Drama Teacher with over 10 years experience. A range of accessible and detailed resources to make Drama and Theatre teaching fun, inspiring and awesome. Any questions please ask!
Drama Teacher with over 10 years experience. A range of accessible and detailed resources to make Drama and Theatre teaching fun, inspiring and awesome. Any questions please ask!
A note from the author:
Some of the resources from Arts Award directly are not very easy to use nor are they easy to communicate to or made accessible for young people. Therefore, I crafted these resources as an extremely invaluable tool to support my Silver Arts Award candidates in their ideas for and organisation of evidence in their portfolio. I have been assessing the Arts Award for over 10 years now - Bronze, Silver & Gold.
Overview of Resources:
These resources will really help support your delivery of the Silver Arts Award. Tried and tested over 10 years of delivering Silver to young people!
Included:
Silver Mapping
Silver Application Form
Silver Introduction Booklet
Silver Letter Template
Silver Unit Breakdowns & Booklets
Silver Unit Evidence Checklists
Please note:
You must ensure that a member of your team is trained to assess your Arts Award candidates. Alternatively you can contact a local centre who can assess your candidates. Visit the Arts Award website for further details.
Please do comment on my resources so that I can continue to update and expand them. If you need any more information/clarification please comment and I will update my resources ASAP!
A note from the author:
Included here are a selection of resources for the exploration of Theatre Practitioner Bertolt Brecht. I use his methods in many units with my students, and have created a plethora of resources for them to use. Also included here is a detailed Year 9 SOW which will also be useful for KS4/5 students.
§ To develop an understanding of Brecht’s theories and principles
§ To practically explore some of Brecht’s conventions in improvised work
§ To develop an understanding of how theatre can be used for political purposes
§ To use Brecht’s ideas as a framework for a devised piece looking at modern history topics such as:
The Diary of Anne Frank
Social Media, Modern Technology & 1984 by George Orwell
The 7/7 London Bombings
Included:
Brecht Year 9 SOW
Brecht Techniques
Lesson Workshop
Teacher Packs
Lesson Resources
Please note:
Packs for the Topics are available as a bundle or as separate items
It is probably advisable that you purchase a copy of The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui
Please do comment on my resources so that I can continue to update and expand them. If you need any more information/clarification please comment and I will update my resources ASAP!
A note from the author:
I use this scheme of work with my Year 7 class, as not only does it offer exciting and creative opportunities, but it also allows for complex exploration into issues around migration and strong emotions. The students seem to want to get fully involved in all aspects and I have developed this scheme over four years of teaching it. It involves a rich variety of activities, and supports the development of empathetic and sympathetic social qualities in my students.
1/10/20 - This resource has been updated with key extracts of the script for you to use.
Objective Overview of The Arrival
§ Students to create a devised performance on The Arrival, based on the stimuli provided (theme of migration, text extracts, pictures) and explorative rehearsal techniques.
§ Students to develop skills in unison movement, puppetry, non-verbal communication, still images, thought tracking and transitions.
§ Students to gain an introductory knowledge of Stanislavski Techniques.
Overview of The Arrival
‘The Arrival is a migrant story told as a series of wordless images that might seem to come from a long forgotten time. A man leaves his wife and child in an impoverished town, seeking better prospects in an unknown country on the other side of a vast ocean. He eventually finds himself in a bewildering city of foreign customs, peculiar animals, curious floating objects and indecipherable languages. With nothing more than a suitcase and a handful of currency, the immigrant must find a place to live, food to eat and some kind of gainful employment. He is helped along the way by sympathetic strangers, each carrying their own unspoken history: stories of struggle and survival in a world of incomprehensible violence, upheaval and hope.’
Included:
In-depth Scheme of Work
Lesson Resources (Images, Worksheets on Migration Reasons, Dove Origami Puppet Sheet)
Assessment Instructions & Abridged Assessment Instructions
Script Extracts
Please note:
You may want to purchase ‘The Arrival’ by Shaun Tan - picture book to accompany this SOW, however I have included all necessary image resources.
