Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book provides an introduction to the practice of teaching of drama with examples of activities, lessons and approaches to planning. Drama is both a subject in its own right and one that can be integrated with other subjects to create compelling learning experiences. The book explores the relationship of drama to other arts and concepts of learning and language development. It examines changing approaches to teaching Shakespeare. The book discusses the place of performance in the lesson as well as in the context of the wider culture of the school. It considers the use of digital technology in drama teaching. The book also discusses the problems involved in describing progression in drama and emphasizes the need to describe achievement in ways which do not reduce the subject to a mechanistic acquisition of skills.