Playwriting across the Curriculum

Jester, a dramaturg who has led a young writers' program at a UK repertory company, and Stoneman (teaching and learning, continuing professional development, and school-based action research, Dame Elizabeth Cadbury Technology College and U. of Birmingham, UK) describe how to introduce playwriting in the English curriculum to students ages 11-14 using the UK's Teacher Effectiveness Enhancement Programme framework, to help improve literacy and develop personal, social, and creative expression. They provide sequenced lesson plans for teaching the fundamentals of playwriting in core lessons; to special education students, those learning English as a second language, and adults; or in relation to citizenship and community projects or personal, social, and health education. Excerpts from plays and student work are included. No index is provided. Annotation c2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Claire Stoneman

Claire Stoneman is Assistant Headteacher at Dame Elizabeth Cadbury Technology College, Bournville, Birmingham, where she leads the development of teaching and learning and teachers’ continuing professional development. She has collaborated with the Birmingham Repertory Theatre for a number of years. Claire is also a TEEP trainer and a doctoral researcher at the University of Birmingham.

Caroline Jester

Caroline Jester is Dramaturg at Birmingham Repertory Theatre, and led Transmissions, the company’s award winning young writers’ programme for ten years. She also works as a director and has taught on the Mphil in Playwriting at Birmingham University and develops digital and international playwriting programmes.