You may also want to get a copy of ‘The Arrival’, a play by Kristine Landon-Smith & Sita Brahmachari, based on the picture book, to accompany the assessments for this unit. However you can complete the assessment with the ‘abridged’ format without having a copy of the script.
Please do comment on my resources so that I can continue to update and expand them. If you need any more information/clarification please comment and I will update my resources ASAP!
A note from the author:
I use this scheme of work with my Year 8 class, as not only does it offer a historical perspective on theatre, but it also allows for complex exploration into characters, ensemble work and strong emotions. The students seem to want to get fully involved in all aspects and I have developed this scheme over four years of teaching it. It involves a rich variety of activities, and supports the development of ensemble unison (both vocal and physical) and promotes positive working relationships in my students.
Objective Overview of Greek Theatre
§ Students to explore Greek Theatre elements such as chorus, characters comedy & tragedy, masks, depictions of gods, exaggerated acting.
§ Students to develop skills in unison movement, choral voice, non-verbal communication, tragic/comic characters, mask work, script exploration, and gestures.
§ Students to gain an introductory knowledge of Greek Theatre playwrights, Theatre practitioners (Complicitie, Jacques Lecoq), mythological characters, classical history and performance conditions.
§ Students to explore The Trojan Women in depth, as well as examples from The Frogs and The Clouds.
Overview of The Trojan Women
The Trojan Women follows Queen Hecuba, her daughter Cassandra, her daughter-in-law Andromache and her grandson Astyanax, as they learn of their fates to the conquering Greek army. Talthybius, a herald of the Greeks, shows great compassion for the Trojans but must deliver terrible news (the death of Astyanax, the burning of Troy, the separation of Cassandra and Andromache from Hecuba). Menelaus considers slaughtering his ex-wife Helen (of Helen of Troy fame, the face that launched 1000 ships) however he is won over by her charm and decides to delay her killing. Is Helen responsible for the whole Trojan War? The gods Poseidon and Athene start the play discussing how to kill the Greek Army after they offended Athene at her temple. This leads to the messages and themes of the futile nature of war, fate, free will and feminism. The play occurs at the same time as Euripides’ other play Hecuba.
Included:
In-depth Scheme of Work
Lesson Resources (Images, Worksheets, Handouts)
Scripts (a few chorus example scripts, self-written gesture scripts)
Assessment Instructions
Please note:
You may want to purchase ‘The Trojan Women’ by Euripides, and The Frogs and The Clouds by Aristophanes - however I have included two extracts from the plays plus some example chorus sections. The Trojan Women is the main resource for this SOW.
Please do comment on my resources so that I can continue to update and expand them. If you need any more information/clarification please comment and I will update my resources ASAP!
A note from the author:
This is scheme of work is mainly for KS3 students, but would also suit KS4, to experiment with devising techniques, and how to craft their own drama. There is a group devising booklet that accompanies the assessment, and all students should keep a reflective journal/log of the devising process.
Objective Overview of Love & Hate
§ Students to create a devised performance on any aspect of the theme of Love & Hate, based on the stimuli provided (themes, text, poems, pictures etc.) and explorative devising techniques.
§ Students to develop skills in devising, physical theatre, group work, theatre creation, theatre structure, scriptwriting, transitions and communicating meaning for an audience.
§ Students to gain an introductory knowledge of physical theatre techniques.
A note from the author:
I use this scheme of work with my Year 9 classes, as not only does it offer exciting and creative opportunities, but it also allows for complex exploration how to direct. The students assessment allows them to experience both directing a piece of drama and to be directed in a piece of drama.
Objective Overview of Director SOW
§ To explore a variety of ways to direct others, and to develop and hone the skills of a competent director.
§ Students should recognise the communicative powers of theatre, and ensure all work aims to evoke a response or provide a message to the intended audience.
§ Students to play around with script extracts, and block sections of text.
§ Students should collaborate effectively with other group members.
Included:
In-depth Scheme of Work
Lesson Resources (Worksheets, Scripts, Activity Sheets, Evaluations)
Assessment Instructions
Please note:
You may want to purchase ‘The Believers’ by Bryony Lavery, ‘Spring Awakening’ by Georg Buchner and ‘Tristan & Yseult’ by Kneehigh, or ‘Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage’ however any extract duologues can work for the main assessment.
