Book Reviews

Recommended books on primary and secondary drama, directing, Shakespeare and more

Featured Articles

In-depth articles, tips and tricks

Drama Videos

A selection of drama videos for all age groups.

Featured Articles

12 Tips for Learning Lines

12 Tips for Learning Lines
Learning lines for plays or speeches is not always easy - here are twelve tips to help!

3D Living Pictures

3D Living Pictures
Bring pictures to life through freeze frames, thought tracking and improvisation.

Anti-Bullying Drama Unit

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Using drama to explore bullying issues, giving pupils the opportunity to try out anti-bullying strategies.

Books on Drama for Language Teaching and Learning

Books on Drama for Language Teaching and Learning
Recommended books on teaching and learning language through drama games and activities.

Bringing Fairy Tales to Life through Drama

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Ways to develop fairy and folk tales into rehearsed performances, improvisations, tableaux and oral storytelling.

Commedia dell’arte Drama Unit

Commedia dell'arte Drama Unit
Commedia dell’arte began in the marketplaces of 16th-century Europe as improvised theatre which was rude, funny and satirical.

Devising Theatre

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Devising Theatre - links, exercises, practitioners and inspirational quotes

Dorothy Heathcote – Pioneer of Educational Drama

Dorothy Heathcote - Drama Pioneer
The ethos of drama in education today owes an enormous debt to the inspiration of one woman - Dorothy Heathcote

Drama Across the Curriculum

Drama Across the Curriculum
Drama strategies can be used as everyday teaching tools for a wide range of subjects. (Extract from 'Learning Through Drama

Drama for Language Teaching

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Drama is an effective way of helping students to learn languages including English as a Foreign Language (EFL), as it uses

Drama For Writing

Drama For Writing
Drama can provide children with a meaningful purpose for writing. (Extract from 'Learning Through Drama in the Primary Years').

Drop Of A Hat by David Farmer – Review January 2022

Drop Of A Hat by David Farmer - Review January 2022
Review: "...a useful and helpful book for primary practitioners."

Forkbeard Fantasy – Multimedia Theatre of the Absurd – 1

Forkbeard Fantasy - Multimedia Theatre of the Absurd - 1
Key theory, ideas and practices Forkbeard Fantasy are pioneers of cross-artform multimedia theatre. Their subversive performances are a seemingly anarchic

Forkbeard Fantasy – Multimedia Theatre of the Absurd – 2

Forkbeard Fantasy - Multimedia Theatre of the Absurd - 2
Key productions Forkbeard Fantasy have produced dozens of shows ranging from On An Uncertain Insect  to The Barbers of Surreal, The

Forkbeard Fantasy – Multimedia Theatre of the Absurd – 3

Forkbeard Fantasy - Multimedia Theatre of the Absurd - 3
Practical exercises exploring the Forkbeard approach Through the Looking Glass To explain Forkbeard's extraordinary melding of film and live performance,

Forkbeard Fantasy – Multimedia Theatre of the Absurd – 4

Forkbeard Fantasy - Multimedia Theatre of the Absurd - 4
Educational programme Forkbeard Fantasy run regular workshops and residencies as an integral part of their artistic programme. Courses range from

Keeping Control in the Drama Lesson

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Classroom Management for Drama Lessons The challenge of managing the classroom during drama could be why some teachers are reluctant

Key Stage 1 Drama Lesson Ideas

Key Stage 1 Drama Lesson Ideas
A dozen fabulous ideas and helpful books for teaching drama at key stage one.

Key Stage 2 Drama Lesson Ideas

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Ten brilliant ideas and worthwhile books for teaching drama at key stage two.

Music for Drama Workshops

Music for Drama Workshops
A playlist of music for drama workshops, rehearsal or performance, including warm-ups, movement pieces and atmospherics.

My Favourite Drama Teaching Books

My Favourite Drama Teaching Books
These books are ideal for practical ideas to use right away. The first two cover secondary as well as primary

Non-Verbal Communication

Non-Verbal Communication
Discussion and activities exploring the power of non-verbal communication

Plays for Children

A selection of plays by Alison Chaplin
In this interview Alison Chaplin talks to David Farmer about her plays for children and how she got into writing

Podcasts and Webinars with David Farmer

Podcasts and Webinars with David Farmer
Podcasts and Webinars about drama teaching featuring David Farmer

Seven Levels of Tension

Seven Levels of Tension
An approach to acting that enables performers to explore different levels of tension.

Shortened Shakespeare

Shortened Shakespeare
Recommended shortened versions of Shakespeare playscripts for children and young people to perform.

Story Books for Drama Teaching

Tales of Wisdom and Wonder by Hugh Lupton
Stories can provide the launch pad for a one-off drama session or several weeks of work. Drama strategies can be drawn

Teaching Gold Mining in New Zealand through Drama

Teaching Gold Mining in New Zealand through Drama
These five incredibly simple methods for drama teaching inspired a teacher in New Zealand to bring to life her social

Teaching Literacy Through Drama

Teaching Literacy Through Drama
Drama is a close ally in the development of literacy, especially speaking and listening.

The Tiger Child Drama Unit

The Tiger Child Drama Unit
A range of drama and storytelling activities based on a traditional Indian folk-tale for KS1 and reception.

TheatrED Buenos Aires

TheatrED Buenos Aires
The second TheatrEd Theatre in Education Congress took place at the Pablo Picasso Theatre in Buenos Aires in May 2018.

Top 5 Books for Teaching Shakespeare to Children and Young People

Top 5 Books for Teaching Shakespeare to Children and Young People
These days Shakespeare can be taught to children and young people in very exciting and active ways - and there

What Are Drama Games?

What Are Drama Games?
Children's natural tendency towards make-believe play can be utilised at school through structured play and drama.

Whoosh! Bringing Stories Alive through Drama

Whoosh activity: Teaching Shakespeare | Royal Shakespeare Company
An interactive technique in which participants become characters and objects in a story as it is told.

Why Teach Drama to Primary School Children?

Why Teach Drama to Primary School Children?
Children's natural tendency towards make-believe play can be utilised at school through structured play and drama.

Book Reviews

100 Acting Exercises for 8-18 Year Olds by Samantha Marsden

100 Acting Exercises for 8-18 Year Olds by Samantha Marsden

Samantha Marsden provides a practical tour through the leading approaches to acting used on the stage today.
100 Great Plays for Women

100 Great Plays for Women

An introduction to 100 varied plays for female casts with synopsis, cast breakdown and a short essay about each play.
101 Drama Games and Activities

101 Drama Games and Activities

A collection of highly effective games and exercises suitable for children, young people and adults.
101 More Drama Games and Activities

101 More Drama Games and Activities

Inspirational games and exercises suitable for drama lessons and workshops as well as during rehearsal and devising periods.
A Beginner's Guide to Devising Theatre by Jess Thorpe and Tashi Gore

A Beginner’s Guide to Devising Theatre by Jess Thorpe and Tashi Gore

An inspiring guidebook for planning to produce contemporary devised work with young people (or adults).
A Midsummer Night's Dream - Globe Education

A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Globe Education

Another brilliant volume from Globe Education which is perfect for students at Key Stage 3 and 4.
A Practical Guide to Ensemble Devising

A Practical Guide to Ensemble Devising

A thorough and practical guide to the making of ensemble collaborative performance.
A Practical Guide to Shakespeare for the Primary School

A Practical Guide to Shakespeare for the Primary School

A highly practical and original approach to exploring Shakespeare with primary-aged children.