One forum many voices
National Drama, the UK’s leading professional association for drama teachers and theatre educators, is dedicated to ensuring that all children and young people have the opportunity to learn about and through drama. National Drama is also dedicated to the development, promotion and support of Drama and Theatre both in the UK and Internationally. We are an open and inclusive organisation – One Forum: Many Voices – and we positively welcome as members all those who are interested in drama and theatre in learning contexts whether in the UK or beyond.
New Year, New Challenges
As we head into 2021, and the third national lockdown, please remember that National Drama is here for you. Over on social media platforms we have lots of links to resources to help support remote learning and to inspire you in your teaching and drama work.
We are developing our new website and member offer, so watch this space as this new site expands. Shortly you will be able to access resources, news, events, and member-only benefits all in one place. Please keep in touch with National Drama and let us know how you are supporting our young people during this time, and we will share and promote your work. If you aren’t a member, join National Drama for exclusive member benefits and insights. Take care, and be kind to yourselves.
News
Help shape the future of digital education
Calling all teachers - National Drama and C&T need your ideas about the future of technology in the classroom.
ND Response to State Secretary Gavin Williamson’s Proposal to Slash Higher Education Funding to Performing Arts and C1.2 Subjects
National Drama is appalled by and extremely critical of the government’s latest proposal to halve funding to drama, music and creative academic subjects at higher education level.
Patron Jessica Hynes visits Drama students via Zoom – A visiting industry specialist and what it does to morale
Last month, Drama students at The Stonehenge School were lucky enough to have a Zoom visit with ND Patron, actor Jessica Hynes.
National Drama are presenting at the ASPIRE: The Power of the Arts to Transform Learners’ Lives Conference
National Drama are thrilled to be presenting a session at the ASPIRE conference - An international, online festival of education to promote the power of the Arts to inspire, unite, cheer, challenge and heal.
Mitchell’s Wings
The author of Mitchell's Wings, Johnny Carrington, whose book was reviewed in the recent issue of Drama magazine, has offered a 10% discount for members on sales of the book.
NEW CPD event – Free Q&A with Matthew Nichols
Booking is now open for National Drama's next secondary Drama CPD event, which is free for members and non-members- A Q&A with Drama education specialist and author, Matthew Nichols, Saturday 13th February, 10-11am.
National Drama Response: Review of Post-16 Qualifications at Level 3
Read National Drama's response to the Post-16 Qualifications at Level 3 Consultation here. We also encourage all members to submit their own response to the consultation, further information and links can be found here.
National Theatre Drama Teacher Conference
National Drama have submitted questions for the Performing in a Pandemic Panel at the NT Drama Teacher Conference, which will be held online 15-20th February 2021.
Philip Taylor: 1959 – 2020
Philip Taylor died on June 19, 2020, aged 60. Passionate about his work, Philip supported his colleagues just as he had been well nourished by his encouraging teachers.
Aine Lark
It is with a heavy and sad heart that I write to inform members, friends, patrons and Drama and Education people that Aine Lark, our ND Chair, has died. Our thoughts and loving condolences are with her husband Al, her family in Belfast and beyond, and her many friends and colleagues.
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Resources and links to assist with distance learning
Learning Resources
The Paper Birds
Theatre creativity cards
Bitesize Playwriting
Bitesize Playwriting is a new initiative and competition for schools from touring theatre company Tamasha, intended to support secondary school Drama teachers continue to teach their subject during the coronavirus lockdown.
Kiln Theatre
Kiln Insight is a programme of ways for you to keep in touch, learn more about, and get involved with Kiln Theatre's artistic output. From exclusive interviews, webinars and filmed content, there’s something for everyone.
Vamos Theatre
To help anyone who needs it, we've been working hard to create new resources for teachers, students, mask actors and anyone else interested in mask theatre. These short films show you how mask acting works, and are great fun too!
Blue Elephant Theatre
While we're in lockdown again, Blue Elephant Theatre is bringing more free drama workshops, especially aimed at primary school-age children, to brighten up the week.