Please do comment on my resources so that I can continue to update and expand them. If you need any more information/clarification please comment and I will update my resources ASAP!
A note from the author:
I use this scheme of work with my high ability Year 7 class, as not only does it offer a historical perspective on theatre, but it also allows for complex exploration into characters, staging types, language and stage combat. The students seem to want to get fully involved in all aspects and I have developed this scheme over three years of teaching it. It involves a rich variety of activities, and supports the development of Shakespearean Language and promotes positive working relationships in my students.
These resources are suitable for KS3-5 teaching.
Objective Overview of Shakespeare SOW
§ To realise a variety of Shakespearean extracts in performance.
§ To visually and aurally create an assortment of locations and atmospheres based on Shakespearean plays
§ To grasp a sound understanding of Shakespearean language within the performance context
§ To analyse and explore major themes in relation to social, cultural, political and historical context within selected Shakespeare works
§ To consider the importance of names and personality traits in the exploration and representation of characters
§ To explore staging types, with particular reference to blocking, tension and audience interaction
§ To be able to demonstrate a range of stage combat techniques in a secure and safe manner
§ To consider the differences between Comedies, Tragedies and Tragi-Comedies
§ To create a group re-staging of an extract from the selected works, with a number of the previous lesson objectives influencing and aiding creative decisions
Shakespeare Plays explored:
The Taming of the Shrew (1593-1594)
Romeo & Juliet (1594-1595)
As You Like It (1599-1600)
Twelfth Night (1599-1600)
King Lear (1605-1606)
Macbeth (1605-1606)
Included:
In-depth Scheme of Work
Lesson Resources (Worksheets, Handouts, Whoosh! for Macbeth )
Scripts (extracts from a number of plays explored)
Assessment Instructions
Please note:
You may want to purchase the main scripts for the 6 plays selected (or you can find free versions online. I have included key extracts in the SOW.
Please do comment on my resources so that I can continue to update and expand them. If you need any more information/clarification please comment and I will update my resources ASAP!
A note from the author:
I crafted these resources to accompany teaching the devised component of GCSE Drama, after successfully teaching it for 10 Years. It includes helpful resources, lessons activities and model responses.
These are there to support the final performances, mark sheets, examples scripts, examples background power points, example music lists. I have separate resources available for:
GCSE Drama Component One - General Resources
GCSE Drama Component One - Creative Log / Portfolio of Supporting Evidence
GCSE Drama Component One - Evaluation
Category:
Also available in my Bundles:
GCSE Drama Component One Complete Bundle
GCSE Drama Complete Bundle - Components One, Two & Three
Included:
Backdrop PowerPoints to accompany Scenes
Example Scenes
Cue Sheets
Mark Sheets
Please do comment on my resources so that I can continue to update and expand them. If you need any more information/clarification please comment and I will update my resources ASAP!
In this bundle you get six stimuli packs (each pack contains a minimum of 20 A4 pages - so 120+ pages in total!) to use when creating devised theatre with your pupils.
Included:
Anxiety
Depression
Grief
Happiness
Hate
Regret
For more details please see the descriptions on each resource item.
You save 40% by purchasing this bundle as opposed to buying separately!
A note from the author:
These resources are useful when looking into the work of Stanislavski / Stanislavsky.
Overview of Resources:
These resources are for theory and practical exploration of Constantin Stanislavski
Included:
Hot-Seating Cue Cards
Constantin Stanislavski Exploration Resources
Theatre Pracitioner Poster - Stanislavski
Please note:
Burying these resources means that you can adapt and reproduce them for your work in schools.
These resources are also available to purchase separately.
Save 42% with this bundle.
Please do comment on my resources so that I can continue to update and expand them. If you need any more information/clarification please comment and I will update my resources ASAP!
A note from the author:
I love improvisation and have compiled this SOW to be adaptable and useful for all Drama teachers as an accessible way into the world of improv. I have noted down different techniquesand games that you can play with your students, as well as assessment ideas and two fun whole class impov ideas. Your students will definitely love playing around with these in your lessons.
