London 3 TAPS Perspectives

Students experience two live theatre productions and actively unpack what they observe through guided reflection and dialogue. Ideas explored on stage serve as reference points in TAPS workshops and continue to shape students’ thinking when they return to their own classrooms.

PRODUCTION 1

Performance Title: The Nature of Forgetting

Venue/Theatre: Hackney Empire, London

Date and times: Thursday 8 October 2026 / 7:30 PM

Description: Tom is living with young-onset dementia. We meet him as he prepares for his 55th birthday party and past memories come flooding back.

Following more than 200 performances worldwide, Theatre Re brings its explosive, powerful and joyous piece about what is left when memory is gone back to London for its landmark 10th Anniversary Season, opening this UK and international tour.

Developed with Neuroscience Professor Kate Jeffery and the Alzheimer's Society, The Nature of Forgetting combines original live music with striking visual performance to create deeply moving, non-verbal theatre about universal human challenges and the fragility of life. The performance will be BSL interpreted by Anna Kitson.

Link to website

PRODUCTION 2

Performance Title: Darkling

Venue/Theatre: Bush Theatre, London

Date and times: Friday 9 October 2026 / 7:30 PM

Description: I walk home. The skyline is changed. The skeleton is fast becoming a huge metal creature. They have built a behemoth here.

Bhopal, India, 1984. Born under a blue sky in a city of lakes, a girl grows up with her father and sister, always together. But as a giant factory rises over the town, the land begins to change — and one night tears everything apart.

Written by Titas Halder and directed by Matthew Xia (Artistic Director of Actors Touring Company), this ferocious new play explores the human fallout of the real 1984 Bhopal gas disaster, in which a leak of methyl isocyanate from a pesticide plant killed an estimated 20,000 people. A Bush Theatre and Actors Touring Company co-production.

Link to website

Content warnings / self-care guide (Bush Theatre)

At every TAPS Perspectives event, students work with a carefully selected team of professional theatre artists whose practices connect directly to the core components of the IB DP Theatre course.

These artists are chosen not only for the quality of their work but also for how they collaborate with young people and share their creative processes.

Each event features a different combination of artists, making every TAPS Perspectives experience unique.

An IB DP Theatre practitioner also works with students throughout the event, helping them connect workshops, performances, and reflection to the IB DP Theatre course.

Artist and session information will be shared in the e-programme.

Educator Workshops

While students immerse themselves in TAPS, accompanying educators engage in a dedicated specialist workshop led by an expert theatre practitioner. These sessions explore a focused area of theatre practice, providing renewed artistic inspiration, deeper pedagogical understanding, and practical approaches that can enrich IB DP Theatre teaching. Workshop leader and session information will be confirmed closer to the event.

Booking secures a place at an ISTA TAPS event by estimating the number of participants and paying a deposit.

Registration finalises participant details, ensuring accurate planning for theatre tickets, catering, and transportation.

Only book spaces you are certain you can fill to prevent unnecessary reductions at registration.

Click here for a helpful guide of how ISTA’s booking and registration works

Booking

Opens: 1:00 pm UK time on Tuesday 31 March 2026.

Before booking, ensure your trip is viable by checking:

• Travel restrictions and visa requirements
• Parental approvals
• School authorisation

At the time of booking, organisations must provide:

• Total number of students
• Total number of educators
• Lead educator chaperone contact details

Please review the ISTA Event Terms & Conditions, including cancellation policies, before booking.

Deposit & Confirmation

Upon booking, you will receive an invoice for a 25% deposit based on the number of students booked. The deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable and secures your reservation. Bookings are fully confirmed once the deposit is received within 30 days.

Bookings are made through an ISTA website account. Your booking confirmation and registration link will appear in the profile of the person who submitted the booking. If a colleague booked on your behalf, the registration form may sit under their account.

Invoices are sent to the email address provided at the time of booking. Your place is reserved, subject to payment in line with our booking terms.

If you need to make changes to your booking, please email booking@istaglobal.org.

