Hi all, my name is Mair and I am the ‘Champion’ for the North West of England for Open Drama UK.
I taught secondary for 15 years and I am now at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) completing an MA in Educational Leadership and Management, plus teaching on the PGCE Secondary Drama course. I am an examiner, Governor at a Pupil Referral Unit, plus a content writer for GCSEPod and BBC Bitesize.
What’s happening in your region?
The North West region is a bubbling hotpot of drama on and off the stage!
Conference – our annual get together this year is on Saturday 12th September. Hosted by MMU and welcoming educators from across the region, the focus is on KS4 and 5 support. It is a networking and sharing opportunity, exchanging ideas and tactics for tackling GCSE and A-levels, in particular. The conference will move online if getting together in person is still restricted, so keep the date free either way. More details of how to sign up coming soon!
What is it like being a ‘Champion’?
Promoting the activities, events and network in the North West is a great honour. I love being part of the Drama community and it is wonderful getting to know so many people who are also inspired by creativity, theatre and education.
Having taught in a department for years as the only specialist, I know how isolating it can be at times. Being part of Open Drama UK connects us all, reminds us we aren’t the only ones going through these experiences. It is important to support one another, exchange resources/ ideas/ tips for coping through times of high stress and uncertainty.
It is also really exciting to unite with theatre professionals and help build the bridge between the classroom and industry.
How did the Reading meeting go?
The meeting in Reading in March was an inspiring get together of the Champions. It reminded me about the strength we have as a collective, to work together and support teachers and theatre-makers.
Listening to industry specialists talk about auditions, drama schools, design and much more, was really engaging and thought-provoking. We can all learn new things, no matter the stage of our career.
Fuelling further opportunities for CPD has always been a passion of mine, and with very little high-quality specialist training available for Drama teachers, it is so great to see new opportunities and links building and forming.
What have you been reading/watching?
Like everyone around the world, I have had to get my theatre dose digitally. I have been overwhelmed by the sharing from the theatre world to support everyone in the theatre industry, those teaching and learning remotely, plus parents embarking on home-schooling for the first time.
I enjoyed watching Theatre Alibi’s I believe in Unicorns with my children (see their website) and Wise Children directed by the superb Emma Rice (BBC iPlayer). Plus of course, the weekly releases by the National Theatre Live.
Recently, I enjoyed reading Britannia Waves the Rules by Gareth Farr. A gritty play, that follows the protagonist as he joins the army to escape his hometown of Blackpool. Really useful for Key Stage 5 in particular.
Follow the North West of England on Twitter: @drama_forum
And Mair directly: @MairBull