Theatrefolk - The Drama Teacher Resource Company

Drama Teacher Learning Centre

Our Learning Centre is dedicated to providing drama teachers with insightful and engaging information for all things theatre!
Whether you're looking for articles, exercises, tips, or resources for teaching theatre in the classroom or on the stage, you'll find it all here.
We're dedicated to sharing our passion for theatre while making sure you have everything you need to make your theatre program shine!

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Featured Articles

The Female Edison
Featured Article
Theatrefolk Featured Play: The Female Edison

Welcome to our Featured Play Spotlight. The Female Edison by Lindsay Price is an incredible ensemble piece with something for everyone!

Margaret E. Knight was a 19th century inventor with two big but forgotten stories.

At 12 years of age, while working at a textile factory, she invented a part to improve the safety of a power loom. How did she not only get mill management to listen to her idea but implement it?

As an adult, she invented a machine to mass-produce flat bottom paper bags. This invention was eventually stolen from her so she hired a lawyer to take the case to court. The defense was that “there is no way a woman could have invented this.” How did Margaret persist and secure her place in the annals of invention?

NOTE: There are also two independent one-act versions of the script available that can both be performed without any knowledge of the other: Patterns & Power: The Female Edison and Failure & Fortitude: The Female Edison.

Let's hear from the author!


1. Why did you write this play?

A lot of times I go down rabbit holes of research because of some observation that came across my world view. That's what happened which led me to Margaret E. Knight and her paper bag machine invention. There isn't a lot about her online, but everything I read made me excited to share her story theatrically.


2. Describe the theme in one or two sentences?

Failure and fortitude are the touchstones for every inventor, but even more so for 19th century female inventors.


3. What's the most important visual for you in this play?

I love seeing the 19th century machines come to life through actors. I knew, writing this for schools and student performers that any of the machines would have to be actor driven rather than actual set pieces. It took a long time in my research to figure out how to turn a power loom into three different action sets and how to turn Margaret's mass-produced paper bag machine into action. But I love the results.


4. If you could give one piece of advice for those producing the play, what would it be?

There's a lot of ensemble work in this play and a lot of moving pieces as actors enter and exit. The more you practice transitions the smoother the flow of the piece will be. Also, don't be put off by the number of traditional male roles. It is my intention that the majority of the roles are played by the actors who best suited for the role regardless of their gender.


5. Why is this play great for student performers?

It has everything! Some history, characters fighting and succeeding through great adversity - I mean, someone tried to steal Margaret's patent for the paper bag machine to the point that she had to go to court and get it back. In a time period when a married woman wasn't even allowed to put her own name on a patent, the fact that she won her case is remarkable. Further to that, there is so much ensemble opportunity in the play. You can really expand the cast size if you want.


6. Who is your favourite character in the play? OR Which character would you be in this play?

Margaret all the way! I love her story. She had everything against her: no schooling, no desire to be "normal" in an era that really required women to be and act in a certain way, and in court, the man who stole her patent said that "there was no way a woman could have understood such mechanical complexities" And yet she still persevered.


7. What is your favourite line in the play?

"I am not a cog in any machine."

Getting to Know Your Students: How I Like to Learn
Featured Article
Getting to Know Your Students: How I Like to Learn

When you’re starting out a new term, it’s always a priority to get to know your drama students, whether they’re new to you or returning for another class. We have lots of resources for fun ways to get to know your students, including active games and novelties, icebreaker questions, and bingo. These activities are great for discovering your students’ likes and dislikes, learning interesting facts about them, and gaining some insight into why they’re taking drama class.

You can also use questionnaires to get to know your students better. The advantage of using questionnaires in class is that they can be kept confidential, which means students can be a bit more forthcoming with their answers than when they’re working in a large group or with classmates they may not know very well. We have a questionnaire to find out about your students’ past theatrical experiences with drama and theatre, as well as a questionnaire to gauge your students’ previous theatrical knowledge.


It’s also helpful to know what kind of learners your students are. Some students are visual learners, who learn best by reading or watching examples. Some students are auditory learners, who learn best by listening to instructions. Some students are kinesthetic learners, who learn best by getting up and practicing the tasks right away. Some students may need additional support for their learning, such as more time to read the material, an aide or interpreter, or working with a peer. Some students thrive in a busy, active environment, while others work best when it’s quiet and calm. Some students hate group work, while others need at least one partner to keep them on task.

