Theatrefolk - The Drama Teacher Resource Company

Drama Teacher Learning Centre

Our Learning Centre is dedicated to providing drama teachers with insightful and engaging information for all things theatre!
Whether you're looking for articles, exercises, tips, or resources for teaching theatre in the classroom or on the stage, you'll find it all here.
We're dedicated to sharing our passion for theatre while making sure you have everything you need to make your theatre program shine!

Featured Articles

Why Beginning Drama Students Are Awesome
Featured Article
Why Beginning Drama Students Are Awesome
Starting a new term with a new group of students can be concerning for even the most experienced drama teachers. Will you like them? Will they like you? Will they understand or connect with the material you’re presenting? Will there be behavioural issues or attendance concerns? It’s easy to become jaded, so let’s work on letting that go or avoiding it altogether. Let’s look at our new students with a sense of curiosity and excitement — because beginning drama students are awesome, and here are a few reasons why!
10 Beanbag Name Game Variations
Featured Article
10 Beanbag Name Game Variations
Name games are a great start-of-term activity, especially when you’re working with new students. It’s a fun way to break the ice and for students and teachers alike to learn everyone’s name. Knowing, correctly pronouncing, and using students’ names demonstrates respect and care.
Playing to Your Students’ Strengths
Featured Article
Playing to Your Students’ Strengths
Drama teachers understand that we must plan our curriculum around the standards established by school boards, administrators, and other leadership. But whenever possible, it’s wonderful to incorporate the strengths and interests of your students into the assigned curriculum. That doesn’t mean letting students dictate every moment of drama class, doing an entire semester of only improv, or trying to find a show with 30 starring roles. It means that you’re showing care for and interest in your students, that you’re listening to their thoughts and opinions, and that you’re being flexible, adaptable, and thoughtful in your lesson planning. You aren’t just doing the same thing year after year; you’re continually growing and evolving your approach. It can also help you to reach out to and connect with students who are reluctant to participate or who aren’t taking drama class by choice. Making those connections and showing students how aspects of theatre can relate to them personally can make their drama class experience much more pleasant. These are all key ingredients in a recipe for success.
Warm-Up Exercises for Raising Energy
Featured Article
Warm-Up Exercises for Raising Energy
There are some days when your students are just not feeling their best. They’re tired, they’re dragging, they’re feeling “off.” So how do you combat these low energy (https://www.theatrefolk.com/blog/may-madness-day-17-low-energy) times? Try these 10 warm-up exercises, tips, and ideas to get your students feeling refocused, rejuvenated, and re-energized.
Calling All Theatre Teachers: I’m the only drama teacher at my school. Where do I start?
Featured Article
Calling All Theatre Teachers: I’m the only drama teacher at my school. Where do I start?
Welcome to our video series, Calling All Theatre Teachers! In this series we’re going to answer questions that drama teachers have about stepping into a theatre program.
Introduction to Scene Analysis for Middle School Students
Featured Article
Introduction to Scene Analysis for Middle School Students
There are many different ways to analyze a scene (https://www.theatrefolk.com/blog?q=analysis) for classroom study or performance: verbing, marking up the script, identifying subtext, making lists, and more. Some of these methods are easy and fast-paced, while some are more challenging or tedious.
October Reading List: Mystery Plays
Featured Article
October Reading List: Mystery Plays
Ready to add a little mystery to your drama classroom? We’ve put together a list of plays full of secrets, twists, and unexpected turns that are sure to captivate your students.
The Pacing Toolkit
Featured Article
The Pacing Toolkit
Pacing is one of the invisible hands of good teaching. For many teachers pacing is a difficult skill to master,

Latest Articles

Warm-Up for Middle Schoolers: “I’m Going on Vacation…”
Warm-Up for Middle Schoolers: “I’m Going on Vacation…”
Exercise: Rope Storytelling
Exercise: Rope Storytelling
Calling All Theatre Teachers: How many performances should my program do within a year?
Calling All Theatre Teachers: How many performances should my program do within a year?
Improv Game: Scenario Generator
Improv Game: Scenario Generator
What traditions do you have with your theatre program?
What traditions do you have with your theatre program?
The Pacing Toolkit
The Pacing Toolkit

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Acting

Acting in Everyday Life
Acting in Everyday Life
Acting the Issue Play
Acting the Issue Play
Onstage “Awareness” Improv Game: Sit, Stand, Kneel
Onstage “Awareness” Improv Game: Sit, Stand, Kneel
Questioning Your Character (Without Judgment)
Questioning Your Character (Without Judgment)
“Let’s Try That Again”: Taking Direction in an Audition
“Let’s Try That Again”: Taking Direction in an Audition
How to Practice Cold Reading
How to Practice Cold Reading

