Play Sessions 2025
From January to April 2025, 60 Year 8 students (aged 12–13) from Harris Academy Peckham and Charter East Dulwich participated in 10 creative play sessions designed to inspire self-expression through poetry, prose, and scriptwriting. Led by a team of inspiring creatives of colour – writers, artists and educators – students explored the central theme: “Imagine one day, 50 years from now.”
Prior to the workshops, students from Harris Academy Peckham selected topics they felt passionate about. These themes shaped each session and were brought to life by the following facilitators:
Belinda Zhawi
Theme: Food
A Zimbabwean-born writer, educator, and sound artist based in London, Belinda’s work explores Afro-diasporic narratives and the intersection of art and education. As the 2016/17 Associate Poet at the Institute of Contemporary Arts and co-founder of the literary platform BORN::FREE, she brings a rich blend of poetic and sonic experimentation to her sessions.
DD Armstrong
Theme: Hobbies
DD Armstrong is an author, playwright, and educator. His novel Ugly Dogs Don’t Cry reimagines Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men in a contemporary West London setting. He is passionate about storytelling and its role in personal development, and has taught creative writing in prisons across the UK and the US.
Ramsey Hassan (RAMZEE)
Theme: Aspirations
RAMZEE is a London-based writer and illustrator who has worked with 2000AD and Marvel. He focuses on telling stories about underrepresented characters and has been recognized with several awards in the comics industry. He is the author of the series The Cheat Codes.
Hawa Khan
Theme: Family and Home
Hawa Khan is a theatre-maker and youth arts facilitator. She specialises in creating inclusive spaces for young people to explore narratives around family, identity, and belonging through performance and storytelling.
Coral Wylie
Theme: Green Spaces
Coral Wylie is a writer, theatre maker, and wildlife educator from West London. Their work bridges science and art, engaging communities in conversations about nature, sustainability, and urban green spaces, using poetry and creativity as a tool for environmental awareness and change.
Each brought their unique creative practice to the sessions, empowering students to express their ideas, explore social issues, and imagine bold futures. Through these diverse perspectives, students developed their voices as writers and thinkers while engaging with meaningful social themes. Sessions took place at their school, Theatre Peckham, and Canada Water Library Theatre—inviting students to explore familiar and new cultural spaces.
Following the workshops, students collaborated with theatre makers Montel Douglas and Deviniat Adedibu to devise a final sharing. Drawing from their Play sessions, students shared their visions for the future in a showcase at Canada Water Theatre—celebrating their growth, imagination, and creativity.
