www.dramaandtheatre.co.uk EDITORIAL Phone +44 78813 16803 Email drama.theatre@markallengroup.com Editor Hattie Fisk Design Hal Bannister EDITORIAL BOARD Ali Warren Co-founder, Open Drama UK Helen Matravers Artistic director, Polka Theatre Michèle Taylor, MBE Director for change, Ramps on the Moon Sarah Lambie Previous Drama & Theatre editor, actor Dr Steve Ball Teacher, DTEA Chair Suzann McLean, MBE CEO and artistic director, Theatre Peckham Rob Young Head of Technical Training, LAMDA ADVERTISING Head of Sales Amy Driscoll, +44 (0)20 7333 1719 amy.driscoll@markallengroup.com Production Controller Daniela Di Padova, +44 (0)20 7333 1727 Daniela.DiPadova@markallengroup.com SUBSCRIPTIONS AND BACK ISSUES Phone UK 0800 137201 Overseas +44(0)1722 716997 Email subscriptions@markallengroup.com Subscriptions Manager Bethany Foy UK Subscription Rate £55 PUBLISHING Phone +44(0)20 7738 5454 Publisher Amy Driscoll Managing Director Ravi Chandiramani Head of Marketing Will Woodrow Senior Marketing Executive Max Crowland Marketing Graduate Yzanne Pepper Group Institutional Sales Manager Jas Atwal Production Director Richard Hamshere Circulation Director Sally Boettcher Chief Operating Officer Jon Benson Chief Executive Officer Ben Allen Chairman Mark Allen Part of www.markallengroup.com Drama & Theatre, ISSN 1755-6716, is published monthly by MA Education Ltd, St Jude’s Church, Dulwich Road, London SE24 0PB, United Kingdom. Subscription records are maintained at MA Education Ltd, Unit A, Buildings 1-5 Dinton Business Park, Catherine Ford Road, Dinton, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP3 5HZ. © MA Education Ltd, 2024. All rights reserved. No part of Drama & Theatre may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without prior written permission of the publishing director. The views expressed edo not necessarily represent those of the editor. The presence of advertisements in Drama & Theatre implies no endorsement of the products or services offered. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of statements in this magazine but we cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions, or for matters arising from clerical or printers’ errors, or an advertiser not completing their contract. We have made every effort to secure permission to use copyright material. Where material has been used inadvertently or we have been unable to trace the copyright owner, acknowledgement will be made in a future issue. Please read our privacy policy by visiting http://privacypolicy. markallengroup.com. This will explain how we process, use and safeguard your data. Printed in the UK by Pensord, Pontllanfraith, Blackwood, NP12 2YA www.dramaandtheatre.co.uk Editorial Show time N othing brings together those who act, dance and sing more powerfully than a musical. As someone who would spend their summer breaks and weekends learning timesteps and belting out alto lines (somewhat overconfidently), the musical theatre issue of Drama & Theatre is one that I have been looking forward to since I began my tenure as editor. Over the past year, Standing at the Sky’s Edge has taken the musical world by storm, winning Best New Musical at the Olivier Awards 2023, along with a UK Theatre Award for Best Musical Production. I was lucky enough to catch its writer, Chris Bush, before she entered the rehearsal room to prepare for its West End debut. Find out what she had to say about the musical’s unexpected success on page 17. Continuing on the theme of musicals, Broadway Licensing have adapted Harry Potter and The Cursed Child for school performances – something I would have loved to experience when I was a student. I can only imagine the joy it will bring performers across the UK; you can read more about its magic on page 25. In this issue of D&T we have launched a new ‘Venue Focus’ segment, taking a look at the amazing work theatres up and down the country are doing in their local communities, cultivating collaboration through the power of drama. Here, Nick Smurthwaite meets Blackpool Grand Theatre’s education department to discuss the value of its story-led resilience programme. Elsewhere, I look at a recent report that asks for a revamp of the current arts apprenticeship system; one writer meets some of the best up-and-coming stage designers at the Linbury Prize 2023; the National Theatre unpacks its reworking of Jekyll & Hyde which is set to reach over 10,000 students in an upcoming schools tour. Looking ahead to the Music & Drama Education Expo in February, on page 24 I pick out some of my favourite sessions to help you plan out your day. Likewise, tickets are still available for the Music & Drama Education Awards 2024. Taking place on 22 February at the London Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square, it promises to be a night to remember, with some excellent performers and nominees alike. If you spot me at either event please do say hello! I am looking forward to meeting many of you in person. Hattie Fisk, Editor @DramaAndTheatre fb.com/DramaTheatreMag dramaandtheatre.co.uk Twice each term of the academic year, Drama & Theatre brings you practical strategies, lesson plans, and inspiration to enhance your teaching. Whether you teach in a school context at primary or secondary level, lead extra-curricular drama workshops, or give private tuition, D &T is an invaluable resource written for teachers by teachers, playwrights and practitioners. Spring Term 2 2023/24 Drama & Theatre 5