SOW Overview:
A detailed 10 page, five lesson (90 minute lessons - therefore has enough material for 8 hours of lesson time if you have shorter lessons!) SOW for students to experiment and play around creatively with Improvisation components.
Lesson Structure (90 Minute Lessons!)
Lesson One: Introduction to Improvisation
Lesson Two: Improvisational Stimuli
Lessons Three: Narrative, Abstract and Atmosphere Creation
Lesson Four: The Cavemen & Cavewomen - Whole Class Improvisations
Lesson Five: Assessment Lesson - Could be split over a number of extra lessons to tie together everything they have learnt from the SOW.
Resources Included:
1 x 10 Page Improvisation SOW
Assessment lesson Resources - Letter, Security Passes, Character Signs
Assessment Feedback Form
Please do comment on my resources so that I can continue to update and expand them. If you need any more information/clarification please comment and I will update my resources ASAP!
A note from the author:
I crafted these resources to accompany teaching the devised component of GCSE Drama, after successfully teaching it for 10 Years. It includes helpful resources and model responses.
These are there to support the formation and creation of the creative log / Portfolio of supporting Evidence. I have separate resources available for:
GCSE Drama Component One - General Devising Resources
GCSE Drama Component One - Performance Resources
GCSE Drama Component One - Evaluation
Included:
Model Answers
Guidebooks
Please do comment on my resources so that I can continue to update and expand them. If you need any more information/clarification please comment and I will update my resources ASAP!
A note from the author:
I love this the comparison between The Pied Piper and Kindertransport and have compiled this SOW to be adaptable and useful for all Drama teachers as an accessible way into:
Character Development
Stimulus Exploration
Truthful Performances
Different Interpretations of Character / Theme
Collaboration
Your students will definitely love this SOW - mine certainly do!
SOW Overview:
A detailed 8 page, four lesson (90 minute lessons - therefore has enough material for 6 hours of lesson time if you have shorter lessons!) SOW.
Lesson Structure (90 Minute Lessons!)
Lesson One: The Pied Piper of Hamlyn (Poem)
Lesson Two: Kindertransport (Play)
Lessons Three: The Ratcatcher (Character Development)
Lesson Four: Assessment Lesson - Could be split over a number of extra lessons to tie together everything they have learnt from the SOW.
Resources Included:
1 x 8 Page Kindertransport & The Pied Piper SOW
Assessment Lesson Resources
Please note:
You will need to purchase a copy of ‘Kindertransport’ by Daniel Samuels for the SOW due to copyright reasons I cannot include the full script here.
Please do comment on my resources so that I can continue to update and expand them. If you need any more information/clarification please comment and I will update my resources ASAP!
A note from the author:
Included here are a selection of Contentless Scenes for use in lessons. Contentless Scenes (sometimes known as ‘Open’ or ‘Ambiguous’ scenes) are scenes that have very little detail on character or narrative plot leaving it open for the actors or directors to use their creativity and imagination to add detail to the scene with endless possibilities.
I use these to explore:
Character Creation
Character Motivation
Character Relationships
Character Interactions
Narrative Structures
Subtext
Themes & Issues
Naturalistic Acting / Stanislavski
They are so useful and I use them with each year for different reasons. I have written 35 scenes here that are all different and useful for a variety of reasons. I tend to photocopy them on different coloured pages and split them between different years so that as we use the scenes for different reasons as the students move up through the school they always have fresh stimuli.
Included:
20 Duologue Contentless Scenes (ranging from half a page to a full page)
10 Quick-fire Contentless Scenes (suitable for 2 or three actors each) Four are very short (2/3 lines), 6 are longer (4/6 lines)
5 Contentless Scenes for Three Actors (full pages)
It works out as less than 29p per scene!
Please do comment on my resources so that I can continue to update and expand them. If you need any more information/clarification please comment and I will update my resources ASAP!
A note from the author:
I use this Theatre Design guidebook to support the Written exam in Drama & Theatre for both GCSE and A Level pupils.
