Drama

Drama

Culture enriches lives, and participation in creative and cultural activities can have a significant impact on young people, by developing their appreciation, their skills and helping them to learn.

This has been shown repeatedly in international studies, and has also been backed up by recent evaluations of major programmes such as Creative Partnerships and Museums’ Strategic Commissioning. What these evaluations have shown is that culture and the arts can help young people achieve all of the Every Child Matters outcomes.

Cultural activities also gives young people the chance to develop important life skills such as creativity

As well as being valuable and enjoyable in its own right, participation in cultural activities also gives young people the chance to develop important life skills such as creativity, confidence, self-discipline, effective communication and the ability to work in teams. These skills are particularly important in a world of rapid technological and social change where the cultural and creative industries are increasingly important to our economic future.

That is why a commitment was made in the Children’s Plan to work towards a position where all children and young people — no matter where they live or what their background — have the chance to participate in at least five hours of high-quality culture per week, in and out of school. The Find Your Talent programme looks at different ways of offering young people a range of cultural experiences.

The aim is to give young people the chance to develop as:

  • informed spectators (through attending top quality theatre and dance performances, world class exhibitions, galleries, museums and heritage sites)
  • participants and creators (through learning a musical instrument, playing and singing in ensembles, taking part in theatre and dance performances, producing artwork, making films and media art, or curating an exhibition).

Arts and cultural activities are also an important stimulus to develop young people’s creativity. Learning outside the classroom activities which give children and young people the opportunity to work on real-life challenges; handle risk; develop their capacity to think imaginatively and creatively; define and explore complex problems; use and adapt multiple resources both within their community and beyond in order to experiment and devise solutions to these problems — all of these experiences nurture the mix of thinking, imagining, facing the unknown and making things happen which are the ingredients of creativity.

Examination Boards claim that GCE A Level and GCSE Drama courses not only allow students to demonstrate their skill and understanding of the dramatic arts but enable students to undertake challenging activities and to develop as human beings. Courses include such options as:

  • improvisation
  • stagecraft
  • set design
  • costume
  • make-up and masks
  • puppets
  • lighting and sound
  • stage management

Theatre visits will occupy an important place in any school Drama course. As well as watching plays, musicals, revues, operas, schools will want to seek out opportunities to see how these are put together. Drama teachers also appreciate the opportunity to show the ‘behind-the-scenes’ activities. A number of companies and organisations offer such possibilities.

For many years the Royal Opera House has not only staged school matinees, but also offered workshops to primary and secondary schools, including the opportunity for schools to create their own opera. 

There are many travelling workshop companies that visit schools, too. This is known as Theatre in Education, a movement which was pioneered by the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry in the 1960s. To download a history of Theatre in Education (TIE) click HERE. There are hundreds of companies who offer TIE and will visit your school to cover topics such as Joyriding, alcohol, smoking, truancy and even the transition to 'big school'. Such visits often engender interesting and involving discussions on the topics concerned amongst students.

One particular branch of TIE is Improv (short for Improvisation). This is often a participation theatrical experience as the actors involve students in the action, improvising scenes and sometimes even the story, engaging students even further.

Contacting companies who work in your area and subscribing to their mailing list or regular email updates will keep you in touch with what is on offer.

Main organisations:

Arts Council

National Drama

Drama UK

London Drama

National Foundation for Educational Research

Inclusion: NASEN

Thought of visiting?

Ticketmaster.com (other ticket websites are available and tickets are often cheaper when purchased direct from the venue)

Cabaret Mechanical Theatre

West Yorkshire Playhouse

Belgrade Theatre, Coventry

Birmingham Repertory Company

Bristol Old Vic

Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford

Theatre Royal, Plymouth

Everyman Theatre, Liverpool

Venues for this Curriculum

Exportise teaches a variety of sports to children of all levels using the latest coaching techniques. Our resident coaches and representatives are there to make sure that every child goes home with a sense of achievement, fun memories, a group of new friends and the desire to return. We aim to provide a friendly, personal service throughout your holiday.

Welcome to a vibrant world of entertainment and versatile event spaces in two magnificent buildings. Genteel yet lively. Historic yet cosmopolitan. Truly the energy and heart of Cheltenham.

Breathtaking, unique and radiating regency refinement, Pittville Pump Room is Cheltenham’s most spectacular private hire venue.  When not in use, come and sample the fountain’s historically medicinal Spa Waters.

Cornwall Learning, the Cornwall Council organisation, brings together the expertise and experience of a range of teams to focus on improving standards, aspirations and skills of children, young people and those working with them.

Great for a rainy day indoors. The latest film releases shown all day everyday.

