The Summer School is just one of many events and activity that take place at Riversdale nowadays. Since the complete renovation of the building in 2022 Keystone’s Katie Bird and her team have created a busy, welcoming centre where regular activities run alongside a wide variety of one-off events.
The school has now completed its second year and continues to grow. Held over one week during the summer holidays at the Riversdale Centre, the programme brings together young people, some of whom may have little or no acting skills for an intensive theatre experience. During the week, participants rehearse a full play before performing it outdoors to a paying audience at the Riversdale Centre.
The 2025 Summer School produced a fabulous performance of Alice in Wonderland, this year, 2026, we had Wind in the Willows to delight the audience. Keystone worked with Magic Floor Productions to create the piece, but so much work is done by the young actors who commit to learning and then performing in public. The whole week was organised by Katie who commented
“From learning lines and blocking scenes, to creating props, exploring characters and bringing this much-loved story to life, our young performers have thrown themselves into every single minute. We honestly couldn’t be prouder of every single one of them. They’ve worked so hard, supported one another and are creating something truly magical together.”
From fun days, fairs, afternoon teas, arts and crafts, theatrical performances, family days, and commemorative events, the Keystone Riversdale team now manage a centre full of activity and life that make full use of the beautiful Victorian building and gardens bequeathed to the people of Thetford by the Crisp family.
