Golden Time

(and other behavioural management strategies)

Golden Time is a UK primary school behavioural management strategy rewarding children with an hour of free leisure time at the end of the primary school week, with time deducted if they misbehave.

The show combines theatre, spoken word, creative projection and auto-fictional performance to explore how our culture manages our behaviour, productivity and creativity from childhood and imposes rigid time standards on our free time and early development. Based on my experience working with children in schools and charities, as well as my own history as an ADHD kid in the British school system, the show is both a personal and political exploration of how joy is incentivised, time is earned and the ways we can come back to our inner child.

The show debuted at the Pleasance Dome, Edinburgh fringe 2025 and has since transferred to the Roundhouse, Studio Theatre.

Written/performed by : Kate Ireland

Direction/dramaturgy: Giulia Grillo

Producer: PJ Cunningham

Lighting: Maddie Maycock

Creative captioning/video design: Emily Bold

Sound design: Jake Parry/ Sofia Armella