Area of Learning
Learning from the Waves of the Past: How historical changes have shaped the present and can inform the future. This festival invites students to explore how the echoes of history continue to shape the world we live in today. Through theatre, young artists will investigate the legacies of the past, uncover untold stories, and reflect on how understanding historical change can inspire more just and equitable futures.

Festival Story
‍The festival story is the central idea that inspires exploration and creative work throughout an ISTA festival. Festival story coming soon.

Cultural Experience
‍Set in the historic city of Bath, this cultural experience offers participants the opportunity to explore how the trans-Atlantic slave trade contributed to the city’s Georgian grandeur. Through guided inquiry and site-specific exploration, students will examine the intersections of wealth, architecture, and exploitation—deepening their understanding of history while fuelling artistic inquiry. More details coming soon.

ISTA Global Challenge
‍This event is part of ISTA’s season-wide theme: Waves of Change. The challenge invites young people to explore how change—personal, social, cultural, environmental, and historical—shapes our world. Through theatre, students reflect on their role in creating, responding to, and riding the waves of change in their own communities and beyond.

Booking secures your place at an ISTA festival by providing estimated participant numbers and paying a deposit. Registration finalises all participant details to support accurate planning for workshops, catering, and logistics.

Booking

• Opens: 9:00 am (UK time), Monday 5 May 2025
• Before booking, ensure your school can attend by confirming:
  
  • Travel restrictions and visa requirements
  • Parental approval
  • School authorisation
• At the time of booking, you must provide:
  
  • Estimated number of students
  • Estimated number of educators
  • Lead educator contact details

‍Deposit & Confirmation

• Once booked, you’ll receive an invoice for a 50% deposit based on student numbers. The deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable. Booking is only confirmed once the deposit is received (within 30 days). 
• Please only book spaces you are confident you can fill. 

Registration

• Opens: 9:00 am (UK time), Monday 5 May 2025
• Closes: 11:59 pm (UK time), Thursday 5 February 2025
• Once registration opens, schools with confirmed places should complete participant registration as soon as possible. You’ll need to provide final student and educator details along with confirmed travel information. 

‍Changes in Student Numbers

• Fewer students than booked? Deposits for those students are forfeited.
• Need more students? Additional spaces may be requested. A 50% deposit per added student will apply.

‍Waitlist

• If the event reaches capacity, it will be marked Waitlist. 
• To be added to the waitlist, email the Event Manager with your requested number of students and educators. Spaces will be offered in the order requests are received.

Arrival & Departure 

• Arrival to Bath: before 3:00 pm 16 April 2026
• Departure from Bath : after 2:30 pm 19 April 2026
• Participants are responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from Bath.

Transport

• Recommended Airport: London Heathrow. (Bristol airport is closer but transport from Heathrow is more straight forward)
• Nearest Train Station: Bath Spa Station
• Nearest Bus Station: Bath
• The host recommends:  from Heathrow take the National Express coach direct from the Terminal 2/3 bus station to Bath, non-stop. This is the most economical choice, however there are not a lot of buses each day, and that's a lot cheaper.
• Another option is to take the Heathrow Express into Paddington and connect to the mainline trains direct to Bath. Spa.
• Information about travelling from Bristol Airport is available on request.
• Participants will be met at the Bus/Train station and transferred to the host venue as the school is up a steep hill.

Visas

• It is the responsibility of the schools/participants to ensure they have the appropriate visas, as required.
• Please ensure that you start looking into visa requirements sooner rather than later as the process can take a significant amount of time.
• If you require assistance or additional documentation to support your visa applications please ensure to contact the event manager well in advance.

Accommodation

• Participants will be staying in boarding accommodation at Royal High School Bath.
• Students will be placed in shared rooms with shared student bathrooms.
• Teacher educators will be placed in single rooms with shared adult bathrooms.
• The school and boarding accommodation is located 1.5 miles from Bath city centre.

ISTA festivals follow a two-step automated payment process:

‍Step 1: 50% Deposit at Booking

• Upon booking, a 50% deposit is required to secure your place. This deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable.
• Bookings are only confirmed once the deposit has been successfully paid.

‍Step 2: Final Balance After Registration Closes

• After registration closes, schools will be automatically invoiced for the remaining 50% of fees, based on the final number of students registered, plus any applicable surcharges.

‍Changes in Student Numbers

• Fewer students than booked: Deposits for non-attending students will be forfeited. (e.g. If 15 students are booked but only 10 attend, the deposit for 5 students is not refunded.)
• Additional students: A 50% deposit per added student will be invoiced at the time of the increase.

Festival Schedule 

• Start: Thursday 16 April 2026  4:00 PM
• End: Sunday 19 April 2026 1:30 PM

Educator Workshops

• One theatre focused workshop for teacher chaperones
• Collaborative resource-sharing sessions

📄 E-Programmes containing detailed schedules, artist bios, and key event information will be sent to participating organisations two weeks before the event.

🍏 All meals from Thursday evening through to Sunday morning snack will be provided by the host.

Appropriate attire

• All participants must bring clothing that is suitable for physically active workshops during the day (athletic wear, PE kit, performance blacks, etc.) 

‍Please note

• Participants not dressed appropriately for physically active workshops may be asked to sit out.
• Participants may be asked to remove footwear, jewellery etc. for some workshops.
• Chewing gum is not permitted in any of the workshop spaces.

‍Materials 

• Pens, pencils, highlighters etc. for notetaking. 
• Refillable water bottle