Frantic Assembly
Frantic Digital is a new resource designed to take you behind the scenes of the Frantic Method; sharing insights into the creative and rehearsal process, practical creative tasks and fun, production related warm ups that can all be safely tried at home.
Drama Resource
David Farmer inspires, motivates and educates teachers about the power of drama to transform learning.
Mental Health Resources
Get into Theatre highlight some companies, charities and websites that offer support around mental health aimed at those working in the theatre and performing arts industry.
The Bigger Room Project
Free Monthly events via Zoom and Facebook featuring Industry Leaders - from the UK and the wider world - giving Masterclasses.
Education Resource Packs
We’ve made all our School’s Resource Packs from previous productions available to be downloaded online for use by teachers and home-schooling parents.
N-Act theatre company
N-Act Online was developed during lockdown to provide high quality productions and resources for schools. Here you can find links to videos and PDF documents to help you teach both online, and in a socially-distanced classroom.
Fourth Wall: Playwrights in Lockdown
Dan Rebellato has set up a series of interviews via Zoom with British playwrights to talk about their art, their craft, and their plays. There's plenty here for anyone who wants to understand these writers better or is looking for inspiration on how to write a play.
'Rediscovering Alice' - suitable for KS2+
Playscript by David Lawson Lean. Trialled in school since lockdown, it is possible to work with this creatively and safely. Lesson ideas provided also.
Scheme of Learning by Ryan Coates
Inspired by the work of John O'Toole (Dramawise). Students will learn about the fundamental dramatic elements required for any performance.
Burts Drama
Burts Drama for online learning – lots of accessible ideas for lessons.
Theatre Resources for Isolation
Theatre Resources for Isolation – lots of links to online resources complied by Ollie Jones from University of York.
Drama Magazine
Drama is National Drama’s magazine of professional practice, ISSN 0967-4454. Published twice a year, this hard copy, print publication contains a wealth of features and articles for and by drama teachers and theatre educators in many contexts within the UK and overseas.
Content focuses on practical teaching experiences and projects drawn from across educational contexts and includes classroom materials, schemes of work, interviews and reviews of books and other resources.
Spring 2021 issue
In this issue:
Holding onto the Happy Place
- Drama Matters: Paper Birds
- Young Voices
- Pilot Theatre
- In Memoriam: Dr. Philip Taylor
- Kumarjeev
- Drama Matters: Embodying Textual Analysis
- In Memoriam: Áine Lark
- Drama Resources Pullout No 3
- Visiting Storyland
- Looking Back in Fondness at Manchester Youth Theatre
- #TuneUpTuesday
- Theatre Reviews: The Mad Hatters Tea Party / Billy Elliot
- Book Reviews
International Journal of Drama in Education
An innovative international refereed e journal that provides a forum for practitioners and researchers across the spectrum of drama in educational settings. We encourage, gather and publish research-based articles from established and new writers to promote knowledge, understanding and dialogue about drama in learning contexts.
Join National Drama or log in to view the latest issue and access our entire archive.
Vol 11 No.1: April 2020
At this time of national ‘lock down’ during the coronavirus pandemic, when the similarities to prison life resonate most strongly, it is entirely fortuitous that this issue of Drama Research publishes two articles whose focus of study is the use of Drama and Theatre with inmates in prisons: one in the UK and one in the USA.
Articles:
- ‘Action is Eloquence’: Making Space for Shakespeare at HMP Gartree
- Applying Commedia dell’Arte
- ‘But I knew better’: Permeating the Correlationist Membrane in the Drama Classroom
- Creating Community Resilience: Theatre for Young Audiences and the Mental Health Crisis
- Mantle of the Expert 2.0: from drama in education towards education in drama
- No More Thoughts and Prayers: What the Performance of Youth Protest in Real-World and Online Communities Might Tell Us About the Future of Theatre with Young People in the United States of America.
- The improvement of critical thinking through Drama Education for students in the fifth grade of Primary school