Go Live Theatre is set to host what it calls the largest education performance ever in the UK with almost 5,000 children attending Sylvia at the Royal Albert Hall this November. The event exemplifies ongoing efforts to increase theatre access for young people.

On 13 November, the final day of the musical Sylvia’s run at the Royal Albert Hall, nearly 5,000 children and young people will attend a specially priced education matinee organised by Go Live Theatre. Tickets for the event, supported by the Garek Trust, will cost £10 as part of an initiative to improve inclusivity in the arts.

The musical tells the story of suffragette activist Sylvia Pankhurst, featuring a blend of hip hop, funk, soul, and gospel music. The production stars Beverley Knight and Sharon Rose, and is directed and choreographed by Kate Prince.

Sita McIntosh, chief executive of Go Live Theatre, described the event as the organisation’s largest education matinee to date, emphasising the lasting impact live theatre can have on young audiences. Knight, also a patron of Go Live Theatre, called the Royal Albert Hall a fitting venue for a story about courage, activism and freedom.

Eleanor Lloyd, co-producer of Sylvia, highlighted the production’s journey from the Old Vic to a UK tour and now to this unprecedented educational performance at the Royal Albert Hall. She praised Go Live Theatre’s role in transforming access to live performance for thousands of young people.

The Royal Albert Hall holds historical significance in the suffragette movement, having hosted over 20 rallies and key speeches related to women’s voting rights, although suffragettes were banned there between 1913 and 1918.

Founded in 1997 as Mousetrap Theatre Projects, Go Live Theatre has enabled more than 275,000 children and young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to attend theatre performances. Its programmes aim to encourage young people’s engagement with the arts through workshops and visits.

This event marks a milestone in educational theatre access, combining historic legacy, contemporary storytelling, and wide-reaching cultural outreach.