Classroom Exercise

Time Filler Activity: Everything You Know
Time Filler Activity: Everything You Know
Time Filler Activities: Symbol Stories
Time Filler Activities: Symbol Stories
Exercise: Rope Storytelling
Exercise: Rope Storytelling
Warm-Up Exercises for Raising Energy
Warm-Up Exercises for Raising Energy
How to Use a Small Cast Play in Your Drama Classroom, Part 2
How to Use a Small Cast Play in Your Drama Classroom, Part 2
How to Use a Small Cast Play in Your Drama Classroom
How to Use a Small Cast Play in Your Drama Classroom

Classroom Management

Round-Up: All About Classroom Management
Round-Up: All About Classroom Management
Supplies and Equipment Every Drama Classroom Needs
Supplies and Equipment Every Drama Classroom Needs
Getting to Know Your Students: How I Like to Learn
Getting to Know Your Students: How I Like to Learn
Developing Classroom Routines and Systems
Developing Classroom Routines and Systems
“I’ll Just Do It Myself…” Encouraging Students to Work Together
“I’ll Just Do It Myself…” Encouraging Students to Work Together
Inclusion in the Drama Classroom: Assessing Your Space
Inclusion in the Drama Classroom: Assessing Your Space

Directing

Issue-Based Plays in Rehearsal
Issue-Based Plays in Rehearsal
The Last Few Weeks Before Showtime
The Last Few Weeks Before Showtime
Round-up: Production Preparation
Round-up: Production Preparation
Working With Co-Directors, Assistant Directors, and More
Working With Co-Directors, Assistant Directors, and More
Pros and Cons: Food and Drink Onstage
Pros and Cons: Food and Drink Onstage
Tips for Casting a Musical Revue
Tips for Casting a Musical Revue

Distance Learning

Character Study: Self-Awareness
Character Study: Self-Awareness
Making Connections: Students’ Strengths and Character Strengths
Making Connections: Students’ Strengths and Character Strengths
Theatrefolk Featured Play – Virtual Platform by Claire Broome
Theatrefolk Featured Play – Virtual Platform by Claire Broome
Improv Game: Combining Skills
Improv Game: Combining Skills
Improv Game: Imposter
Improv Game: Imposter
Exercise: Outdoor Virtual Monologues
Exercise: Outdoor Virtual Monologues

Diversity

Tips for Supporting Nonbinary Drama Students
Tips for Supporting Nonbinary Drama Students
Theatrefolk Featured Play – Characters Behaving Badly by Lindsay Price
Theatrefolk Featured Play – Characters Behaving Badly by Lindsay Price
Theatrefolk Featured Play – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Theatrefolk Featured Play – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Theatrefolk Featured Play – Moonbow Miraculous by Kirk Shimano
Theatrefolk Featured Play – Moonbow Miraculous by Kirk Shimano
Theatrefolk Featured Play – The Pretty Princess Dollhouse for Pretty Princesses by Emma Fonseca-Halverson
Theatrefolk Featured Play – The Pretty Princess Dollhouse for Pretty Princesses by Emma Fonseca-Halverson
Theatrefolk Featured Play – Finding Jo March by Laramie Dean
Theatrefolk Featured Play – Finding Jo March by Laramie Dean

Featured Plays

October Reading List: Mystery Plays
October Reading List: Mystery Plays
Theatrefolk Featured Play - Lord of the Pies
Theatrefolk Featured Play - Lord of the Pies
September Reading List: Plays for Competition
September Reading List: Plays for Competition
Theatrefolk Featured Play - The Shadow Stories - A Cursed Play
Theatrefolk Featured Play - The Shadow Stories - A Cursed Play
August Reading List: Theatrefolk's Longest Play Titles
August Reading List: Theatrefolk's Longest Play Titles
Featured Play - The House
Theatrefolk Featured Play - The House

Games

Time Filler Activities: Symbol Stories
Time Filler Activities: Symbol Stories
Warm-Up for Middle Schoolers: “I’m Going on Vacation…”
Warm-Up for Middle Schoolers: “I’m Going on Vacation…”
Improv Game: Scenario Generator
Improv Game: Scenario Generator
Warm-Up Exercises for Raising Energy
Warm-Up Exercises for Raising Energy
10 Beanbag Name Game Variations
10 Beanbag Name Game Variations
Physical Warm-Up Game: Shadows
Physical Warm-Up Game: Shadows

General

Playwright Spotlight: Get to Know Bradley Hayward
Playwright Spotlight: Get to Know Bradley Hayward
Playwright Spotlight: Get to Know Taryn Temple
Playwright Spotlight: Get to Know Taryn Temple
Playwright Spotlight: Get to Know Dara Murphy
Playwright Spotlight: Get to Know Dara Murphy
Playwright Spotlight: Get to Know Laramie Dean
Playwright Spotlight: Get to Know Laramie Dean
Playwright Spotlight: Get to Know Allison Green
Playwright Spotlight: Get to Know Allison Green
Playwright Spotlight: Get to Know Chris Stiles
Playwright Spotlight: Get to Know Chris Stiles

