Teaching Drama Online/Socially Distanced

In response to the challenging situation most of us are facing regarding quarantine/ return to ‘normality’ during the coronavirus crisis, a lot of teachers have been asking how to teach drama online – and socially-distanced. I am gathering together links and ideas – please contact me if you have any you would like to add!

Below are a list of articles and resources which I’m updating regularly.
Experts

Experts

Experts talk about what they know - and what they don't ...
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Page to Stage

Page to Stage

A director creates a stage picture from a book or a play and the actors bring it to life through improvisation ...
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Fruit Salad

Fruit Salad

A game of quick reactions and verbal dexterity ...
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Night Watchman

Night Watchman

The museum is closed for the night. The watchman is making his rounds. But something strange is going on ...
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Guess The Pet

Guess The Pet

A variation on the Mirror Game for younger students ...
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Pecking Order

Pecking Order

Can you work out where you stand in the pecking order? ...
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The Zoo Game

The Zoo Game

A rhythmic clapping game accompanied by animal gestures ...
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Story Orchestra

Story Orchestra

The group tells a story, with a conductor guiding the narrative ...
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Poetry in Motion

Poetry in Motion

Poetry can be explored and presented effectively through drama and movement ...
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Shoe Shuffle

Shoe Shuffle

Develop imagination and mime skills using everyday objects ...
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The Gruffalo

The Gruffalo

Drama activities for exploring and re-telling the story of The Gruffalo ...
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Daft Definitions

Daft Definitions

Put random words together to invent new concepts! Great storytelling warm-up ...
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Three Changes

Three Changes

An observation and getting to know you game - with online version ...
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Greek Gods Under Quarantine - Plays to be performed online

Greek Gods Under Quarantine – Plays to be performed online

Plays designed to be performed on Zoom ...
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Wardrobe Malfunction - Online Drama Game 🎩

Wardrobe Malfunction – Online Drama Game 🎩

A daft dressing-up game where people find out what they have in common ...
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Family Portraits - Online/Socially Distanced

Family Portraits – Online/Socially Distanced

Groups have just a few seconds to make comical family tableaux ...
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Drama Menu at a Distance: 80 Socially Distanced or Online Theatre Games by Glyn Trefor-Jones

Drama Menu at a Distance: 80 Socially Distanced or Online Theatre Games by Glyn Trefor-Jones

Drama games for socially-distanced and online teaching, carefully planned for this difficult period we are living through ...
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Teaching Drama with Social Distancing - Important Links

Teaching Drama with Social Distancing – Important Links

Up to date links with the latest advice on teaching drama and theatre during COVID-19 ...
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Throw Your Face (online version)

Throw Your Face (online version)

Throw your face - but be careful which way the wind is blowing! ...
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Mountview Live Interviews

Mountview Live Interviews

Zoom interviews with Dame Judi Dench, Kwame Kwei-Armah, Noma Dumezweni, Amanda Holden, Glenda Jackson and Stephen Daldry ...
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Giving Presents (inc Online Version)

Giving Presents (inc Online Version)

This game is all about receiving surprises and about the things we value most ...
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Stop, Go, Face, Clap

Stop, Go, Face, Clap

Sneaky adaptation of a very well-known drama game for playing online ...
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One Word At A Time - Online + Socially Distanced

One Word At A Time – Online + Socially Distanced

A story is told by the group or in pairs, with each person adding one word at a time ...
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60-Minute Special - Cirque du Soleil

60-Minute Special – Cirque du Soleil

A 78-minute special, featuring the best live show moments of La Nouba, Varekai and Quidam by Cirque de Soleil ...
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Make your own frog and toad puppets

Make your own frog and toad puppets

Norwich Puppet Theatre teach you to make a toad puppet ...
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Home Taskmaster

Home Taskmaster

Students have to make a video based on different hilarious tasks. They can rope in their family to help! ...
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Circle and Cross - Online or Offline

Circle and Cross – Online or Offline

Draw a circle, draw a cross, then both at once ...
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Multimedia Performance Night of the Living Dead

Multimedia Performance Night of the Living Dead

Edited from rehearsal shots, multimedia show featuring performers with cameras - and zombies ...
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The Drama Hut Workshops for Parents and Teachers

