Drama Workshop FAQS

 

Booking Process

How do I book? 

Get in touch with us by completing an enquiry form for the workshop you are interested in, or give us a call on 020 7395 7520. One of our friendly office team will provide you with details of the workshop, a suggested timetable and costs. Once we have established a date and provisional schedule for the visit we will then send you our booking confirmation emails which consist of a booking confirmation form to be signed and returned and an accounts email with a deposit invoice.

When are you available to visit?

All of our workshops are available throughout the academic year, except around World Book Day which we dedicate to literacy workshops. We will do our best to accommodate your preferred date, but during busy periods we do get booked up and may offer alternatives. 

During our World Book Day period from 26 February to 15 March 2024, we focus on a selection of specific literacy-focused workshops which you can read about on our World Book Day page. 

Where do you visit?

Our performers and facilitators visit schools across England and Wales for all of our workshops. Get in touch to find out our availability in your area.

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Structure of the day

How long are the workshops?

For all of our individual drama workshops, sessions last between 40-60 minutes for EYFS-KS1 and between 40-90 minutes for KS2. For a selection of our workshops, including Story Explorer drama workshops, we also offer a 30 minute Nursery session.

How many classes can you work with in one day?

We can work with up to six classes in one day. To work with fewer classes we can arrange half day visits, or for more than six classes we can visit across consecutive days.

How many children can participate in each session? 

All of our dance and drama workshops are designed to be delivered to children working in their normal class sizes, approximately 30 children. This allows all children to get the most out of their workshop and interact with our dancer/facilitator during their session. 

How do you organise a day for whole school performance workshops?

We have two options for whole school performance workshops: Poetry and Poppies and Shakespeare Today. During one day we can run six workshops, ideal for a one form entry primary or for six KS2 classes. At the end of the day all the groups will join together to perform their section of the piece to the other groups and their teachers.


Suitability

Are your workshops suitable for children with SEND?

Our most popular drama workshops can be flexibly adapted for children with a range of additional needs. Whether you would like a workshop based on a children’s book, fairytale or a Shakespeare play, we can work with you to address the needs of your children in advance, and tailor our workshops to give them the best possible experience. Find out more about or SEND workshops here.

Do you work with Nursery classes? 

We do offer 30 minute sessions for nursery classes on a selection of our most popular workshops, including Bringing Books to Life dance workshops and Story Explorer drama workshops


Preparing for your workshop

What are the space requirements?

Our workshops are designed to take place in a large space such as the school hall, or an equivalent sized space, so that children can move and freely express themselves. If this isn’t possible, we will be able to relocate to a classroom, providing that furniture is cleared.

What do we need to do before the workshop?

Prior to the workshop we will contact you to confirm your schedule and, where applicable, your book choices. To deliver the workshops we will require the school hall, or a similar size space and access to a sound system. For some of our drama workshops we also require a projector or IWB connected to a laptop or computer with an internet connection. You can find all details of this in your confirmation email. 

Do you bring props or costume?

No, we prefer to focus on the active learning experience of each child, without the need for props or costume. Our workshops are praised for sparking the imagination and creative responses of the children, led by our talented team of facilitators.

Do the children need to be in PE Kit?

We do not require the children to be in their PE kit for the workshops. All workshop sessions are practical and the children will be actively involved, however we have found that children are comfortable and able to participate fully in their normal uniform.


Safety

Can I see a copy of your risk assessment?

You can find all of our risk assessments and relevant insurance information on our safety page. 

Are the workshop leaders DBS checked?

All of our dancers and facilitators hold a current, enhanced DBS which they will bring with them along with photo ID when they visit your school.


If you haven’t found the answer you were looking for please do give us a call on 020 7395 7520 or email office@westendinschools.org.uk and one of our friendly office team will be happy to help!