Half Hour Call

In the first episode of Series 2, Co-founder, Karen Latto interviews Paul Webster and Sam Prince from Pearson to find out more about the work that happens behind the qualifications teachers deliver. 

Within this episode, Paul & Sam explain how qualifications for Drama have been reformed previously and talk us through the process of getting a qualification regulated. Furthermore, listeners can understand more about career development and opportunities within the assessment world of education. 

Find out how teachers and students can get involved in any changes or amendments made to qualifications, Paul talks us through specifically how Pearson modified their current set text list, why they did this and explains the process of selection for the four new texts. 

"Drama is such an important subject...it cuts across every single subject, it should be at the core of every single curriculum at every stage." 

Paul Webster (Subject Advisor for Drama and Performing Arts Qualifications) 

Read the changes to the specification here. 

Read the article discussing these changes from Drama and Theatre magazine here. 

This month, for the last episode of our first series, Ali Warren is in conversation with Jemma McDonnell from Leeds based Theatre Company, The Paper Birds.

Jemma explains about how The Paper Birds strengthened and thought creatively, very quickly in response to the pandemic and how they continue to think outside the box to keep their work alive and relevant. It's music to our ears as Drama teachers and theatre educators as Jemma says "When we started Drama at school I fell in love with theatre!" and look where she is now and what she had achieved. Jemma tells us all about their current project 'The School of Hope' and how to keep up to date with its developments via the website and instagram. 

"Being women in the industry, running a company, which I'd like to say shouldn't be rare...but it still is fairly rare"

This month, Ali Warren talks with Joe from Touchstone, a charity offering transformative workshops for young people with autism. Joe talks us through the principles the practitioners use to ensure every learner gets the most of out of their drama experience with Touchstone. 

The company began nearly 20 years ago in 2001, formed by three actors from the RSC who have found 'marking space' liberating and a tool for empowerment rather than a COVID secure measure for drama teaching! 

From beginning in residency at The Glebe School in Bromley, Kent to preparing for their future with Thomas Ashton School in Manchester they enjoy being 'in the moment', using their practitioner craft, working hard and making the very complex 'in the moment' decisions look straightforward.

"Treat everyone equally within a session because drama can be a real leveller" Joe, Touchstone 

You can read more here: www.touchstone.org.uk 

In this month's episode of 'Half Hour Call' Co-founder and Champion for the East Midlands, Ed Boott interviews Katie Mitchell. 

Their conversation explains more about Katie's influences and phases of her work since 1990 to 2021. Katie reminds us all how even the best sometimes struggle, reflecting on her own imposter syndrome feelings and how in her early days she wasn't successful with any of her bursary applications - it wasn't until she set up her own company on the fringe that he career really took off. 

This informative and warm conversation with Open Drama UK gives us an insight into Katie's world whilst showing how in awe of the teaching profession she is.

"The creativity in a secondary classroom is just as important as an enormous avant-garde production in Berlin!" Katie Mitchell.

*Please be aware that there is a quoted swear word within this interview. 

In this month's episode of 'Half Hour Call' Ali Warren interviews Sarah Lambie (Editor, Drama & Theatre magazine) and George Spender (Founder Publisher and Managing Director at Salamander Street Limited) to discuss all things publishing within the world of drama education. 

Their conversation explains more about the world of writing, understanding the process of submitting writing, the vision for Salamander Street and Drama & Theatre magazine moving forward and why Glasgow's lunchtime theatre scene 'A play, a pie and a pint' is an incredible new writing machine!   

"As we reopen and try to rebuild our society theatre can have an incredibly powerful, civic role for our communities... a lot of the most effective work will be made by and for local communities" George Spender.

In the second episode of 'Half Hour Call' Holly Barradell (currently an Extended member of SLT, Drama teacher with a specialism in Technical Theatre and Champion for Open Drama UK South East) interviews Chris Tindall about his role as a school Technical Theatre Manager. This episode talks about the processes of being a technician, how students learn through failure in the live aspects of making theatre, how you can pitch more strategically for a theatre technician of your own and how to purchase equipment and resources that will support your technical theatre offer. Chris suggests equipment that won't blow a Drama department budget and answers guest questions with clarity and generous offers of support. 

"...if you're a technician in a school environment - making you, your skills and your equipment available to whomever needs it." Chris Tindall.

In the first ever episode of 'Half Hour Call' Ali Warren (Experienced Drama teacher and Champion for Open Drama UK South West) interviews Matthew Nichols about his new book 'The Drama Teachers' Survival Guide.' This lighthearted, informal interview introduces us to Matthew, why he wrote this book, his experiences from teaching, examining and consulting over the last two decades and why so many Drama teachers can relate. 

"There is such solidarity in the Drama teaching community" Matthew Nichols.