Welcome to a new year, full of promise for your drama classroom.
With purses tight and CPD opportunities hard to come by for teachers, an extra helping hand is always welcome. So, if you are on the hunt for a new array of resources that can assist your teaching practice over the next year, then you are in the right place.
Here are 5 free resources in for UK-based drama teachers that we think you should know about for 2025.
1)The Learning Hub, The National Theatre
The Learning Hub is a new free, online library of National Theatre resources. Here you can find teaching tools for curriculum set texts or explore creativity, literacy and oracy using theatre and drama skills. The hub includes free downloadable PDF resources, short-form videos with educational content, learning outcomes and production information, and a filterable page where you can enter your desired key stage or theatre style.
nationaltheatre.org.uk/learn-explore/schools/teacher-resources/
2)Little Angel Theatre’s Education Packs
If you are searching for resources on puppetry, especially for working with primary, then this is the company to look at. Little Angel Theatre release free education packs for all of their shows, containing ideas for puppet-making and ways to explore the themes that each show covers. These resources are free for anyone to use, regardless of if you are attending the show or not. They also currently have 3 brilliant digital packs at reasonable prices that were created during the pandemic as part of their Watch, Make, Share programme, and if you are looking for teacher training opportunities they also run those regularly.
littleangeltheatre.com/for-schools/resources
3)Drama Resource Website
If you are a Drama teacher in the UK, you have probably heard about this website. Full of expert advice, Drama Resource has reams of tips that can assist your practice. Use the searchable directory of drama games to break the ice with a new group of students, or encourage creativity through some of the drama strategies outlined in lesson plans. While some resources are behind a paywall, there is a huge amount to be gained by poking around this brilliant website. My personal favourite is the ‘Family Portraits’ drama game!
4)Spotlight On from Digital Theatre +
This series of short, accessible educational videos provide insights into key topics you will be covering in class. Only one-minute long, topics of the videos include Shakespeare, Theatre Foundations, production teams and theatre from around the world. These can be great intros to put on a screen while you get handouts ready for your lesson, or a useful as a quick refresher for your own knowledge.
digitaltheatreplus.com/free-teaching-resources-theatre
5) The Scene Newsletter
Last, but by no means least, is this spectacular newsletter for Drama educators. The Scene is a free weekly newsletter published every Saturday morning, ensuring that theatre teachers can start their weekend with a comprehensive update on the latest happenings in the theatre industry. Among other elements, my favourite part of the newsletter is its ‘Big Ideas’ section, which provides educators with tips, resources, ideas, and inspiration specifically tailored to the needs of theatre teachers. I strongly advise any and all teachers to sign up – it’s free and is a brilliant way to keep you up-to-date with the latest theatre news, despite your busy schedule.