The Drama Hut Workshops for Parents and Teachers

Curriculum-based drama workshops for children to access directly from home ...
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Zoom Performance Pack

Zoom Performance Pack

PDF/Word doc includes monologues and duologues and practical guidance on directing performances online ...
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Devising theatre in a socially distant climate

Devising theatre in a socially distant climate

DISTANCED DEVISING - ONLINE CPD The Paper Birds have been making and touring physical, verbatim theatre productions since 2003. But for the last 10 years, co-Directors Kylie and Jemma have ...
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Bounce Story Club

Bounce Story Club

Bounce Theatre are running a story writing club during lockdown ...
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Ten Second Objects (inc Online Version)

Ten Second Objects (inc Online Version)

Small groups make the shape of an object using their bodies - in only ten seconds! ...
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Told By An Idiot: Idiots in Isolation

Told By An Idiot: Idiots in Isolation

One of the most original physical comedy theatre companies I have ever seen - now sharing more of their ideas ...
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Drama Games for Language Teaching - Macmillan Webinar

Drama Games for Language Teaching – Macmillan Webinar

Five Top Drama Games to enhance language learning and boost student confidence, creativity and spontaneity ...
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Mr Horne's Performing Arts Channel

Mr Horne’s Performing Arts Channel

A YouTube channel produced by Mr Horne for his Primary Performing Arts curriculum classes – well worth a look! ...
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Share Your Shakespeare Online

Share Your Shakespeare Online

The RSC invites you to share your favourite Shakespeare video or photo ...
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National Theatre Connections Festival - Online

National Theatre Connections Festival – Online

The National Theatre Connections Festival performances posted online for the Royal & Derngate Theatre in Northampton ...
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Kneehigh WIndows to the World

Kneehigh WIndows to the World

The brilliant Kneehigh Theatre Company set you some bonkers and brilliant creative challenges ...
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Drama One to One Online/Offline

Drama One to One Online/Offline

Therapeutic drama one-to-one, online and offline - an interview with Janine Oxley ...
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How to Direct a Show Online

How to Direct a Show Online

Is it possible to continue rehearsals for a youth theatre production with a cast of 33 during the coronavirus crisis? ...
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Websites for Teaching Drama Online

Websites for Teaching Drama Online

Links to up-to-date websites which help with teaching drama online ...
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Useful Tools for Teaching Drama Online

Useful Tools for Teaching Drama Online

Tools, resource hubs and free courses about teaching online ...
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David Farmer

David Farmer

Director

David Farmer inspires, motivates and educates teachers about the power of drama to transform learning. Following a stand-out career as a theatre director and producer of shows and workshops for children and young people across the world, he is an in-demand speaker, trainer and writer.

Browse our unique Drama Lesson Plans

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.
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Drama Games for Language Teaching (teenage to adult)

Drama Games for Language Teaching (teenage to adult)

14 easy to use drama games and activities suitable for a range of ages and language levels.
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Funnybones Drama and Dance Unit

Funnybones Drama and Dance Unit

Practical and funny drama and dance activities linked to this evergreen story (5-7 years)
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Introducing Augusto Boal (12 years to adult)

Introducing Augusto Boal (12 years to adult)

3 full-length practical sessions introducing the work of the revolutionary Brazilian theatre maker.
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The Gruffalo Drama Activities (4-7 years)

The Gruffalo Drama Activities (4-7 years)

Explore familiar themes and characters through improvisation and role play.
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The King's Sentence - a world without words

The King’s Sentence – a world without words

Lesson plan and original story for KS2 exploring non-verbal communication through gesture and sign language.
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The Musicians of Bremen Script

The Musicians of Bremen Script

Sparkling short play script of the Brothers Grimm tale for KS2 performance.
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The Refugee Cat Drama Unit (5-11 years)

The Refugee Cat Drama Unit (5-11 years)

The incredible real-life story of a refugee family and their cat told through storytelling, discussion and drama activities.
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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.
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World War Two Evacuees Drama Unit

World War Two Evacuees Drama Unit

Explore the experience of World War Two evacuees using media, drama strategies and a fictional story.
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