Some of this information may previously have been given to you, if your students already have an IEP (individualized education program) or similar identified learning accommodation. However, regardless of whether your students are neurotypical or neurodiverse, or whether they have a diagnosis or not, it is beneficial to you to know how you can best support your students in their learning journey. Even knowing what other classes your students have this semester is helpful information to have. You won’t be able to provide every single accommodation, but you might be able to make some adjustments so that you’re employing a wider variety of lesson delivery techniques, offering choices on how your students can learn and present the lesson material, or avoiding assigning a huge project that’s due the same week as their big chemistry lab or history test.


Some topics you might want to ask about in your learning style questionnaire include:

  • Learning styles (auditory, kinesthetic, visual), if known
  • Learning preferences (projects, worksheets, lectures, hands-on activities, etc.)
  • Students’ tolerance for noise in the classroom
  • Whether students work better individually, with a partner, in small groups, or in large groups
  • Whether students prefer to do homework at home or complete it during class time (if available)
  • Accommodations that students could benefit from
  • What students wished their classmates or teacher knew about them
  • Topic preferences (students might take drama but hate acting — are there options for them?)

You can format your questionnaire with circle answers, checkboxes, or short answer sections — whatever works. It’s nice to have a variety of types of questions to answer. Leave space for students to include additional notes or explanations, and reiterate to them that you will keep responses confidential. Check out our questionnaire template at the bottom of this article for a formatting example.

Be sure to thank your students for their time and honesty, as it will truly benefit everyone in the classroom (anonymously, of course). And as much as possible, apply their responses to your classroom and lessons! Your follow-through will demonstrate that you genuinely care and are listening. And when students have the resources in place to help them, they will be that much closer to success.


Additional Resources:

Giving Instructions for Different Learning Styles
The Inclusive Classroom: Drama Class for Students with Special Needs
Tips for Running a Relaxed Performance of Your Show
(this article gives ideas about making accommodations for various student needs)

September Reading List
Featured Article
September Reading List: School-Themed Plays

September has arrived and it's time to hit the books - but with a twist! This month, we're showcasing a wonderful assortment of plays, all set within the hallowed halls of education.

It's time to build your September reading list! So grab a cup of tea, find your favourite reading spot, and cozy up with these fantastic perusal plays. Celebrate these plays on the stage or in the classroom!


Latest Articles

Playwriting Exercise: Baby Photo Prompt
Playwriting Exercise: Baby Photo Prompt
Reverse Icebreakers
Reverse Icebreakers
One of a Kind: A Getting to Know You Game
One of a Kind: A Getting to Know You Game
The Female Edison
Theatrefolk Featured Play: The Female Edison
Getting to Know Your Students: How I Like to Learn
Getting to Know Your Students: How I Like to Learn
September Reading List
September Reading List: School-Themed Plays

Acting

Acting in Everyday Life
Acting in Everyday Life
Acting the Issue Play
Acting the Issue Play
Onstage “Awareness” Improv Game: Sit, Stand, Kneel
Onstage “Awareness” Improv Game: Sit, Stand, Kneel
Questioning Your Character (Without Judgment)
Questioning Your Character (Without Judgment)
“Let’s Try That Again”: Taking Direction in an Audition
“Let’s Try That Again”: Taking Direction in an Audition
How to Practice Cold Reading
How to Practice Cold Reading

Classroom Exercise

Spooky Special Effects Challenge
Spooky Special Effects Challenge
Warm-Up Exercise: Positive Self-Talk
Warm-Up Exercise: Positive Self-Talk
Playwriting Exercise: Baby Photo Prompt
Playwriting Exercise: Baby Photo Prompt
Choice Board Exercise: Portraying Emotions
Choice Board Exercise: Portraying Emotions
Scene and Song Analysis Using Emojis
Scene & Song Analysis Using Emojis
Emotional Sound Design & Tableau Group Exercise
Emotional Sound Design & Tableau Group Exercise