Overview of Guide
A. Styles
B. Staging
C. Colour
D. Set
E. Props
F. Costume
G. Hair & Make Up
H. Lighting FX
I. Sound FX
J. Special FX
K. Terminology Glossary
Included:
A 24 page Theatre Design Guidebook
Please do comment on my resources so that I can continue to update and expand them. If you need any more information/clarification please comment and I will update my resources ASAP!
A note from the author:
A selection of devised scenes that are useful springboards in helping pupils compose their own scene scripts for the devsiing units. A range of scenes here covering different topics, plus 2 full GCSE Full Mark Devised Scripts!
Category:
Drama GCSE Complete (also available as part of this bundle)
GCSE Drama Component One: Devising Theatre (also available as part of this bundle)
Included:
15x Short 1-3 page scenes written specifically for GCSE Component One Devised Work
2x Full (3 Person) Group Devised Scripts GCSE Component One (Grief & Perfection - Both Physical Theatre in style but adaptable)
Please note:
Purchasing this resource allows you to amend it in any way you would like.
Please do comment on my resources so that I can continue to update and expand them. If you need any more information/clarification please comment and I will update my resources ASAP!
In this bundle you get three stimuli packs (each pack contains 50 pieces of stimulus) to use when creating devised theatre with your pupils.
Included:
50 Amazing Pieces of Drama Stimulus Vol.1
50 Amazing Pieces of Drama Stimulus Vol.2
50 Amazing Pieces of Drama Stimulus Vol.3
For more details please see the descriptions on each resource item.
You save 25% by purchasing this bundle as opposed to buying each one separately!
A note from the author:
I love physical theatre and have compiled this SOW to be adaptable and useful for all Drama teachers as an accessible way into physical theatre. I have noted down different techniques from a range of companies/practitioners. Your students will surely love playing around with these lessons.
SOW Overview:
A detailed 18 page, nine lesson (70 minute lesson) SOW for students to experiment and play around creatively with Physical Theatre components.
Lesson One: Introduction to Physical Theatre
Lesson Two: Complicite - Collaborative Ensemble Physicality (Information, Games & Activities)
Lessons Three & Four: Frantic Assembly - Choreography for Non Dancers & Devising Theatre (Information, Exercises and Activities) - Could be split into two lessons.
Lesson Five: Merce Cunningham - Chance Choreography (Information and Activities)
Lesson Six: Peter Darling (Information and Activities)
Lesson Seven: Anne Bogart - Viewpoints (Information and Activities)
Lessons Eight & Nine: Assessment Lessons - Could be split over a number of extra lessons to tie together everything they have learnt from the SOW.
Recently Updated: (Dec 2016)
Extra information on Anne Bogart
Frantic Assembly split over two lessons
Please do comment on my resources so that I can continue to update and expand them. If you need any more information/clarification please comment and I will update my resources ASAP!
A note from the author:
I use this booklet as a revision guidebook for my students studying DNA by Dennis Kelly, but it can also help to structure lessons.
The Resource covers the following over 34 pages of theatre-specific content:
A. Styles
B. Staging
C. Colour
D. Set
E. Props
F. Costume
G. Hair & Make Up
H. Lighting FX
I. Sound FX
J. Special FX
K. DNA: Location Design (Set, Props, Lighting & Sound Ideas)
L. DNA: Character Design (Costume, Hair & Make up Ideas)
M. Terminology Glossary
Included:
An in-depth 34 page GCSE Design Guidebook
Please note:
You will need a copy of ‘DNA’ by Dennis Kelly to accompany this resource.
Please do comment on my resources so that I can continue to update and expand them. If you need any more information/clarification please comment and I will update my resources ASAP!
A note from the author:
I use this Guidebook as constructive tool for revision in the preparation for mocks and the summer exam.
Overview of Guide
DNA Exam Guidebook:
Intro
Key Areas (Acting, Design & Directing)
Original Performance Conditions of DNA
General Advice
Acting Style Question Guide
Directing Style Question Guide(Rehearsal Techniques, Directing Actors)
Design Style Question Guide (Lighting, Sound, Costume, Props & Set, Styles, Staging Types)
Example Questions
Included:
A 22 page DNA Exam Guidebook
Please do comment on my resources so that I can continue to update and expand them. If you need any more information/clarification please comment and I will update my resources ASAP!