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
New Blog Post by Steve Ball
In this month’s ND Blog, Steve Ball, co-chair of the Drama and Theatre Education Alliance (DTEA), talks about Seize The Day, a national campaign to engage politicians and school governors...
House of Lords 11-16 Enquiry and Report
Early in 2023, National Drama was invited to make a presentation to this Enquiry. We needed to respond with considerable speed to the invitation, and many of the ND executive...
New Blog Post by A. E. Abbott
In this month’s ND Blog, A. E. Abbott talks about the importance of Drama as a core subject, addressing the transformative power of Drama-Based Pedagogy in education. Through the reflections...
Read the latest issue of our Drama magazine
The new issue covers a wealth of feature and articles for drama teachers and theatre educators. ND members should have received your copy in your mailbox now. Subscriptions are available...
National Drama actively supports the continuing excellence of university PGCE Courses
Context for this Statement The re-accreditation of PGCE courses in England poses a threat to the provision of specialist drama teachers. Here is a statement from SCITED – the Standing...
National Drama’s Response to Ofqual’s Provisional Figures for Entries at GCSEs and A Levels 2023
Context for this Statement On 1 Jun 2023 Ofqual released their provisional figures regarding the number of entries for GCSE, AS and A-level qualifications in England. The data reveals a...
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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