| 1986 | Steve Ball appointed by St Paul’s Community Project in Balsall Heath to establish a one person arts project with 12 local primary schools, using drama to provide an original context for children to develop language skills. Develops into Language Alive! |
| 1987 | The project expands to work with a cluster of Northfield schools. |
| 1988 | Through ‘Section 11’ (to develop English with children who have English as Second Language) funding from the LEA, 5 teacher posts are seconded to St Paul’s and project expands to schools in Saltley |
| 1990 | Two further posts are seconded to St Paul’s and Language Alive! expands to Nechells and Ladywood, a total of 73 schools, and provides a year round services these schools. Through NSPCC support a ‘Special Project’ post created to develop health projects. An Administrator appointed. |
| 1991 | Through huge demand for health work Catalyst, a separate company is created, to provide services outside of the 73 schools |
| 1992 | Following an extended campaign the 7 teacher posts are removed from St Paul’s by the LEA. Steve Ball and one other resign from the LEA. The remaining 5 teacher/actors form Voicebox and are managed, until their demise, by the LEA. |
| 1993 | With Language Alive! facing extinction but Catalyst in regular work, the 3 remaining staff leave St Paul’s, establish a new company and through Business in the Arts plan a radical way forward, to take advantage of the new ‘contract culture’ in education and health. Two Language Alive! Teacher/Actors appointed as a result of Service Level Agreements with schools |
| 1996 | Capital Lottery Award of £181,000 to develop new premises |
| 2000 | New premises, The Play House, opens, and becomes the name of the company. Dance Alive! operates for one year. The Play House becomes Birmingham’s first Healthy Living Centre. |
| 2001 | Steve Ball leaves to join Birmingham Council as Head of Arts. Company restructured with Rob Elkington becoming Executive Director and Iain Smith Artistic Director. For Tomorrow begins a 3 year partnership with the Nigerian Popular Theatre Alliance supported by Community Fund. |
| 2002 | Rob Elkington joins Creative Partnerships, Birmingham on a part time secondment to run professional development programme. |
| 2004 | Rob Elkington leaves to join Creative Partnerships full time and Iain Smith assumes chief executive responsibilities within Artistic Director’s role. Gary Roskell assumes the new post of General Manager. |
| 2005 | Healthy Living Centre finishes its activities. The Performing Arts Cluster, funded by Creative Partnerships, begins its work. A Cluster Project co-ordinator is appointed for a year. |
| 2006 | A Head of Projects post is created to co-ordinate the various training, professional development and specialist delivery opportunities at The Play House. For Tomorrow completes its activities. General Manager’s post is upgraded to Joint CEO to prepare for Iain Smith’s departure. |
| 2007 | Gary Roskell becomes Chief Executive, and Deborah Hull becomes the company’s Artistic & Educational Director after 6 years as a teacher/actor. The Play House receives funding for Giant & Hero to tour Hong Kong and the full company to attend the IDEA Congress there. |
| 2010 | After a restructuring a new level 1 teacher/actor position is created, expanding the creative team for the first time in four years. |
