By Sharmila Miller, Maple Ridge; Laurie Anne Lorge, Vernon; and Nicole “Coco” Roberge, Port Coquitlam; drama teachers

Ah, the lonely drama teacher. Often the only one of their kind in the ecosystem; isolated in the windowless theatre; nearly buried under the weight of scripts, costumes, casting, counselling, set building; and motivated by the unshakable belief in the benefits of collaboration, communication, and creative expression.

Sometimes observed as a curiosity by colleagues, the drama teacher’s natural inclination is to celebrate and to be inspired by the ever-evolving community of teachers and learners at school, but the drama teacher can rarely disentangle themselves from cast, crew, and student needs while the layered deadlines of show-making loom. Sound familiar?

Our most depleted resource is often time, and, like many committed professionals, we often feel forced to deprioritize the time required to reach out, to connect, and to collaborate with our colleagues. Part of a healthy teaching practice and growth mindset, collegial dialogue and cross-pollination is often relegated to “someday…when the rehearsal schedule clears.”

Fear not, intrepid educator! Not only are you seen, and valued, you share so much with so many around the province. This article will give you a few ideas for tapping into the pulse of other drama teachers and theatre professionals, like you.

Obviously social media is a great way to virtually connect with other drama teachers. Facebook groups are generative spaces to share news, ideas, and inspiration. Try searching #dramateacher on Instagram or TikTok for a laugh—or even a lesson plan! There are also several resource-rich websites run by drama and applied theatre pros. Check out the list on the opposite page for online resources worth a visit.

There are other ways to use digital media to get connected with professional theatre: Sharmila Miller, drama teacher at Garibaldi Secondary School in Maple Ridge, has her students attend virtual workshops run by A Class Act NY, an award-winning acting studio established in 2005 by Jessica R. Grosman. The studio offers workshops hosted by prominent actors (stage and screen), agents, directors, and more! The learning outcomes for these online workshops can be tailored to your students’ needs; the host is often streaming from their professional industry setting, allowing for an authentic glimpse into their creative career. In Garibaldi’s workshop last year with Thayne Jasperson, students “went backstage” at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, where Hamilton is still going strong. The digital format allows for unique learning opportunities, which might otherwise be inaccessible, without a plane ticket!

For the face-to-face experiences that motivated you to choose theatre in the first place, register for a conference, take your students to a festival, or join a professional community of drama educators. For over 50 years, the Association of British Columbia Drama Educators (ABCDE) has advocated for theatre and drama teachers in BC as your official provincial specialist association (PSA). Supported by the BCTF and by membership fees, the ABCDE sponsors an annual professional development conference, an annual spring festival, an annual playwriting competition, several scholarships, teacher awards, a newsletter, and more. The ABCDE Executive, elected annually by members, works to adapt, defend, share, and develop theatre, drama, and related curricula while building community across our province. During BC’s dedicated PSA day in October we emerge from our studios, theatres, and classrooms to play, think, learn, and grow together with industry innovators like Principal Intimacy Professionals, Biz Books, ActSafe BC, and Urban Ink. Conference faculty always includes local working creatives like Omari Newton, Susan Bertoia, Peter Abando, Davey Samuel Calderon, Cat Hagquist, and Peter Jorgensen. The ABCDE conference is fuel for your fire; the atmosphere is one of safe, creative risk.

One of the best opportunities to meet other drama teachers and connect your students with like-minded theatre kids is to attend a festival. Several areas throughout the province hold zone festivals where your work can be showcased and adjudicated. Select plays move on to the BC National Theatre School DRAMAFEST in May, at Douglas College in New Westminster, where student casts and crews get to relish in the joy of a diverse theatre-loving audience from across the province. The three-day DRAMAFEST includes workshops, shows, and social opportunities. (Though the kids tell us that the comfy robes at the Inn at the Quay in New Westminster are the real draw!) Students love DRAMAFEST. If you do not have an active zone, consider becoming the zone representative. Reach out to the ABCDE for support; there is possible grant money available.

Not interested in a competitive festival? The Good Will Shakespeare Festival held in Vernon in late April is another option. The mission of “Shakesfest,” as it is affectionately called, is to provide secondary school students and educators with the opportunity to meet and learn from a variety of internationally acclaimed actors, musicians, and artists. The festival attracts world-class performers and teachers to work with the attendees. Lana O’Brien, Festival Co-ordinator says, “There are so many great things about Shakesfest for students, but one of the best things for me has been the decades-long friendships I’ve made with incredibly talented and creative people.”

There are many, many opportunities for drama teachers to provide rich and meaningful opportunities for their students. Sometimes we forget that these opportunities also have benefits for the teacher. Not only can we learn from online resources, conferences, and festival workshops, but we can also meet other educators, creators, and future collaborators who extend our knowledge and understanding of the trans-formative power of theatre education. Most importantly, we can make friendships that make us feel just a little less like the only one of our kind.

Facebook groups
ABCDE on Facebook

Drama Teaching Resources

Drama Teachers Sharing Group

Drama Teacher Hub

Theatre Production Resources Vancouver

Maada’oonidiwag Anti-Racist Canadian Theatre Exchange

Websites for inspiration and ideas
www.thedramateacher.com

www.thedramaclass.com

www.theatrefolk.com

www.bcdramateachers.com

www.dramaonlinelibrary.com

Celebrating 50+ years of BCTF provincial specialist associations
Teachers can join any number of provincial specialist associations (PSAs) covering a wide variety of subject areas, pedagogies, and focus areas for professional growth. The PSAs have a long history of providing teachers with learning opportunities at conferences or through workshops, sharing resources with members, and building professional communities and connections.

In 1971, several different PSAs, each with its own focus and constitution, came together for the first official meeting of the PSA Council. The PSA Council included delegates from current PSAs who collaborated on conference planning, publications, and member recruitment. BC drama teachers came together to create a new PSA in 1973 with encouragement from the PSA Council at the time.

To learn more about the history and current work of some PSAs, visit bctf.ca/news-and-stories to read articles written by PSA members to celebrate more than 50 years of professional community. For more information on joining any of the 33 PSAs, visit bctf.ca/services-information and click on the Professional Development tab.