Esme Church - What can we find out about local significant people?

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Teaching idea

This resource supports the Key Stage 3 requirement to study significant local individuals whose actions, contributions, or stories have had a notable impact on their community or region. It focuses on Cultural Figures—particularly Esme Church—who enriched the local cultural landscape through their work in the arts, music, or literature.

Through various historical sources, students explore Bradford's rich theatrical heritage in the 20th century, placing the city's local contributions within a broader national and international context. By using local stories and topics, the resource aims to make history feel more real, relevant, and engaging for students.

In addition to developing enquiry skills applicable to History and across the curriculum. This resource can also support the English and Drama curriculum. Esme Church’s life and work offer an insight into how dramatists communicate their ideas through performance and how different staging choices can shape the interpretation of a play. It also strengthens Geography skills by following Esme’s time in a touring theatre group across Britain and Europe, including her work on the Western Front during World War One.

Learning aims and outcomes

• Find out who Esme Church was and why she is an important part of Bradford’s history.
• Learn how theatre and the arts in Bradford were shaped by events in Britain and around the world.
• Discover other important cultural figures in British history through Esme’s story.
• Understand how society and language have changed over time and what that means for theatre today.
• Think about why we remember certain people and places, and what that tells us about our history.

Prior knowledge

• No prior knowledge is required

Extended learning and useful links

• Esme Church Wikipedia page
• Esme Church IMDb page
• Article about Doreen Finlay who trained as an actor at The Northern Theatre School, Bradford under Esmé Church