London Drama News
London Drama Conference
Drama Now! and the Way Ahead - more info and to book
Borough Drama
Is your borough organised for Drama? Does it provide INSET or CPD courses? London Drama can support the development of initiatives and programmes for drama in boroughs. Please contact us if you would like more information.
Find out more
School Support
If your school would like to develop drama training please contact us. We will advise on or provide active resourcing.
Youth Theatres
Get Into Theatre helps you find out about career opportunities, work experience, training and much more.
New Publications
Drama to Inspire: a London Drama Guide to excellent practice in drama for young people
Edited by John Coventon
This new book is a collection of practice based accounts by fifteen leading practitioners who have had a connection with London Drama, including Dorothy Heathcote, Jonothan Neelands, Andy Kempe and Daniel Shindler.
More info and/or buy here
Order in the Chaos
by Danielle Mackenzie
This new practical resource book by Danielle Mackenzie published by London Drama provides teachers with seven exciting units of work and materials designed for the GCSE Edexcel Drama Examintion, New Specification, helping to organise "Order" in all that potential "Chaos".
Published as a downloadable E-Book.
More info and download here
Stanislavski in Practice: exercises for students
by Nick O'Brien
This book is an unparalleled step-by-step guide to Stanislavski’s System. Each element of the System is covered practically through studio exercises and jargon-free discussion.
More info and/or buy here
London Drama Members!
Get 5% discount on Drama to Inspire, Order in the Chaos, Stanislavski in Practice and all London Drama books. (Log in required.) Applies also to members of National Drama and English Speaking Board. Find out more
About London Drama
London Drama, the Professional Association for teachers of drama and theatre in London, was originally formed in 1955 by teachers committed to the creative experience of educational drama and the school play. The Inner London Education Authority (ILEA), one of the pioneer LEA's developing Drama in Schools in the post-war period of educational development, took a lead role in setting up its Drama Advisory Team to develop drama in schools. Outer London Boroughs and, indeed, many metropolitan authorities and counties throughout the UK followed suit. Support in London and on a national scale was provided for drama, drama-in-education, theatre-in-education, and theatre arts, including the rapidly developing GCSE and A level courses.
When the ILEA was abolished in 1990 London Drama continued as an independent teacher organisation becoming a Company Limited by Guarantee (number 2570343) and a Charity (number 1001819).
Based initially at the London Drama and Tape Centre in Holborn, then at Central School of Speech and Drama, Swiss Cottage, and now at Diorama Arts in Euston, London Drama has consistently provided active guidance and support for the continuing development of drama in schools in the challenging period since the National Curriculum was introduced. We campaigned actively (with National Drama) for Drama’s place in the National Curriculum, while continuing to maintain a full programme of drama INSET support for teachers in London and a book service for teachers in any part of the world.
Local Management of Schools has meant schools developing their own organisation. We have been active in supporting:
- Primary Drama in relation to both creative learning and literacy and subject learning
- Secondary Drama in a variety of contexts: Classroom Drama, Drama in Performance, Drama and Theatre Studies.
We will continue actively to promote and develop Drama within the current curriculum changes that are being introduced and continue the tradition of stewardship and new initiatives to maintain and develop the network of drama teachers and theatre workers across the Capital.
If you share these values too why not join us?
To translate this website into a language of your choice please click here.
Coming up
Drama Now! ~ and the Way Ahead
Thursday 12 & Friday 13 April 2012: All day both days.
Venue: Goldsmiths College, New Cross SE14 6NW
Led by drama/theatre practitioners and young people.
At a time when the arts in education are under increasing challenge, the Conference is designed to inspire and support anyone with an interest in or professional engagement with Educational Drama and Theatre whether in London, or elsewhere.
Our aim is to make links, and put you, the wide range of practitioners, in touch with one another - to share current projects and practice.
Featuring: Cecily O'Neill (keynote), with workshops from:
Adam Annand, Andy Kempe, Daniel Shindler, Lucy Cuthbertson, Paul Sutton.
Performance by Corelli College.
More info and to book here.
Members discount fees here. (Log in needed)
Surveys
Courses Survey
We are always keen to hear what courses we can run for you. Please take our Courses survey here.
Mapping Drama Practice
Take the Survey of Drama Practice: it will only take a minute
Organisations
STEP is a borough-wide partnership linking the theatre community and education and youth sector in the London Borough of Southwark.
STEP aims to equalise, extend and deepen the theatre and drama experience of all young people living in Southwark through the development of strategic partnerships between schools, youth and community groups and theatres and performing arts organisations.
STEP's objective is to work closely with Southwark schools, youth and community groups and theatres and performing arts organisations to develop creative approaches to learning and provide innovative projects which stimulate children and young people's personal development and contribute to their educational attainment.
Find out more here.
