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Teacher resources

Two people holding hands turning back to look at something behind them

Explore creativity in your classroom with fun activity ideas, short films and downloadable resource packs on previous National Theatre productions.

Visiting The Witches with a school group? Explore the post-show activity resources here:

Download the post-show activity pack (PDF 1.1 MB)

Primary teacher resources

A still from the primary resource video 'What is an Actor?' featuring a man with an animated drawing of an audience behind him, a pirate hat and parrot

What is... an Actor?

Find out what an actor actually does.

What is... an Actor?
A still from the primary resource video 'What is a Composer?' featuring a man with an animated drawing of a guitar slung across his shoulder

What is... a Composer?

But theatre isn’t all about acting. Find out what a Composer does.

What is... a Composer?
A still from the primary resource video 'How to be a Designer?' featuring a woman with an animated drawing of an ancient king and a spaceman

What is... a Designer?

What a Designer is.

What is... a Designer?
A still from the primary resource video 'What is a Director?' featuring a woman with animated drawings of people in costume

What is... a Director?

And what a Director does.

What is... a Director?
A still from the primary resource video 'What is a playwright?' featuring a woman with the words 'the first thing I'll do' behind her and animated lightbulbs

What is... a Playwright?

And finally, what a Playwright does.

What is... a Playwright?

Five Creative Ways

Quick drama exercises to use within the classroom

Start the day

Start the day

Close the day

Close the day

Energise your class!

Energise your class!

Prepare the class to focus

Prepare the class to focus

Have a brain break

Have a brain break

Let’s Play resources

Industry professionals provide their insights to help you create wonderful drama within the classroom

Let's Make It Up Toolkit

Create a short performance around any topic or theme for assembly or other moments in the school year.

Visit YouTube to watch our Let's Make It Up resources

Let's Perform Voice Work

Exercises to make the best of children’s voices in performance.

Visit YouTube to watch our Let's Play: Voice Work resources

Let's Perform Director's Tips

Short videos to support the process of directing your school production.

Visit YouTube to watch our Let's Play Director's tips resources

Making 2D articulated puppets

Toby Olie (Pinocchio, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe) takes you through steps to make simple 2D articulated puppets to use in performance. 

Visit YouTube to watch our puppet making resources

Design Ideas

Designer Delyth Taylor provides lots of ideas for creating backgrounds, props and costumes using simple and cheap materials. 

Visit YouTube to watch our Design Ideas resources

Recent secondary resources

The Boy with Two Hearts poster image photomontage of two young boys, birds flying in the sky, people walking in single file and a mosque and buildings
Play Video

How We Made It: Creative Choices

The Boy with Two Hearts at the National Theatre

Play Video
Two people holding hands turning back to look at something behind them

The Ocean at the End of the Lane

Based on the novel by Neil Gaiman
Adapted for the stage by Joel Horwood
Directed by Katy Rudd
Photograph by Manuel Harlan

The Ocean at the End of the Lane
A production photo of 'Our Generation' at the National Theatre in 2022 featuring a young female actor flashing a big grin

Our Generation

By Alecky Blythe
Directed by Daniel Evans
Photograph by Johan Persson

Our Generation

Archive secondary resource packs & rehearsal diaries

A production photo from 'some trace of her' at the National Theatre in 2008 featuring Hattie Morahan and Ben Whishaw standing close together lit by candlelight

...some trace of her (2008)

Inspired by The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Adapted by Katie Mitchell and the Company, from the translation by David Magarshack
The production also uses the poems of Emily Dickinson
Photograph by Stephen Cummiskey

...some trace of her (2008)
A production image from 'A Dream Play' at the National Theatre in 2005 featuring an image of a man looking pensive overlaid on top of a man falling through a door

A Dream Play (2005)

By August Strindberg, in a new version by Caryl Churchill
With additional material by Katie Mitchell and the Company
Photograph by Stephen Cummiskey

A Dream Play (2005)
A production image of 'A Streetcar Named Desire' at the National Theatre, 2002, featuring Iain Glen, Glenn Close and Essie Davis sat around a table

A Streetcar Named Desire (2002)

By Tennessee Williams
Directed by Trevor Nunn
Photograph by Catherine Ashmore

A Streetcar Named Desire (2002)