New Drama Teachers

Calling All Theatre Teachers: How do I deal with angry parents/guardians?
Calling All Theatre Teachers: How do I deal with angry parents/guardians?
Calling All Theatre Teachers: How many performances should my program do within a year?
Calling All Theatre Teachers: How many performances should my program do within a year?
The Pacing Toolkit
The Pacing Toolkit
Calling All Theatre Teachers: I’m the only drama teacher at my school. Where do I start?
Calling All Theatre Teachers: I’m the only drama teacher at my school. Where do I start?
Supplies and Equipment Every Drama Classroom Needs
Supplies and Equipment Every Drama Classroom Needs
Writing Lesson Plans for the Drama Classroom Toolkit
Writing Lesson Plans for the Drama Classroom Toolkit

Playwriting

Playwriting Prompt: Stories About Stuffies
Playwriting Prompt: Stories About Stuffies
Playwriting Exercise: One Moment, Many Perspectives
Playwriting Exercise: One Moment, Many Perspectives
Playwriting Exercise: Quill, Fountain, and Glitter Gel Pen Scenes
Playwriting Exercise: Quill, Fountain, and Glitter Gel Pen Scenes
Playwriting Exercise: Your Ideal Future
Playwriting Exercise: Your Ideal Future
5 Tips for Writing A Murder Mystery Play
5 Tips for Writing a Murder Mystery Play
Playwriting Exercise: Baby Photo Prompt
Playwriting Exercise: Baby Photo Prompt

Podcast

Theatre as a Teaching Tool
Theatre as a Teaching Tool
Happy Birthday Frankenstein!
Happy Birthday Frankenstein!
Drama Teachers: Take back the classics
Drama Teachers: Take back the classics
Putting together a touring high school show
Putting together a touring high school show
Facilitating a student led production
Facilitating a student led production
Page to Stage: What can you learn in 48 hours?
Page to Stage: What can you learn in 48 hours?

Production

The Last Few Weeks Before Showtime
The Last Few Weeks Before Showtime
Round-up: Production Preparation
Round-up: Production Preparation
Working With Co-Directors, Assistant Directors, and More
Working With Co-Directors, Assistant Directors, and More
Pros and Cons: Food and Drink Onstage
Pros and Cons: Food and Drink Onstage
How to Effectively Create and Use the Audition Waiting Area
How to Effectively Create and Use the Audition Waiting Area
Creative Fundraising Ideas for Your Production
Creative Fundraising Ideas for Your Upcoming Production

Teaching Drama

What traditions do you have with your theatre program?
What traditions do you have with your theatre program?
The Pacing Toolkit
The Pacing Toolkit
Introduction to Scene Analysis for Middle School Students
Introduction to Scene Analysis for Middle School Students
Playing to Your Students’ Strengths
Playing to Your Students’ Strengths
10 Beanbag Name Game Variations
10 Beanbag Name Game Variations
Why Beginning Drama Students Are Awesome
Why Beginning Drama Students Are Awesome

Teaching Resources

The Rehearsal Companion
The Rehearsal Companion
The Audition Toolkit
The Audition Toolkit
Impowerment Improv
Impowerment Improv
The Drama Classroom Companion: Volume 2
The Drama Classroom Companion: Volume 2
Your High School Improv Show Playbook
Your High School Improv Show Playbook
Scene-Spurs: Writing Prompts for Dramatic Depth – Volume Two
Scene-Spurs: Writing Prompts for Dramatic Depth – Volume Two

Technical Theatre

Your Classroom Stage Makeup Toolkit
Your Classroom Stage Makeup Toolkit
Sets on a Budget: One Signature Piece
Sets on a Budget: One Signature Piece
Costume Organization & Storage Tips
Costume Organization & Storage Tips
Full Class Project: Complete Show Design
Full Class Project: Complete Show Design
Performing Outdoors Part 2: Safety Considerations
Performing Outdoors Part 2: Safety Considerations
Performing Outdoors Part 1: Technical Considerations
Performing Outdoors Part 1: Technical Considerations

Enjoy a Front Row Seat to Our Newsletter!

Subscribe for our exciting updates, insights, teaching resources, and new script releases. Plus, sign up now and get 4 plays and 2 lesson plans for FREE!

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Theatrefolk is the Drama Teacher Resource Company. We are your one stop shop for Plays, Resources, and Curriculum Support - all specifically designed for High School and Middle School drama teachers.
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