accessible and inclusive programmes like this are just not possible without your support.
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