Latest News..

National Drama's Primary Initiative

ND Primary Initiative flyer (MAR20) WEB
National Drama has now successfully launched its campaign for Drama in Primary Schools by a series of Drama CPD courses for interested teachers in Primary Schools. There have been five CPD events so far.
Next session is on Wednesday 11th March 1.15-4.30pm at Elms Bank College Hub, Bury Old Road, Prestwich, Manchester M25 1JH.
Click the image for full details and/or right click and 'copy image' for emailing to your colleagues. Spread the word!
Fee: Only £30! Booking at Primary CPD.

New book by National Drama Member, Annie McKean

Playing for Time Theatre Company

Annie McKean, long standing ND Member, has published a new book: Playing For Time Theatre Company: Perspectives From the Prison. Annie is offering  a special discount price of £38 inc. p&p  to  National Drama Members and anyone who has accessed this offer on our website. To claim discount contact Annie at
anniemckean06@btinternet.comCover_26.1

Drama Magazine Vol 26.1
The latest issue of Drama magazine is published now. For more information about joining National Drama to receive it free with your membership go to ND Membership or to take out a paid for subscription go to Drama Magazine.

Welcome to John Godber OBE and Jane Thornton – our new Patrons

Words from our Patrons

Patrons: John Godber OBE and Jane Thornton

“Jane and I are delighted to be accepted as Patrons for National Drama and to join the legions of advocates and drama teachers who strongly believe in the power of drama in schools, not only as an educational tool, but also as a subject in its own right. Over the last forty years we have tirelessly promoted and argued for drama to be at the core of the curriculum, and not marginalised to the sidelines. Little wonder, since we are both products of the comprehensive system in the days when drama was a core subject. Further to that we both trained at the legendary Bretton Hall College, Wakefield! The brain-child of Sir Alec Clegg, a training ground for Drama Specialists. Over the last forty years apart from building a theatre for Hull Truck and writing plays, films and TV series, we have had extensive experience teaching drama in schools, colleges and Universities both here and abroad, and continue to work with fantastic drama department staff within an extraordinary school in Hull, where we live.

Welcome to Jessica Hynes – our new Patron

Jessica Hynes and drama teachers

We welcome Jessica Hynes as a new Patron of National Drama, following her impressive and heart-felt Keynote at our ‘Drama Spa’ conference. Jessica has worked prolifically in television, film and theatre but it was her very genuine understanding of the critical importance of drama in schools that resonated with every teacher in the room.

Jessica declared: “I don’t think drama should be saved. It should be compulsory!“

Read more about Jessica’s experiences when she visited 20 drama classrooms and why we welcomed her with open arms.

(Ref: ‘Reflections from the Chair’ / DRAMA 24.2)

About National Drama

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.

Learning through drama is a natural human process – our brains are ‘wired’ for it.  We recognise it as a powerful pedagogy and a creative process that provides a compelling means of exploration, expression and making meaning. Through it we learn what it is to be a human being.

National Drama is 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: see our Membership page.

We believe that teachers need to be learning themselves, practically and theoretically – and this is why National Drama arranges high quality Drama and Theatre Conferences and Events and Publications to support Drama practice. Visit our CPD site at ND CPD; our Magazine site at Drama Magazine; our Research Journal at Drama Research and our Shop site at ND Shop for other publications and back numbers of past issues of Drama magazine.

If you are interested in the same things then why not join us at Join ND? We would love to have you on board!

National Drama is a charity, registration number 1173215.

More News..

Your Students as Authors

HAVE YOU GOT DRAMA STUDENTS WHO WOULD ENJOY SEEING THEIR WORK IN PRINT? Get involved in our new Celebrate Young Drama campaign!
We want to get student voices into our magazine and website. If you have a budding actor journalist (or young technician) who can write at least 300 words on one of these four categories: -
• what they love, find terrifying, loathe, struggle with and really enjoy in Drama
• their best and worst Drama moments to date
• their ‘blue sky’ acting moment – what is their best play, role, cast and director/designer and stage?
• best experience of Live Theatre

Sound good? Do send drafts to publications@nationaldrama.org.uk with their article title, name, a picture of you and your student (s) and a bit about your school, the Head’s name, contact details, and cross your fingers! All published articles will receive the magazine and certificates for the student and for the school recognising their work and your teacher’s encouragement.
Deadline: 30th April 2020 for the July 2020 edition of Drama.

Join us ..

..and become part of a vibrant community of people who are committed to drama and the contribution it makes to the learning of children and young people; committed to the support and development of all who teach through and about drama and theatre; and who are dedicated advocates for drama as an entitlement for all, in and across the curriculum. Join here.
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