Story making: Drama in primary with the Story Makers Company

There is no doubt that we are living in a time of unprecedented change with advancements in technology, religious, social and economic divides and escalating climate change. Children face uncertainty and anxiety about their future. While the world is changing, the current model of education in England has barely changed in the last 200 years. Some might say that it is no longer equipping children to thrive in a modern world. However, I believe that we are missing a trick in not taking drama as a form of critical learning more seriously.

Drama is often seen as a soft or non-academic subject; however, my feeling is that it offers a valuable way to practise the knowledge, skills and dispositions which are critical in developing more positive futures together. I see this as an act of radical care as an educator. That's why my research into drama explores the ways that working together through story can contribute to a contemporary model of curriculum learning. I refer to my own use of drama pedagogy as ‘story making’, which brings together drama, free writing and visual art processes. Within these story worlds children are protected into emotional, social and cultural complexity through the fiction, but they are also addressing real life issues. This exposes them to diverse perspectives and viewpoints which may be different to their own.