Classroom Management

Getting to Know Your Students: How I Like to Learn
Getting to Know Your Students: How I Like to Learn
Developing Classroom Routines and Systems
Developing Classroom Routines and Systems
“I’ll Just Do It Myself…” Encouraging Students to Work Together
“I’ll Just Do It Myself…” Encouraging Students to Work Together
Inclusion in the Drama Classroom: Assessing Your Space
Inclusion in the Drama Classroom: Assessing Your Space
Pros and Cons: Assigned Groups vs. Class-Chosen Groups
Pros and Cons: Assigned Groups vs. Class-Chosen Groups
The Inclusive Classroom: Drama Class for Students with Special Needs
The Inclusive Classroom: Drama Class for Students with Special Needs

Directing

What Type of Director Are You?
What Type of Director Are You?
What Happens When The Director Gets Sick?
What Happens When The Director Gets Sick?
Round-up: Best casting advice for fellow directors
Round-up: Best casting advice for fellow directors
Round-up: Best costuming advice for a new director
Round-up: Best costuming advice for a new director
Getting Ready to Direct Your First Virtual Play
Getting Ready to Direct Your First Virtual Play
Tips for First Time Student Stage Managers
Tips for First Time Student Stage Managers

Distance Learning

Character Study: Self-Awareness
Character Study: Self-Awareness
Making Connections: Students’ Strengths and Character Strengths
Making Connections: Students’ Strengths and Character Strengths
Theatrefolk Featured Play – Virtual Platform by Claire Broome
Theatrefolk Featured Play – Virtual Platform by Claire Broome
Improv Game: Combining Skills
Improv Game: Combining Skills
Improv Game: Imposter
Improv Game: Imposter
Exercise: Outdoor Virtual Monologues
Exercise: Outdoor Virtual Monologues

Diversity

Tips for Supporting Nonbinary Drama Students
Tips for Supporting Nonbinary Drama Students
Theatrefolk Featured Play – Characters Behaving Badly by Lindsay Price
Theatrefolk Featured Play – Characters Behaving Badly by Lindsay Price
Theatrefolk Featured Play – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Theatrefolk Featured Play – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Theatrefolk Featured Play – Moonbow Miraculous by Kirk Shimano
Theatrefolk Featured Play – Moonbow Miraculous by Kirk Shimano
Theatrefolk Featured Play – The Pretty Princess Dollhouse for Pretty Princesses by Emma Fonseca-Halverson
Theatrefolk Featured Play – The Pretty Princess Dollhouse for Pretty Princesses by Emma Fonseca-Halverson
Theatrefolk Featured Play – Finding Jo March by Laramie Dean
Theatrefolk Featured Play – Finding Jo March by Laramie Dean

Featured Plays

The Female Edison
Theatrefolk Featured Play: The Female Edison
Theatrefolk Featured Play - Beauty and the Bee
Theatrefolk Featured Play - Beauty and the Bee
Theatrefolk Featured Play: Winnie-the-Pooh
Theatrefolk Featured Play: Winnie-the-Pooh
Theatrefolk Featured Play - The Battle of Image vs Girl
Theatrefolk Featured Play - The Battle of Image vs Girl
Theatrefolk Featured Play - She Wrote, Died, Then Wrote Some More
Theatrefolk Featured Play - She Wrote, Died, Then Wrote Some More
Theatrefolk Featured Play - A Lighter Shade of Noir
Theatrefolk Featured Play - A Lighter Shade of Noir

Games

One of a Kind: A Getting to Know You Game
One of a Kind: A Getting to Know You Game
Improv Game: The Next Chapter
Improv Game: The Next Chapter
Classic Improv Game: Commercials
Classic Improv Game: Commercials
Theatre Game: Origin Story
Theatre Game: Origin Story
Two Prompts: An Easy Improv Game for When You Just Can’t Think
Two Prompts: An Easy Improv Game for When You Just Can’t Think
Pick a Card: a Getting to Know You Game
Pick a Card: a Getting to Know You Game

General

Theatrefolk: Your Questions Answered
Theatrefolk: Your Questions Answered
Holidays, Celebration and Remembrance Student Playwrights – Chosen Monologues
Holidays, Celebration and Remembrance Student Playwrights – Chosen Monologues
Theatre Educator Profile: Julie
Theatre Educator Profile: Julie
Theatre Educator Profile: Jimmy
Theatre Educator Profile: Jimmy
Theatre Educator Profile: Cynthia
Theatre Educator Profile: Cynthia
Theatre Educator Profile: Michelle
Theatre Educator Profile: Michelle

