Drama teachers are some of the most passionate, dedicated educators in any school. They build communities, inspire confidence, and give students a place to express themselves. But they also face an extraordinary range of challenges—some emotional, some logistical, some systemic, and some deeply personal.
Drawing on firsthand perspectives from theatre educators, here are 10 of the most common struggles drama teachers encounter, along with practical strategies for addressing them.
Drama teachers have to wear so many “expert” hats in the classroom: acting, technical theatre, playwriting, theatre history, musical theatre, the list goes on. Many teachers feel driven to incorporate new skills, techniques, subjects, and opportunities all at once for their students, only to discover they’ve overscheduled themselves. The desire to give students everything often leads to doing too much, too fast. It can be overwhelming for everyone.
Tip: Scaffold new material. If you want to include playwriting in your curriculum, don’t start by having students write one-acts. Start with the basics: Write half-page monologues and one-page scenes. Use writing exercises as bell work. Focus on conflict and character development exercises. Slowly work up to five-page scenes and then ten-page scenes. By the end of the semester, your students will realize they are playwrights.
Time management is a constant obstacle for drama teachers. They have to juggle rehearsals, classes, grading, production prep, and extras that often spill into evenings and weekends. How often is your car the last car in the parking lot?
Tip: Create “protected time” blocks where no school-related tasks are allowed. Put it in your calendar. Decide a time at night that you stop looking at your school email. Some teachers don’t ever rehearse on the weekends except for tech week. Work-life balance is important. If you don’t take care of yourself, how can you be your best self for your students?
Drama class is more than playing improv games and putting on plays. There are so many life skills that will serve students well beyond their school days. Drama teachers frequently take on the task of helping students express themselves, find self-confidence, communicate, and work collaboratively. This means students have to take risks in front of their peers. Creating an emotionally brave space where this can happen is a challenge and a responsibility.
Tip: Make ensemble building a priority from day one of the school year. Brave spaces start when students feel comfortable to take risks in their environment. Click here for an article on ensemble thinking, click here for tongue twisters for ensemble building, and here for 20 questions to help students get to know each other.
Standardized testing, state mandates, and accountability metrics often clash with the creative and exploratory nature of theatre. Many teachers struggle to protect creativity in the midst of constant evaluation. Teachers want to create a place where students can be happy, fulfilled, and learn a lot even when they’re dealing with constant testing.
Tip: Establish your classroom as a brave space: a place where students can experience learning that isn’t tied to a test.
Some programs experience tension when new students join in large numbers. Veteran students may feel threatened, while newcomers may feel intimidated. When the kids get along, the shows are so much better. But the theatre family can sometimes be dysfunctional.
Tip: Teach legacy building. Emphasize mentorship, shared ownership, and the idea that a strong program depends on everyone. Create opportunities for student leaders, students leading warm-ups, and student direction projects.
Some drama classes struggle with basic theatre expectations: audience etiquette, reading scripts, following directions, rehearsing, active listening, and staying focused. Students may see the drama classroom as “fun” but not “structured,” even though it takes a lot of discipline to prepare a scene for performance.
Tip: Connect theatre discipline to real-life skills, like professionalism, responsibility, and initiative, and show how they matter beyond the stage.
Large classes are often full of energy and excitement but it can be harder to get to know students individually and meet everyone’s needs. Managing big groups, especially in performance-based classes, makes it difficult for everyone to get meaningful stage time. With a little bit of planning ahead, engaging your large drama class can be a smooth process.
Tip: Learn students’ names quickly to build confidence, connection, and a positive classroom environment. Use repetition, name games, and group collaboration to make it a team effort. Divide and conquer by letting students become experts. Assign groups to research and teach different theatrical styles, present mini-lessons and performances, and incorporate peer evaluation to support learning. Encourage student voice by allowing them to suggest topics, lead units, and create original work such as scenes, improv games, or full-class productions, while also supporting shy students through one-on-one conversations, an open-door policy, and anonymous tools like a query box. Use journals, exit slips, and regular reflections to help students express ideas, track their growth, and inspire future student-led learning.
Some drama classes become a dumping ground for students who don’t have a place anywhere else. That can mean a class full of students with low motivation, resistance to trying new things, or a lack of willingness to engage deeply.
Tip: Divergent learning in the drama classroom isn’t just about better theatre, it’s about building better humans. Learn more about why theatre is the perfect place for meeting students where they’re at, especially when they’re resistant.
Many teachers spend a good part of their year physically or emotionally drained, only to push through long hours and high expectations to keep everything running smoothly. When teachers aren’t at their best, they can’t give their best to their students.
Tip: Come up with strategies for dealing with theatrical burnout and prioritizing self-care.
Some teachers struggle with promotion, whether using social media, community outreach, or traditional marketing, to ensure students perform for a real audience. All any teacher wants is for their students’ work to have an audience.
Tip: Take your students through a theatre marketing exercise and review this top 10 list for marketing your next school production.
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