Overview

I don't know much about drama – how do I go about choosing the 'right' show for my students? Our school has a wide range of backgrounds and abilities – how can I ensure fairness for all in the production? I barely have any time to spare – how can I rehearse this every week? My school has no budget for a production, how can I make our production pay for itself? Given how daunting it can feel to be charged with putting on a school play, this book is essential for teachers new to school shows and a valuable aid for the more experienced. It serves as an invaluable guide to producing work from all-time favourite blockbusters (such as Grease and Oliver!) to more obscure straight plays and comedies. From cautionary tales to regular simple lists of dos and don’ts, and covering topics from clearing performing rights and managing the budget to looking after your own mental health, this book gives you all you need to produce and direct a successful school production and take the headache out of the job.

Full Product Details

Author:   Jason Hanlan (Former Head of Performing Arts)
Publisher:   Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Imprint:   Methuen Drama
ISBN:  

9781350501775

ISBN 10:   1350501778
Pages:   256
Publication Date:   19 February 2026
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational ,  A / AS level
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments About this book A bit about me Introduction 1What is a school production? 2The right order 3The right stuff 4What’s out there 5Selling it to the boss 6Selling it to the students 7Performing rights and permissions 8Visions & venues 9Putting your team together 10Directors & directing 11Musical directors and choreographers 12Designing and making your set and props 13Money stuff and front of house 14Sound and light and all things technical 15Stage managing 16Costumes, makeup and hair 17Your cast and their parents 18Timescales, lists and schedules 19Auditions and casting 20First cast and crew meeting 21Rehearsing 22The language of the theatre 23A collection of minor disasters 24How it played out 25A shout out for Shakespeare! 26So what are we doing next? Appendices

Reviews

This book reads like a welcome conversation with an experienced colleague in the staffroom, and it is full of insights. ... it'll sit close by on your shelf to delve in and out of for years. * Drama & Theatre Magazine on Jason Hanlan's book ""200 Plays for GCSE and A-Level Performance"" *

Author Information

Jason Hanlan has built and led a drama department in a secondary school and been Head of Performing Arts. Over the last twenty-eight years he has directed/produced more than 40 shows, from the all singing, all dancing musicals to small intimate studio performance. He was LEA advisor for Surrey secondary drama and Lead Teacher for Drama in Berkshire. He has worked for AQA drama GCSE as a moderator and senior moderator for 12 years and, as part of this role, has been Coursework Advisor for teachers of GCSE Drama throughout the UK. He has been a senior moderator for AQA Performing Arts for four years and run teacher inset and training courses. He was previously Profesor De Teatro at Colegio Las Candelas Mendoza Argentina and is currently Asesor Académico del Programa de Arte de la Universidad Congreso. (Academic Consultant for the Arts at The Congreso University, Argentina).

Tab Content 6

Author Website:  

Countries Available

All regions