New Drama Teachers

Top 5 Rules for Building Relationships with Students
Top 5 Rules for Building Relationships with Students
Top 5 Discipline Mistakes New Teachers Make (And how to fix them!)
Top 5 Discipline Mistakes New Teachers Make (And how to fix them!)
Round-up: Best casting advice for fellow directors
Round-up: Best casting advice for fellow directors
Round-up: Best costuming advice for a new director
Round-up: Best costuming advice for a new director

Playwriting

Playwriting Exercise: Baby Photo Prompt
Playwriting Exercise: Baby Photo Prompt
Emotion Prompts
Resource: Tons of Emotion Prompts
Resource: Tons of Rainbow Prompts
Resource: Tons of Rainbow Prompts
Playwriting Exercise: The Next Scene
Playwriting Exercise: The Next Scene
Resource: Tons of Shiny, Shimmery, and Sparkly Prompts
Resource: Tons of Shiny, Shimmery, and Sparkly Prompts
Resource: Tons of Outdoor Prompts!
Resource: Tons of Outdoor Prompts!

Podcast

Theatre as a Teaching Tool
Theatre as a Teaching Tool
Happy Birthday Frankenstein!
Happy Birthday Frankenstein!
Drama Teachers: Take back the classics
Drama Teachers: Take back the classics
Putting together a touring high school show
Putting together a touring high school show
Facilitating a student led production
Facilitating a student led production
Page to Stage: What can you learn in 48 hours?
Page to Stage: What can you learn in 48 hours?

Production

Tips for Running a Relaxed Performance  of Your Show
Tips for Running a Relaxed Performance of Your Show
Round-Up: All About Time Management & Scheduling
Round-Up: All About Time Management & Scheduling
Creating a Pre-Show Checklist
Creating a Pre-Show Checklist
Performance Options: Live Stage, Virtual or Livestream?
Performance Options: Live Stage, Virtual or Livestream?
Online Performance Tips
Online Performance Tips
Tips for First Time Student Stage Managers
Tips for First Time Student Stage Managers

Teaching Drama

Creeptastic Plays and Macabre Musicals for Fall
Creeptastic Plays and Macabre Musicals for Fall
Reverse Icebreakers
Reverse Icebreakers
September Reading List
September Reading List: School-Themed Plays
Emotion Prompts
Resource: Tons of Emotion Prompts
7 Back to School Tips for Drama Teachers
7 Back-to-School Tips for Drama Teachers
Why You Need The Drama Teacher Academy
Why You Need the Drama Teacher Academy

Teaching Resources

The Rehearsal Companion
The Rehearsal Companion
The Audition Toolkit
The Audition Toolkit
Impowerment Improv
Impowerment Improv
The Drama Classroom Companion: Volume 2
The Drama Classroom Companion: Volume 2
Your High School Improv Show Playbook
Your High School Improv Show Playbook
Scene-Spurs: Writing Prompts for Dramatic Depth – Volume Two
Scene-Spurs: Writing Prompts for Dramatic Depth – Volume Two

Technical Theatre

Costume Organization & Storage Tips
Costume Organization & Storage Tips
Full Class Project: Complete Show Design
Full Class Project: Complete Show Design
Performing Outdoors Part 2: Safety Considerations
Performing Outdoors Part 2: Safety Considerations
Performing Outdoors Part 1: Technical Considerations
Performing Outdoors Part 1: Technical Considerations
Exercise: The Tech Effect
Exercise: The Tech Effect
Distance Learning: Technical Theatre
Distance Learning: Technical Theatre

Enjoy a Front Row Seat to Our Newsletter!

Subscribe for our exciting updates, insights, teaching resources, and new script releases. Plus, sign up now and get 4 plays and 2 lesson plans for FREE!

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Theatrefolk is the Drama Teacher Resource Company. We are your one stop shop for Plays, Resources, and Curriculum Support - all specifically designed for High School and Middle School drama teachers.
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