A Taste of Honey (2014)

By Shelagh Delany
Directed by Bijan Sheibani
Photograph by Marc Brenner

A Taste of Honey (2014)
A production shot of Jodie Prenger and Gemma Dobson in 'A Taste of Honey' at the National Theatre, 2019 with a young woman sat on a sofa looking unhappy and her mother standing up behind her

A Taste of Honey (2019)

By Shelagh Delaney
Directed by Bijan Sheibani
Photograph by Marc Brenner

A Taste of Honey (2019)
A production photo from 'All My Sons' at the National Theatre in 2000, featuring a father and son staring at each other

All My Sons (2000)

By Arthur Miller
Directed by Howard Davies
Photograph by Ivan Kyncl

All My Sons (2000)
A production photo from 'All's Well That Ends Well' at the National Theatre in 2009 featuring four female actors sat in a row, all dressed in bright clothing

All's Well That Ends Well (2009)

By William Shakespeare
Directed by Marianne Elliott
Photograph by Simon Annand

All's Well That Ends Well (2009)

Antony & Cleopatra (2018)

By William Shakespeare
Directed by Simon Godwin
Photograph by Johan Persson

Antony & Cleopatra (2018)

Attempts on Her Life (2007)

By Martin Crimp
Directed by Katie Mitchell and the Company
Photograph by Stephen Cummiskey

Attempts on Her Life (2007)
A production photo of 'DNA' at the National Theatre in 2008, featuring two young males in school uniform looking anxious

Baby Girl / DNA / The Miracle (2008)

Baby Girl by Roy Williams
DNA by Dennis Kelly (pictured, photograph by Robert Workman)
The Miracle by Lin Coghlan
Directed by Paul Miller

Baby Girl / DNA / The Miracle (2008)
A group of people standing in formation wearing Greek theatre masks

Bacchai (2002)

By Euripides, in a new version by Colin Teevan
Directed by Peter Hall
Photograph by Manuel Harlan

Bacchai (2002)
A production image from 'Behind the Beautiful Forevers' at the National Theatre, 2014, featuring a man giving a piggy back ride to another man who is brandishing a curved sword

Behind the Beautiful Forevers (2014)

Based on the book by Katherine Boo
Adapted for the stage by David Hare
Directed by Rufus Norris
Photograph by Richard Hubert Smith

Behind the Beautiful Forevers (2014)

Best Mates (2000)

By Sarah Daniels
Directed by John Burgess

Best Mates (2000)
A production photo from 'Blood and Gifts' at the National Theatre in 2010 featuring a man in a shirt and trousers sat talking to another man in Afghan dress

Blood and Gifts (2010)

By JT Rogers
Directed by Howard Davies
Photograph by Richard Hubert Smith 

Blood and Gifts (2010)
A production image from 'Blue/Orange' at the National Theatre, 2000, featuring actors Bill Nighy (standing, with his hand over his face) and Chiwetel Ejiofor (seated, gazing at the floor)

Blue/Orange (2000)

By Joe Penhall
Directed by Roger Michell
Photograph by Ivan Kyncl

Blue/Orange (2000)
A production photo of 'Buried Child' at the National Theatre in 2004 featuring an actor in a trucker hat in the foreground, slumped on the floor smiling. In the background are three other actors.

Buried Child (2004)

By Sam Shepard
Directed by Matthew Warchus
Photograph by Manuel Harlan 

Buried Child (2004)
A production photo of 'Caroline, or Change' at the National Theatre in 2006 featuring a Black female actor carrying her jacket and purse, smoking and mid-song

Caroline, or Change (2006)

Book and lyrics by Tony Kushner
Music by Jeanine Tesori
Directed by George C Wolfe
Photograph by Catherine Ashmore

Caroline, or Change (2006)

Cyrano de Bergerac (2004)

By Edmond Rostand, in a new version by Derek Mahon
Directed by Howard Davies
Photograph by Ivan Kyncl 

Cyrano de Bergerac (2004)
A production photo of 'Dido, Queen of Carthage' at the National Theatre in 2009 featuring actor Siobhan Redmon cradling a youngchild with an older child wearing wings looking over them both

