Wales Millennium Centre Trip – A Transformative Four Days
Over four incredible days, students from Harris Academy Peckham took part in an enriching and unforgettable residential experience at the Wales Millennium Centre (WMC) in Cardiff.
This opportunity provided students with professional performance experience, industry insight, and the chance to develop both their creative and personal skills.
Day 1 – Journey and team-building
Students departed early from school, travelling to Cardiff where they checked into their accommodation at the Urdd centre. After settling in and enjoying dinner, the group headed out for a fun evening of bowling. This provided a fantastic opportunity for students to bond, relax, and build team spirit ahead of the busy days to come.
Day 2 – Rehearsals and creative development
The second day marked the start of intensive rehearsal work. Students met other participating groups before taking part in individual and group rehearsals, refining their performances with increasing confidence and professionalism.
The day culminated in technical and dress rehearsals, where students experienced working with professional lighting, sound, and staging. In the evening, they attended a photography exhibition, broadening their understanding of the creative arts beyond performance.
Day 3 – Performance and industry experience
This was the highlight of the trip. Students completed their final technical run before taking to the stage to perform as part of the Next Up Academy programme. Their performances demonstrated exceptional commitment, creativity, and growth.
Following the performance, students engaged in a Q&A session where they responded to questions from the audience with maturity, confidence, and thoughtful insight. The day continued with interactive activities and concluded with watching the powerful production Girl-Coded, followed by a cast Q&A and student evaluations.
The evening ended on a high with a celebratory silent disco, recognising all that had been achieved.
Day 4 – Skills, careers and reflection
On the final day, students took part in a warm-up and skills-sharing workshop led by Mountview students, further developing their performance techniques. This was followed by a Career Carousel, where students explored different pathways within the creative industries, helping to inspire future aspirations.
After lunch, students began their journey back to Peckham, reflecting on what had been an inspiring and memorable experience.
A lasting impact - confidence, collaboration, and aspiration
This trip was not only about performance, but about confidence, collaboration, and aspiration. Students represented the school exceptionally well and embraced every opportunity given to them.
From rehearsals to performance, workshops to professional discussions, this experience has undoubtedly raised ambitions and deepened students’ understanding of the arts industry.
A massive thank you also goes to the Mountview staff and MA students for helping to create this connection with the Wales Millennium Centre. A truly heartfelt thank you goes to the incredible team at WMC for their continued partnership and generosity in providing our students with such inspiring, high-quality opportunities. These experiences are genuinely transformative, leaving a lasting impact on our students’ confidence, creativity, and future aspirations.