Evesham’s leading venue for live entertainment, offering a diverse programme of events from dance to drama, concerts from rock to classical, comedy, pantomimes, musical theatre, workshops and so much more.

Elegant town house dating from medieval times

Only a few metres from York Minster, this was the first house ever given to the National Trust complete with a collection - and it is not all that it first seems.

It has a history spanning 2,000 years, from the Roman road in the cellar to the Edwardian servants' quarters in the attics, and thirteen period rooms in between.

The only surviving Regency playhouse in Britain

Theatre Royal is one of Britain's most significant theatre buildings and the only surviving Regency playhouse in the country.

The recently restored Grade I listed theatre offers you an authentic 19th century theatre-going experience, combined with contemporary bar and restaurant for the 21st century theatre-goer.

An historical estate with a neo-classical mansion, 50 acres of landscaped gardens, 1000 acres of deer park, a rare breed farm and medieval Old Hall

For nearly 400 years the estate was the property of the Egerton family until it was bequeathed to the National Trust in 1958. It is now financed and maintained by Cheshire East Council. This is one of the most complete historic estates open to visitors.

Our eco award-winning centre is perfectly located to enjoy the Stackpole Estate. The recently upgraded residential centre with theatre, meeting and classroom facilities can accommodate up to 140 guests and is ideal for educational groups, corporate clients, private group hire and family holidays.

Ellen Terry's early 16th-century house and cottage gardens

Built in the early 16th-century when Smallhythe was a thriving shipbuilding port, Smallhythe Place was purchased by renowned Victorian actress Ellen Terry in 1899.

Her daughter Edith Craig set up the museum in 1929 which is home to a fascinating personal and theatrical collection which highlights Ellen Terry's extraordinary career and unconventional personal life.

Country home of playwright Bernard Shaw for 44 years

Playwright, politician, philosopher and wit George Bernard Shaw lived in this Edwardian villa for over 40 years from 1906. When he moved in, he was at the height of his fame. If you'd been walking up the drive 70 years ago, you would have been coming to visit one of the most famous, most photographed and most quoted men in the world.

A place of great theatre and drama

Seaton Delaval may have been one of the architect Sir John Vanbrugh’s smallest country houses; but it was home to the larger than life Delaval family.

The house and surrounding landscape were in keeping with the style expected in Georgian society, yet behind the formality lies a story of theatrical mischief.  

Classworks is a performing arts organisation committed to working with young people and the wider community. Drawing on a range of expertise and our extensive costume collection we produce projects and performances involving participants in every aspect of the creative process within a professional, safe and supportive environment.

Wilton's is the world's oldest surviving Grand Music Hall and London's best kept secret. This stunning and atmospheric building is led by Frances Mayhew and produces an exciting programme of imaginative, diverse and distinct entertainment including theatre, music, comedy, cinema and cabaret.

 

Outset Contemporary Art Fund is a philanthropic organisation dedicated to supporting new art by bringing private funding from its patrons, partners and trustees to public museums and art projects. Since the inception of Outset England in 2003 the foundation has raised £4 million and supported more than 80 international institutions and 160 artists. 

Visitors to the park can enjoy a variety of attractions:

The park is located half a mile from Bilston Town Centre. The park opened in 1911 as a memorial to Sir Alfred Hickman, a local industrialist and former MP.

The Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury offers a varied programme covering all aspects of the arts:

  1. Drama, Comedy, Ballet, Musicals

  2. Films

  3. Events

  4. Live Music

  5. Workshops

We have lots of exciting live events at The Roses

Wallingford Museum has a lot to offer for its season ticket this year!  

Founded in memory of the British film-maker Bill Douglas in 1994, this museum on Exeter University campus contains an enormous collection relating to the history of film and optical entertainment. 

The Priory Theatre is a community-run theatre in Kenilworth, Warwickshire producing our own in-house shows. From drama to comedy, crime thrillers, musicals and pantomimes, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

The Bristol Hippodrome, the city’s very own West End theatre, opened its doors on 16 December 1912 when the curtain rose for the first time on what was generally agreed to be Oswald Stoll’s most magnificent provincial theatre.

Ranked among the finest in South West England, Torquay Museum is a journey of discovery for all ages. Experience the sights and sounds of country living as you walk through a reconstructed Devon farmhouse, wonder at the prehistoric artefacts excavated from nearby Kent's Cavern or become an explorer on our interactive trail. 

A visit to Canterbury is not complete without experiencing Chaucer’s famous tales of medieval misadventures at one of the City’s most loved visitor attractions.

Experience the sights, sounds and smells of a bygone era in this fabulous recreation of medieval life; a unique introduction to Canterbury and its famous literary connection.

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