With 13 Bafta and 3 Oscar nominations, Billy Elliot is a heartwarming tale of an 11 year-old coal miner's son (Jamie Bell) in the North of England who's life is forever changed when he stumbles upon Mrs Wilkinson's (Julie Walters) ballet class during his weekly boxing lesson.

Before long, he finds himself immersed in ballet, demonstrating a raw talent never seen before and reaching for a dream that changes the lives of everyone he touches.

Although drama is part of the National Curriculum for English at all Key Stages, little guidance currently exists on how teachers can effectively integrate this into the curriculum. Often drama is used only for Personal and Social Education - to explore issues such as bullying or for the "end of term production". Although these activities are valuable in their own right, children also need to be encouraged to be play writers and play watchers if they are to discover and appreciate drama in all its forms throughout the world. In this collection of essays, David Hornbrook and a team of contributors focus on practical strategies for developing the drama curriculum in primary and secondary schools. Although the book focuses on the content of the curriculum, the theoretical foundations underpinning these strategies are also clearly explained. The book is divided into three sections: teaching and learning - the contributors consider the role of drama as a world phenomenon and the skills and knowledge needed to develop a coherent, multicultural drama curriculum; creating and performing drama in school - how can teachers effectively involve young people with the three constituent elements

'...an important book that deserves the attention not only of drama teachers but anyone concerned with designing the school curriculum...The case is impressively made, and overwhelming.' - Times Educational Supplement

'It is good to read a book that views watching and understanding a play as a two way means of communication.' - Education Review

'A thoughtful and passionate book that fuels the fires of the longstanding process/product debate close to the heart of all drama/theatre practitioners and scholars.' - Canadian Journal of Education

To this day, Education and Dramatic Art remains the only fully worked critique of drama education in schools. Provocative and iconoclastic, this new edition brings the argument up-to-date and locates the author's proposals for a curriculum based on the making, performing and appraisal of dramas securely in the evolving culture of schools.
The first section of the book traces the origins and fortunes of drama in schools in the context of changing political times and argues that by neglecting the customs and practices of the theatre, drama-in-education has often kept from the students it professes to empower, the very knowledge and understanding necessary for them to take command of their subject.
Part two examines the developmental and pedagogic claims of drama-in-education. Theories of knowledge and meaning and assumptions about schools drama's power to establish a moral and social agenda, are all called to account.
Finally, Education and Dramatic Art proposes a multiculturally-based, theoretical structure for the teaching of drama which pulls the theatre and the classroom together and offers teachers the foundation for a broad and balanced drama curriculum with its own distinctive body of knowledge and skills.

eBook available with sample pages: 0203134354

To this day, Education and Dramatic Art remains the only fully worked critique of drama education in schools. Provocative and iconoclastic, this new edition brings the argument up-to-date and locates the author's proposals for a curriculum based on the making, performing and appraisal of dramas securely in the evolving culture of schools. The first section of the book traces the origins and fortunes of drama in schools in the context of changing political times and argues that by neglecting the customs and practices of the theatre, drama-in-education has often kept from the students it professes to empower, the very knowledge and understanding necessary for them to take command of their subject. Part two examines the developmental and pedagogic claims of drama-in-education. Theories of knowledge and meaning and assumptions about schools drama's power to establish a moral and social agenda, are all called to account. Finally, Education and Dramatic Art proposes a multiculturally-based, theoretical structure for the teaching of drama which pulls the theatre and the classroom together and offers teachers the foundation for a broad and balanced drama curriculum with its own distinctive body of knowledge and skills.

Drama starring Ralph Fiennes and Kate Winslet (in a BAFTA, Golden Globe and Oscar-winning performance), based on the novel by Bernard Schlink. Set in post World War II Germany, the story revolves around a teenage boy Michael Berg (David Kross) who falls ill with scarlet fever and is helped home by Hanna (Winslet), a stranger twice his age. When Michael recovers, he tracks Hanna down in order to thank her for her kindness. Despite their age difference, the two embark on an intense and secret affair that is based largely on Michael reading aloud to Hanna, until Hanna suddenly and mysteriously disappears one day, leaving Michael confused and heartbroken. Several years later, when Michael (Fiennes) is a law student observing the Nazi war crime trials, he comes across Hanna again - this time as a defendant in the courtroom. As Hanna's past is revealed, Michael uncovers a secret that profoundly affects both their lives.

Stage musical based on the 2000 film of the same name which is set in County Durham during the 1984 miners' strike. Young Billy Elliot (Matteo Zecca/Mitchell Tobin/Bradley Perret/Elliott Hanna) becomes fascinated with the ballet lessons which are being held in the same hall as his boxing class. The ballet teacher, Mrs Wilkinson (Ruthie Henshall), recognises his potential and encourages him to join her class. As his talent gradually reveals itself, it becomes clear that Billy should be attending the Royal Ballet School in London, but with his father (Deka Walmsley)'s opposition and the extreme poverty which descends on the area during the strike, Billy's future is far from certain.

It's post-WWII Germany and teenager Michael Berg becomes ill and is helped home by Hanna, a stranger twice his age. Michael recovers from scarlet fever and seeks out Hanna to thank her. The two are quickly drawn into a passionate but secretive affair.

Michael discovers that Hanna loves being read to and their physical relationship deepens. Hanna is enthralled as Michael reads to her from The Odyssey, Huck Finn and The Lady with the Little Dog. Despite their intense bond, Hanna mysteriously disappears one day and Michael is left confused and heartbroken.

Twelve years later, Michael sees Hanna again, but in the last place he ever expected to find her. As Hanna's past is revealed, Michael uncovers a deep secret that will impact both of their lives.