Drama teachers asked to invite local MPs to performances in DTEA initiative
Hattie Fisk
Thursday, January 20, 2022
The plan aims to host a performance to government representatives in all 533 constituencies across England, and encourages each attending group to tailor the performance to suit the needs of their circumstances.
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The Drama and Theatre Education Alliance (DTEA) is asking teachers in schools, lecturers in universities and drama schools and youth theatre practitioners to invite their local MP, School Governors and policymakers to be guests at a production or workshop on 18 March.
The initiative aims to host a performance in all 533 constituencies across England and encourages each attending group to tailor the performance to suit the needs of their circumstances. The performance could be either a new or existing work. Examples include a short performance by children and young people in a school, a drama-centred assembly, or a cross-curricular drama project in school.
Aligning with the World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People on 20 March, DTEA’s initiative aims to raise MP awareness and tackle the lack of support for Drama in schools, exacerbated by the impact of Covid-19 to theatres.
In a statement, the chair of the DTEA Steve Ball and Geoff Readman, the chair of National Drama, said: ‘We understand that you are all very busy at the moment, but the DTEA believes that is essential to create dialogue and further understanding about drama and theatre education before it is too late. We speak with the support of all the National Drama Associations.’
To organise an event, contact the DTEA directly or register on the website. www.dtealliance.co.uk
