Our Teaching Artists in classrooms and communities across Australia
Before young people take their seats in the theatre, many of them have already explored the characters and stories of our plays in their classroom, led by one of our Teaching Artists.
These artists travel all over the country delivering hands-on workshops that bring theatre into schools. Whether it’s drama games with students in a city school or devising plays at in a regional community, our Teaching Artists are helping young people connect with theatre in fun, meaningful and often surprising ways.
It’s not about polish or perfection, it’s about jumping in, trying something new and discovering that creativity lives in all young people.
“When young people are given the agency to express their point of view, they blossom right in front of you. It’s amazing to witness.” — Branden Christine, Teaching Artist
“The one thing young people take away from these workshops is the understanding that they matter. Their expression is entirely their own and it’s something no one can ever take away from them.” — Julia Davis, Teaching Artist
Workshops are always tailored to the group. Some help prepare students before they see a Monkey Baa show, like Josephine Wants to Dance or The Peasant Prince. Others stand alone, offering creative learning through drama, movement and storytelling. But whatever the focus, the message is the same: your voice matters and your story is worth telling.
Our Teaching Artists come from all sorts of creative backgrounds, and they bring those skills into every classroom they step into. They’re not teachers, but artists who love what they do and want to share it. And they leave a real impact.
“We inspire young people to believe that anything is possible, because it is.” — Mathew Lee, Teaching Artist
“One student who’s usually pretty reluctant to do drama was actively involved and enjoyed the experience.” — Teacher, Regional NSW
We hear about it all the time, the quiet student who suddenly gets involved, the group that finds a rhythm and starts creating together, the buzz in the room afterwards. Teachers tell us about students surprising them, about confidence slowly building across the session and about the joy that comes from just giving things a go.
“The students were quiet and reserved at first, but after the first activity you could literally see them relax.” — Teacher, Central Coast
“By the end, even our shyest students were joining in and feeling confident.” — Teacher, Mid North Coast
Our Teaching Artist tours reach thousands of young people every year, from big cities to small towns and everything in between. These workshops break down barriers, build confidence and remind students that theatre isn’t some faraway thing, it’s something they can be part of.
And when those same students walk into the theatre later on, it’s not just to watch a show. It’s to see something they’ve already helped bring to life.
We know that students in regional and remote areas don’t always get the same access to the arts as others. That’s why our Teaching Artist program is such a big part of what we do. In schools of every shape and size, in classrooms and halls and multipurpose rooms, we see again and again what drama in the classroom can do.
“The workshop was awesome. I learnt that if you keep trying, you can do hard things.” — Student, Year 4