Dido, Queen of Carthage (2009)

By Christopher Marlowe
Directed by James Macdonald
Photograph by Johan Persson

Dido, Queen of Carthage (2009)
A production image from 'East is East' at the Birmingham Rep, 2021, featuring a group of young people hanging out

East is East (2021)

By Ayub Khan Din
Directed by Iqbal Khan
Photograph by Pamela Raith

East is East (2021)
A production image of 'Edward II' at the National Theatre, 2013, featuring actors Vanessa Kirby, John Heffernan and Kyle Soller in heated discussion

Edward II (2013)

By Christopher Marlowe
Directed by Joe Hill-Gibbins
Photograph by Alastair Muir

Edward II (2013)
A production image from 'Elmina's Kitchen' featuring actors Kwame Kwei-Armah and Dona Croll embracing

Elmina's Kitchen (2005)

By Kwame Kwei-Armah
Directed by Angus Jackson
Photograph by Tristram Kenton

Elmina's Kitchen (2005)
A promotional image for 'Evening at the Talk House' featuring a sponge cake heaped with mouldy fruit

Evening at the Talk House (2015)

By Wallace Shawn
Directed by Ian Rickson

Evening at the Talk House (2015)
A production image from 'FELA!' featuring Sahr Ngaujah as Fela Kuti in a blue suit surrounded by dancers

FELA! A scheme of work for KS3 (2010)

Based on the music of Fela Kuti, with additional music by Aaron Johnson and Jordan McLean
Book by Bill T. Jones and Jim Lewis
Photograph by Tristram Kenton

FELA! A scheme of work for KS3 (2010)
A production photo of 'Fram' at the National Theatre in 2008 featuring actors Mark Addy and Jasper Britton dressed in large fur coats on a frosty ship

Fram (2008)

By Tony Harrison
Directed by Tony Harrison and Bob Crowley
Photograph by Nobby Clark 

Fram (2008)
A production image from 'From Morning to Midnight' at the National Theatre, 2013, featuring actor Adam Godley behind a desk with a large metal grill around him

From Morning to Midnight (2013)

By Georg Kaiser, in a new version by Dennis Kelly
Directed by Melly Still
Photograph by Johan Persson

From Morning to Midnight (2013)
A production image of Simon Russell Beale as Hamlet and Denis Quilley as Gravedigger, laughing and holding a skull, at the National Theatre, 2000

Hamlet (2000)

By William Shakespeare
Directed by John Caird
Photograph by Catherine Ashmore

Hamlet (2000)
A production photo of 'Hedda Gabler' from 2016 featuring actor Lizzy Watts in a white slip dress against a saturated gold background

Hedda Gabler (2016)

By Henrik Ibsen, in a new version by Patrick Marber
Directed by Ivo van Hove
Photograph by Brinkhoff/Moegenburg

Education Pack

Rehearsal Diaries

A production photo of 'Henry IV Part I' at the National Theatre in 2005 featuring actor David Harewood as Hotspur

Henry IV Parts 1 and 2 (2005)

By William Shakespeare
Directed by Nicholas Hytner
Photograph by Catherine Ashmore

Henry IV Parts 1 and 2 (2005)
A production image of 'Henry V' at the National Theatre, 2003, featuring Adrian Lester giving a speech dressed in army uniform

Henry V (2003)

By William Shakespeare
Directed by Nicholas Hytner
Photograph by Tristram Kenton

Henry V (2003)
A production photo of 'His Dark Materials' at the National Theatre in 2003 featuring actor Anna Maxwell Martin as Lyra

His Dark Materials (2003)

Based on the novels by Philip Pullman
Adapted for the stage by Nicholas Wright
Directed by Nicholas Hytner
Photograph by Ivan Kyncl

His Dark Materials (2003)
A production photo of 'Home' at the National Theatre Shed performance space in 2013 featuring actor Michaela Coel

Home (2014)

Written and directed by Nadia Fall
Photograph by Ellie Kurttz

Home (2014)
A production photo of 'The Hush' at the National theatre in 2013 featuring a man in silhouette against a background featuring an underlit closet with lots of pairs of shoes

The Hush (2013)

