Drama Online - National Theatre Collection for Schools

About

National Theatre Collection for Schools

How to sign up

UK State Secondary Schools, UK Further Education Colleges and UK State Primary Schools

Registration is via the online form. Only one registration request per institution is required.

UK Independent Schools and Worldwide Schools

Independent schools UK and schools worldwide can request a trial and subscribe for a fee to the National Theatre Collections through JCS Online Resources: support@jcsonlineresources.org

Higher Education Institutions

Higher education institutions can request a trial and subscribe by contacting our sales team. Visit this page to find out more.

The National Theatre’s mission is to make world class theatre that is entertaining, challenging and inspiring – and we make it for everyone. The National Theatre Collection is available to state-funded schools and FE colleges in the United Kingdom, free of charge, and for a fee to independent schools and HE institutions, bringing the very best of British theatre to teachers, students and learners worldwide. Here on Drama Online students can watch a range of extraordinary productions from Shakespeare and Greek tragedy to literary adaptations and classic comedies, all made by world-class theatre-makers. Students can also make use of the expanding bank of learning resources provided by the National Theatre, to help them dive deeper into the productions.

Based on our research, we know the National Theatre Collection is a valuable classroom resource, with 1.3 millions pupils already utilising the Collection yearly. Our aim is that all children in the UK will have the opportunity to watch a National Theatre production before they leave school.

Introduction for Secondary School Drama teachers

Introduction for Secondary School English teachers

If you have any feedback or questions about the NT Collection, please reach out: ntcollection@nationaltheatre.org.uk

Explore the Collection

The Collection features a broad range of productions which will support teaching and learning across the curriculum:

Students studying English can experience Shakespeare set texts in vibrant modern stagings. They’ll also be able to see novels come alive on stage in exciting literary adaptations.
For those students studying drama and theatre studies, there are a range of theatrical styles and genres, from Greek tragedies to late 20th century works. They’ll be able to see and study the work of extraordinary contemporary practitioners and theatre-makers in some of the NT's more recent programming.
Students on technical theatre and production arts courses can see and compare examples of extraordinary design and theatre craft in productions. Students can also find out about the unique way in which the Lyttelton Theatre became a film studio during the Coronavirus pandemic.

For suggestions on age and subject suitability and how the productions can be used across the curriculum, please see individual show pages.

Primary Schools

All UK State Primary Schools are welcome to sign up for free to our curated set of productions and learning resources specifically tailored to a younger audience. You can find out more information here:

National Theatre for Primary Schools

Learning resources

Find Learning Resources

The National Theatre Collection includes an expanding bank of learning resources, which can be accessed here. These include:

Learning Packs for most productions: all the information you need to enable you to study the production and write about it in detail. These include plot synopses with timecodes, notes about the key elements from performance style to design, pointers for further research, and much more.
Rehearsal Insights: rehearsal room diaries and notes prepared by the Staff Director, where available. These introduce the process of creating, rehearsing and staging each play.
Key Stage 3 Packs: study guides for a select number of productions, tailored to teachers and students studying drama at Key Stage 3.
Lesson Plans: individual activities and learning tasks for some productions.

If you have any questions or feedback on our resources, please get in touch: ntcollection@nationaltheatre.org.uk

More Information

Learning Hub

You can find more resources for schools and teachers on the National Theatre’s Learning Hub. Search by key stage, subject, theatrical style or practitioner and discover an ever-growing library of short films, learning packs and digital exhibitions.

Find out more: https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/learn-explore/schools/teacher-resources/

About the National Theatre

At the National Theatre, we make world class theatre that is entertaining, challenging and inspiring – and we make it for everyone.

We stage up to 20 productions at our three theatres in London each year, ranging from reimagined classics to modern masterpieces and new work by contemporary writers and theatre-makers. The work we make strives to be as inclusive, diverse and accessible as possible, playing in London, on tour across the UK, on Broadway, and around the world. The National Theatre reaches 7 million people worldwide each year through live, broadcast and digital programmes including NT Live, which broadcasts some of the best of British theatre to over 2,500 venues in 65 countries.

Our extensive UK-wide learning and participation activity supports young people and schools, through theatre-making and craft programmes, and touring directly into schools. We invest at scale in new work and talent development, working with 1,500 artists each year, and partnering with a range of UK and international theatre companies.

The National Theatre building from South Bank, London

https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/learn-explore/schools/teacher-resources/

(photo credit: Philip Vile)

The National Theatre Collection is supported by Richard and Kara Gnodde, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), Sidney E. Frank Foundation, The Attwood Education Foundation, The Candide Trust, The Cranshaw Corporation for Mrs. Robert I. MacDonald, Barbara G. Fleischman, Linda Hackett, The Michael Marks Charitable Trust, and members of the NT Collection Syndicate.