The organisation began life in 1986 as Language Alive! - a one person project working with 12 schools in Balsall Heath using drama to develop language and literacy. As Language Alive! developed across the city and into new areas such as health education with Catalyst Theatre a new structure was needed to support their growth and The Play House was formed as the registered charity of which they are both key parts.

We are based at a specially created studio space – also called The Play House - at Percy Shurmer Primary School in Sparkbrook, an inner city ward of Birmingham.

Our vision for The Play House is that it becomes a centre of excellence for drama and theatre in education, whose ideas and practice resonates regionally, nationally and internationally. The company has come a long way from its roots as a language development project but it still holds dear the same core values for engaging people in learning.

It is our aim to engage participants in an imaginative and creative process that stimulates learning within unique fictional worlds and events.

You'll see in whats on on our current programme of work.

We:

• believe all young people have creative abilities and talents
• create participatory programme for single classes or small groups
• devise programmes tailored to the needs of each group
• bring arts experiences to young and new audiences
• are committed to culturally diverse programming
• support those that work with young people to use drama in their work
• seek sustainable relationships with young people, schools and other partners