Created by Matthew Herbert and Ben Power
Original music and sound scores by Matthew Herbert
Directed by Matthew Herbert
Photograph by Simon Kane 

The Hush (2013)
A production image of 'John' at the National Theatre, 2018, featuring three people on a staircase with a collection of dolls on the shelves behind them

John (2018)

By Annie Baker
directed by James Macdonald
Photograph by Stephen Cummiskey

John (2018)
A production image of 'Julie' at the National Theatre, 2018, featuring actor Vanessa Kirby in a party outfit with a drink

Julie (2018)

By Polly Stenham, after August Strindberg
Directed by Carrie Cracknell
Photograph by Richard Hubert Smith

Julie (2018)
A production image of 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' at the National Theatre in 2016 featuring actor Sharon D Clarke in a black and green dress standing at a microphone

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2016)

By August Wilson
Directed by Dominic Cooke
Photograph by Johan Persson

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2016)
A production image of 'Macbeth' at the National Theatre, 2018, featuring actor Rory Kinnear listening to another actor, Stephen Boxer, lecture him against a bleak backdrop featuring a plastic-covered chair and long ramp

Macbeth (2018)

By William Shakespeare
Directed by Rufus Norris
Photograph by Brinkhoff/Moegenburg

 

Macbeth (2018)
A production image from 'Macbeth' on tour, 2018, featuring actor Tom Mannion in a red suit against a bleak backdrop

Macbeth on tour (2018/19)

By William Shakespeare
Directed by Rufus Norris
Photograph by Brinkhoff/Moegenburg

Education Pack

Rehearsal diaries

Two men stand beside the counter in a 1930s Café. One is dressed smartly in white dinner jacket and black bow-tie.

Master Harold... and the boys (2019)

By Athol Fugard
Directed by Roy Alexander Weise
Photograph by Helen Murray

Master Harold... and the boys (2019)
A production photo of 'Moon on a Rainbow Shawl' at the National Theatre in 2012 featuring a female actor comforting a crying male actor

Moon on a Rainbow Shawl (2012)

By Errol John
Directed by Michael Buffong
Photograph by Jonathan Keenan

Moon on a Rainbow Shawl (2012)
A production photo of 'Much Ado About Nothing' at the National Theatre in 2007 featuring actor Zoë Wanamaker in a straw hat emerging from a pool

Much Ado About Nothing (2007)

By William Shakespeare
Directed by Nicholas Hytner
Photograph by Catherine Ashmore 

Much Ado About Nothing (2007)
A production photo of 'Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear - the Musical!' at the National Theatre in 2019 featuring two actors in curly wigs and multi-coloured clothing

Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear (2019)

Book and lyrics by Andy Standton
Music by Jim Fortune
Directed by Amy Hodge
Photograph by The Other Richard

Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear (2019)
A production photograph of Ralph Fiennes as Oedipus in the National Theatre Production from 2008, on the floor screaming in pain

Oedipus (2008)

By Sophocles, in a new version by Frank McGuinness
Directed by Jonathan Kent
Photograph by Catherine Ashmore

Oedipus (2008)
A production image of 'One Man, Two Guvnors' on tour, 2014 featuring a group of people in 50s clothing making a wincing face

One Man, Two Guvnors Tour (2014)

By Richard Bean
Based on The Servant of Two Masters by Carlo Goldini
Songs by Grant Olding
Directed by Nicholas Hytner
Photograph by Johan Persson

One Man, Two Guvnors Tour (2014)
A production photo of 'Phèdre' at the National Theatre in 2009 featuring actor Helen Mirren embracing actor Dominic Cooper from behind

Phèdre (2009)

By Jean Racine, in a version by Ted Hughes
Directed by Nicholas Hytner
Photograph by Catherine Ashmore

Phèdre (2009)
A production photo of 'The Revenger's Tragedy' at the National Theatre in 2008 featuring actor Rory Kinnear with his arms flung wide

The Revenger's Tragedy (2008)

By Thomas Middleton
Directed by Melly Still
Photograph by Johan Persson

The Revenger's Tragedy (2008)
A production image of 'Rutherford and Son' at the National Theatre, 2019. featuring actor Roger Allam standing behind a table looking upset