Registration

Opens: 1:00 pm UK time on Tuesday 31 March 2026

Closes: 11:59 pm UK time on Monday 31 August 2026

Once registration opens, schools that have confirmed their students should register as soon as possible. All registrations must be completed by Monday 31 August 2026 to finalise event logistics.

At the time of registration, organisations must provide:

• Finalised participant details
• Travel information

Changes in Student Numbers

Fewer students than booked: Deposits for non-attending students are forfeited. (e.g. If you book 15 students but only 10 attend, the deposit for 5 will not be refunded.)

Additional students: A 25% deposit per added student will be invoiced.

Waitlist

If the event reaches capacity, it will be marked “Waitlist”. If you wish to be added to the waitlist:

1. Click the Waitlist button on the event page
2. Enter the requested information
3. Spaces will be offered in the order waitlist requests are received.

ISTA TAPS events follow a two-step automated payment process:

Step 1: Deposit Payment at Booking

• Upon booking, you will be required to pay a 25% deposit immediately.
• This deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable and confirms your reservation.
• Bookings will only be secured once the deposit payment is successfully processed.

All payments and cancellations are subject to ISTA Event Terms & Conditions.

Step 2: Remaining Balance Upon Registration Closure

• Once registration closes, organisations will be automatically invoiced for the remaining 75% of registration fees, plus any applicable surcharges, based on the final number of students registered.

Changes in Student Numbers

• Fewer students than booked: Deposits for students who do not attend will be forfeited. (e.g. If you book 15 students but only 10 attend, the deposit for the 5 who do not attend will not be refunded.)
• Additional students: A 25% deposit per added student will be invoiced at the time of the increase.

TAPS Schedule

• Start: 9:15 am Thursday 8 October 2026.
• End: 2:15 pm Saturday 10 October 2026.

Participants are expected to attend all sessions of the event.

Click here to explore a sample TAPS schedule.

Accommodation

All participants are responsible for booking their own accommodation in London for the duration of TAPS. We advise that you book hotels/hostels near the venue.

Arrival: Participants should plan to arrive in London by the evening of Wednesday 7 October 2026.

Departure: Participants should not plan to leave the venue before 2:15 pm on Saturday 10 October 2026.

Local Transportation

Participants will be responsible for arranging their own local transportation for this event.

Please book travel accordingly and allow for ample time to travel to and from the airport/train station.

Visa Requirements

It is the responsibility of participants/schools to ensure they have the necessary visas.

Visa applications can take time, so we strongly recommend starting the process as soon as possible.

If you require assistance or supporting documentation for your visa application, please contact the Event Manager well in advance.

Important Communication Information

ISTA business days are Monday to Friday, and we aim to respond to all emails within three business days.

ISTA staff do not monitor emails on weekends (Saturday & Sunday) or public holidays. If a staff member is working at an event, response times may be longer than usual.

Please note that meals are not included as part of this event.

Appropriate attire

Participants should bring clothing suitable for physically active workshops during the day (athletic wear, PE kit, performance blacks, etc.), as well as outfits appropriate for attending theatre performances in the evening.

Please note:

• Workshops are physically active. Participants who are not appropriately dressed may be unable to take part.
• Footwear and jewellery may need to be removed for certain sessions.
• Chewing gum is not permitted in workshop spaces.

Materials

• Any materials requested by the Workshop Leaders (printed text, notes on pre-reading/viewing activities etc.) details will be in the e-Programme
• Pens, pencils, highlighters etc. for notetaking in TAPS journals
• Refillable water bottle

E-Programme

A detailed digital programme will be shared two weeks prior to the event, outlining schedules, workshop information, artist biographies, performance details, and essential guidance to support preparation.

TAPS Perspectives Journal

Each participant receives a professionally printed TAPS Perspectives journal on Day 1. The journal supports structured reflection throughout the TAPS experience, helping students capture insights, make connections to their IB DP Theatre course, and document their creative development.