On Tuesday 11 July the Walton Academy theatre hosted Beatbox Live, an interactive beatboxing workshop, live streamed to over 120 primary and secondary schools across Lincolnshire. Beatbox Live is a collaboration between Lincolnshire Music Service, The Noise Academy UK and Peachy Events, featuring professional rapper Leon Rhymes, and beatboxer, Crumpets Beatbox.

For the key stage 2 event in the morning, Walton was joined by a group of year 5 students and their teachers from Barrowby Church of England Primary School. For the key stage 3 event in the afternoon, a group of year 9 students who have chosen a performing arts subject at key stage 4, and members of the Walton Choir, were invited to take part. Both events were a terrific success. Leon and Crumpets demonstrated rap and beatbox skills and taught the students how to beatbox in two styles, hip hop and drum and bass. Both events, and the set-up on Monday 10, were supported by a team of year 12 students, working as casual technicians, runners, and photographers.

This was a terrific experience for Walton students to work with a range of industry professionals. Feedback from the visiting artists and practitioners has been incredibly positive, commenting on how well looked after they all were throughout the two days they were on site. Huge thanks to Walton’s Arts Coordinator, Adam Slepowronski, for coordinating all aspects of the event, supported by our Arts Technician, Leigh Bridge, Head of Music, David Warman, and Primary Connections Lead, Cat Morton.