Opinion with Steve Ball

We live and work in challenging times. The Covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine has, for good reason, dominated and shaped media attention, government priorities and our own perspective. Consequently there's less airtime for those of us who seek to advocate for the value of drama and theatre with children and young people.

But it needn't all be doom and gloom. I believe we can make progress in promoting drama and theatre with young people if we bear in mind three things.

Firstly; nobody else is going to do this for us. No one in government is going to advocate for the inclusion of drama in the National Curriculum or an annual entitlement for every child and young person to experience live theatre. It's up to us to join associations and make a social, educational and political case to politicians of all parties.