On Thursday, June 19, the iconic Tyne Theatre and Opera House hosted something truly special, a talented performance by children from Primary schools across the Pele Trust. The event, titled Kaleidoscope, marked the culmination of a year-long journey exploring themes and introducing the expression of creativity to students.

Led by Year 1 teacher Paige Madderson from Ponteland Primary School, who was ably supported by colleagues from all participating schools, the Kaleidoscope project brought together children and staff from across our Trust of schools in a vibrant celebration of individuality and imagination. The performance itself was a showcase of music, art, and dance, with each contribution reflecting the children's perspectives on the world around them.

At the heart of the project was a simple but powerful idea: that creativity isn’t just an activity, it’s a way of thinking, expressing and connecting. Over the past year, pupils have explored themes such as mental health, neurodiversity and self-expression, using the Arts to communicate their thoughts, feelings and hopes.

“Kaleidoscope was more than a performance, it was a celebration of our children’s voices, talents and potential,” said Rachel Wademan, KS1 Phase Leader and English Lead at Darras Hall Primary School. “It was also a reflection of our commitment to putting a rich, inclusive Arts culture at the heart of everything we do across the Trust.”

Ponteland Primary Headteacher Claire Johnson shared her admiration for the evening:

“I had the pleasure of watching the Kaleidoscope Club’s performance at the Tyne Theatre and I have been completely blown away by the whole event! It was truly inspirational with our amazing children singing and dancing their hearts out.

The premise behind our Kaleidoscope project is to celebrate each of our differences: just as the multitude of colours in a kaleidoscope combine to create something special, so too do the differences in all of our children. Our Years 4, 5 and 6 children performed alongside their peers in the other Pele Trust primary schools, making both friends and wonderful memories”.

A huge amount of work went on behind the scenes to bring Kaleidoscope to life. Teachers and staff from across the Primary Schools in the Trust helped lead and make this event a true success. We are thankful to those who have worked tirelessly to prepare the children and create an experience they will never forget. Their combined efforts resulted in a show that was not only a triumph in performance, but also in collaboration, confidence and joy.

The evening was a huge success, not only for the quality of the performances, but for the confidence, pride and sheer joy it brought out in the children.

Some of the most memorable moments came not from the stage, but from the words of the performers themselves:

“I can’t believe the audience clapped for me!”

 “I wish I could do it again tomorrow!”

 “I’ve met people I’m going to high school with and made friends with them already.”

 “It was so fun! Can we do it again?”

 “That was incredible! There were so many people watching us—and they all cheered!”

We are incredibly proud of all the students, staff, and families who made Kaleidoscope such a memorable event. It was a reminder of what happens when young people are given the space, support and encouragement to express themselves fully, and when schools work together and introduce a creative community.

Congratulations to everyone involved!