This technique is a simple but effective string of movements to establish relationships between characters in the passing of time. It can be done with individuals maintaining social distancing whilst effectively exploring an interesting concept. Frantic used this in their production of Tiny Dynamite. This is ideally for A level students doing devised work, but it can be tailored to GCSE students too. I have loads of socially distanced lessons if you’re doing practical work with practitioners/ Machinal.

This lesson contains the terminology for set and stage designs at A level. This has been taken directly from the Edexcel glossary of terms. Students read the set text extract and then learn the terminology necessary. They then create their own set designs and put this into action with an opportunity for development at the end. This is all able to be done at a social distance.

This resource has general tasks set that are easily adapted to any topic in drama. There are a series of different tasks that students can work through independently. The idea is that the student has a limitless budget and is in charge of a theatre company. They have to oversee the technical choices as well as considering their school topic/ play they are currently studying. There is a total of 8 different tasks in this booklet and will easily cover a 2 week isolation period. This can be done handwritten or electronically. Suitable for years 7-9. (Lower Year 10 possibly)

This is a double lesson (Although it may be too much content so could be another lesson) that focuses on the techniques that The Paper Birds use throughout many of their performances. It looks at their style features and inspirations, practical tasks that can be completed with a socially distanced environment. Featuring Flocking/ Elements of a picture/ Verbatim and Representing emotions through movement. These were all from 2 workshops that we have had ourselves, from The Paper Birds - I have taken their principles and put this into the lesson plan. Our students always respond really well to The Paper Birds. This can be used for A level and GCSE students (Verbatim may need to be changed for GCSE)

This is an adaptation of Frantic Assembly’s Chair Duets. Social distancing suitable in practical learning. It is a double lesson where students create a sequence of movements (using principles of chair duets) but have adapted to suit current covid restrictions. Students face each other. There are useful resources on there such as music and contextual references to add to the piece later on. There are also videos of strong chair duets.

This lesson is designed for A level students to revise and understand specific lighting terminology. This has been taken directly from the Edexcel A level glossary for lighting. Students then have a technical question for Section B at the end of the powerpoint in order to apply what they have learned through writing a paragraph with the teacher. This can be a resource where students self-teach in isolation and learn the terminology independently.

This is my favourite lesson to do with students! They explore the principle of Anne Bogart’s and Tina Landau’s ‘Viewpoints’ where they improvise using the principles of space, body and time. It is great as a lesson when the basics need to be revisited and new devised content needs to be made. Some lovely moments happen by accident during this lesson and it is so rewarding. The lesson covers the necessary detail to understand the principles and to try them out. There is also content regarding vision and having a soft focus. It is a practical lesson that I do with students when devising - practitioners Anne Bogart and Tina Landau are responsible for this. (It’s great to join in with too - throw a good playlist on and students really get lost in the freedom)

This lesson looks at the detailed method of Emotional memory. It is a practical lesson where students will learn about how to simulate emotion, but also how to draw and different ways in a performance to execute the emotion well. An opportunity to explore a monologue from Monsters is in the latter part of the lesson. This was designed During covid so can be done using social distancing/ even in isolation.

This lesson focuses on the circles of attention principle. Students will look at each others walks and create characters. They will then use their imaginations to explore this character in different dimensions and situations. The warm up is isolations of the body where students lie down and will tense and release areas of their body according to instruction by the teacher. Students love this exercise as they find it incredibly relaxing and focusing. It is a practical exploration which will last a double lesson. This has been created during covid so can be done using social distancing.

This lesson explores the idea of 7 levels of tension, accuracy with mime, confined space work and cane exploration. It looks at building the skills of the students through exercises that Lecoq would explore with his students. The lesson is easily adaptable and has some ideas about more Lecoq activities on the final slide.

Frantic Assembly lesson focused on Round by through. Easy to follow and is designed for devising unit. I do Edexcel, however this can easily be adapted to suit any exam board - it is very open.

This resource is a double-sided learning mat/ Knowledge organiser/ revision resource. It contains lots of information about context, Expressionism and a writing structure. The aim is for students to have it on the table when writing an answer so that they can quickly access the necessary information to input into their writing. However if students want to, they can use it as an ‘essential information’ resource where they memorise it. The more they use it, the better their writing will become.

This video is a ‘phorensic investigation’ of the Albert Snyder murder in 1927. (The murder that the play Machinal was based off of). On my profile are the documents of the ‘Case Files’ featured in the video so that you are able to print them off in the necessary order that corresponds with the ‘findings’ of the video. The idea being that each student is given a case file and are expected to reveal it when it’s their turn on the video. The resources can be found here https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/machinal-murder-case-files-x-7-social-distancing-resources-12329667 Students will then ‘solve the crime’ from the video and the case files. This has been adapted from a practical ‘phorensic investigation’ lesson to suit social distancing safety for schools. Alternatively it can be used for online/ live teaching. The video instructs you when to pause the video to discuss/ investigate the documents.

This set of Case files directly link with Crime Scene video and correspond with the video of unfolding of events in the Albert Snyder murder case (committed by Ruth Snyder and Henry Judd Gray). This is the case that Sophie Treadwell based they play Machinal off of. I use this as an introductory ‘hook’ lesson to spark the interest of students studying it. It involves a video and individual case files for the students to use to solve the crime. All files included are from the research and media documentation of the case. I have adapted this work with the idea that each student will have files on their table that they have to open at certain times during the ‘case meeting’ with the ‘phorensic video’. This has been adapted from my practical crime scene lesson to suit safety measures of social distancing. These files correspond with a ‘phorensic investigation’ video of the murder. Resource can be found here https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/machinal-crime-scene-video-distance-learning-live-teaching-12329728

This distance/ home learning lesson is designed to challenge student to explore different accents of the neighbours in Curious Incident. It includes recordings for students to listen to, Youtube videos for guidance and accent work. And full instructions of how to record and upload onto the powerpoint so that they can have a go at the accents and send it back to you. During this time it is so lovely to hear the students’ voices. Fully adaptable

Distance learning resource for drama students exploring accents for Blood brothers. There are Youtube links and recorded audio for 2 accents (Northern and Scouse) using a monologue from the play. It instructs students on how to record their audio and upload their work - you can adjust this to suit your school policy for work.

This is a powerpoint filled with many tasks (roughly 2 hours worth) for students to complete independently. It features challenges and ‘help pages’ with a range of different activities, from drawing storyboards to writing a trailer review, to asking questions etc. There are also videos and script extracts for them to explore.

This is a resource design for a costume design student to independently work through for a devised piece of theatre. This can be easily adapted.

This is part of a series of design lessons that students can complete independently at home. Please look at my other resources. An independent learning resource for students to learn about many different theatrical lighting terms and the impact that it has on an audience. At the end there are tasks for students to complete helping them to describe lighting states and how to design them.