Rutherford and Son (2019)

By Githa Sowerby
Directed by Polly Findlay
Photograph by Johan Persson

Rutherford and Son (2019)
A production photo of 'Saint Joan' at the National theatre in 2007 featuring actor Anne-Marie Duff on her knees praying with a man's hand on the top of her head

Saint Joan (2007)

By Bernard Shaw
Directed by Marianne Elliott
Photograph by Kevin Cummins

Saint Joan (2007)
An image of 'Slow Time' in rehearsal with a man gesticulating angrily with a script in hand

Slow Time (2005)

By Roy Williams
Directed by Matt Wilde
Rehearsal photograph by Simon Annand

Slow Time (2005)

Small Island (2019)

Based on the novel by Andrea Levy
Adapted for the stage by Helen Edmundson
Directed by Rufus Norris
Photograph by Johan Persson

Small Island (2019)
A production photo of 'Strange Interlude' at the National Theatre in 2013 featuring four actors, including Anne-Marie Duff, standing and sitting around in a house

Strange Interlude (2013)

By Eugene O’Neill
Directed by Simon Godwin
Photograph by Johan Persson

Strange Interlude (2013)
A production image of 'Tartuffe' at the National Theatre, 2019, featuring actor Olivia Williams crawling towards actor Denis O'Hare on a sofa

Tartuffe (2019)

By Molière, in a new version by John Donnelly
Directed by Blanche McIntyre
Photograph by Manuel Harlan

Tartuffe (2019)
A woman with red hair floating in a starry sky wearing a pale blue ballgown

The Light Princess (2013)

Music and lyrics by Tori Amos
Book and lyrics by Samuel Adamson
Suggested by a story by George MacDonald
Directed by Marianne Elliott

The Light Princess (2013)
A production image of 'The Plough and the Stars' at the National Theatre, 2016, featuring actors Fionn Walton and Judith Roddy sat with their foreheads touching

The Plough and the Stars (2016)

By Sean O’Casey
Directed by Jeremy Herrin and Howard Davies
Photograph by Johan Persson

The Plough and the Stars (2016)
A production photo of 'Three Sisters' at the National Theatre in 2003 featuring actors Anna Maxwell Martin and Eve Best

Three Sisters (2003)

By Anton Chekhov, in a version by Nicholas Wright
Directed by Katie Mitchell
Photograph by Ivan Kyncl

Three Sisters (2003)
A production image of 'Translations' at the National Theatre, 2018, featuring actor Ciaran Hinds standing underneath a rusty railing

Translations (2018)

By Brian Friel
Directed by Ian Rickson
Photograph by Catherine Ashmore

Translations (2018)
A production shot of 'War Horse' from the National Theatre, 2019 featuring an actor on Joey, the puppet horse enginerred by an actor

War Horse

Based on the novel by Michael Murpurgo
Adapted for the stage by Nick Stafford
Directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris
Photograph by Brinkhoff/Moegenburg

2007 education pack

2011 education pack

A production photo of 'When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other' at the National Theatre in 2019 featuring actors Stephen Dillane and Cate Blanchett

When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other (2019)

By Martin Crimp
12 Variations on Samuel Richardson’s Pamela
Directed by Katie Mitchell
Photograph by Stephen Cummiskey

When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other (2019)
A production photo of 'wonder.land' at the National Theatre in 2015 featuring a female actor dressed in an Alice costume with an actor dressed in a large silver suit holding an umbrella and another actor dressed in a school uniform

wonder.land (2015)

Created by Damon Albarn, Moira Buffini and Rufus Norris
Music by Damon Albarn
Book and lyrics by Moira Buffini
Directed by Rufus Norris
Photograph by Brinkhoff/Moegenburg

wonder.land (2015)

Teacher resources from the Black Plays Archive

Cuttin' It (2016)

By Charlene James
Directed by Gbolahan Obisesan
Premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, 2016, in a co-production with the Young Vic, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Sheffield Theatres and The Yard Theatre

Cuttin' It (2016)

Three Sisters (2019)

By Inua Ellams, after Anton Chekhov
Directed by Nadia Fall
Co-production with Fuel Theatre

Three Sisters (2019)

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