For school and college groups

Workshops

Our workshops explore some of the key roles involved in making theatre at the NT. They're designed to support drama and theatre studies at KS3, KS4 and AS/A2. All are active sessions, giving students an insight into our current repertoire, past productions and the workings of the NT's three theatres. All are led by professional theatre-makers, many of whom are current NT artists and practitioners and all of whom specialise in the area that each workshop focuses on.

Workshops can incorporate any production in the current NT repertoire although you can still attend our workshops if you're not seeing a show.

ACTING
The NT's ever-changing repertoire and three different theatres require completely different kinds of performance from our Company members. 
What's involved?
Explore voice, physicality and text interpretation - focusing on the production you are seeing but also looking at how different texts, directors and spaces affect how actors develop a role.

DIRECTING
Whether it's Nicholas Hytner, Bijan Sheibani or Katie Mitchell, the NT is home to directors with a wide range of different approaches in rehearsal and with different ideas of what the role of a director should be.
What's involved?
Investigate how directors at the NT work with plays, with actors and with others in a creative team to realise a production. Students have a chance to start thinking like a director, analysing a play and making decisions about how they would direct it.

DESIGN
With costume, props, carpenters, metalworkers, make-up artists and wig-makers all on one site, the NT is a designer's playground.
What's involved?
Follow the process of creating a set and costume design at the NT, from initial sketches to realisation. Looking at the work of different NT designers, and exploring how plays and spaces impact on designs, students create a scale model of their very own set design.

PRODUCING
A theatre producer makes sure that the show happens, on time, on budget and with everyone working at their best. 
What's involved?
Students explore theatre producing by playing the Showbusiness game: working in groups to come up with an original concept for a production at the NT. We give them an imaginary budget and they have to negotiate their way through rehearsal to opening night.

Price: From £150
Date: Any weekday
Time: 2hrs 30mins
Venue: National Theatre or JLES
Suitable for KS3/4, AS/A2 drama and theatre studies students

Q&A

Seeing a production at the NT? Want to know what was going on in the director's mind in rehearsal, or how the actors have developed their performances? Our Q&A sessions are designed to give students a clear understanding of how director, designer and actors have realised the play they're seeing.

Delivered by the Staff Director of the show you're seeing, or by one of our Learning Associates, Q&As are the ideal pre-performance preparation for your students.

Price: £2.50 per student (Teachers free)
Date: Before any performance by arrangement
Time: 60 minutes before the performance for 30 mins
Venue: National Theatre
Suitable for KS4/5 students

To Book 

To arrange a workshop or Q&A session please email learning@nationaltheatre.org.uk or call 020 7452 3388.

Please provide details of your preferred dates, your chosen production or workshop topic and the number and age of students you would like to bring.