Accessing Drama curriculum and teaching space

Posts: 13

Sarah Walton

Topic starter

Apr 07, 2022 9:39 pm

(@sarah-waltonoxfordshire-gov-uk)

Eminent Member

Joined: 8 years ago

[#986]

A young person supported by the SENSS PD advisory team has chosen to study Drama as one of her GCSEs. The school and young person have identified some challenges with the area used to teach Drama, which includes a raised stage. The young person is a wheelchair user for most of the day. The stage is difficult to access and potentially needs a ramp for any wheelchair user to access it and currently the school uses the stage for workshops as part of the Drama course. We are considering whether a ramp fits the space they have currently. Has anyone come up with any other solutions for accessing a stage? or Drama course? We have had one school who has used a mobile platform lift and they found this useful but difficult to store and it was not as portable as they had hoped. Any ideas for more portable lifts or ramps would be really helpful. Thanks

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Posts: 20

Angela Broadbent

Apr 08, 2022 8:18 am

(@abroadbentregency-worcs-sch-uk)

Eminent Member

Joined: 8 years ago

Hello

If there is no rear or side flat access, it is really difficult. We have had a lift installed at a school but if the child is on and off for different scenes, it is hard to manage, as is expecting the child to stay at the back of the stage or in the wings for long periods of time once they are on stage.

Drama space is easier to use in that many of the drama teachers I've spoken to just ensure the child in the wheelchair works in front of the stage in groups and some of the shows I've seen with my students in have included really creative scenes at the side and front of the stage, in the isles and amongst the audience.

I support a child who uses a powered chair and I must admit, I was relieved when she worked on the flat as the risk assessment of her moving on stage amongst a group of children would have had to be very detailed and well thought through.

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Posts: 13

Sarah Walton

Topic starter

May 06, 2022 12:37 pm

(@sarah-waltonoxfordshire-gov-uk)

Eminent Member

Joined: 8 years ago

Thanks Angela great advice, we will go back to the school to see what is possible to adapt. Thanks

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Posts: 5

Catherine Hills

Jul 11, 2022 9:32 pm

(@catherine-hillsessex-gov-uk)

Active Member

Joined: 8 years ago

Sorry for the delay in responding.

The school could do productions 'In the round' as per at Rose Bruford College- see Home - Rose Bruford This is one of the top Acting Conservatoires - currently ranked 4th in UK (Best Drama Schools in UK: Top 15 - Acting in London). It is the key feature of this conservatoire, and students from all over the world attend for this reason and type of performance. That would involve the action taking place in the middle of the floor and the seating placed around. The 3rd/4th row could then be placed on blocks or stand (as per Elizabethan theatre). Problem solved and points for investigating other forms of theatre to boot! 🙂

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