A group of students and a facilitator sitting down and talking.

Devising in the Secondary Classroom

Registration is now open for Autumn 2025 & Spring 2026.

The Devising in the Secondary Classroom programme has been designed to give teachers and pupils studying GCSE and A Level Drama a foundation in creating devised theatre inspired by Complicité’s practice.

To book your place, please fill out this form. The form will close on Monday 30 June 2025.

Places are limited and the programme will fill up on a first come first served basis.

We are specifically welcoming teachers whose students have English as an additional language to take part in this programme.

The programme begins with a full-day CPD for teachers wanting to develop their skills in teaching devised and physical theatre. This will be followed by a workshop for your students which will embed these skills into the students’ work at the start of their devising process.

The practices and techniques Complicité Associates use when leading these workshops are taken directly from the Company’s work in rehearsals. The workshops are practical and engaging, focusing on devising, collaborating, risk-taking and experimentation.

We will explore how you can build an ensemble through physical training, teaching the importance of play and creating a shared visual language which will help your students shape and share the stories they want to tell.

Young participants look up in the air, waiting for a ball to fall down towards them

A group of participants stand together, looking ahead with some focus

Young participants stare as one participant looks up at the ball in the air, who is about to knock it with their head

Multiple participants lean forward with one leg backwards, thrusting one arm straight outwards

Four young participants sit writing on chairs with crossed legs, using their legs as a desk for their writing pads

Devising in the Secondary Classroom offer:

A full-day Teaching Devising CPD for teachers in September 2025. London and South West options will be available – exact locations and dates to be confirmed in July. The day will explore movement, rhythm, space, games, improvisation, chorus and the ensemble in the context of teaching devising.
A 3 hour in-school workshop for students led by an experienced Complicité Associate with a background of devising world-renowned theatre.
Access to an online Devising Resource Pack, which includes one of our filmed productions valid for one term (Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, A Disappearing Number or Can I Live?) and the documentary, Complicité Does A Level Drama with an accompanying written resource.

Price:

Subsidised £475 per State School, full price £1,000 per Independent School + travel and accommodation if required.
The programme is for schools based in the UK.

“I've been so impressed by the whole process...My A level candidates are a-buzz with creativity everyday since” Student Workshop Feedback

“The workshop was the best drama workshop I have ever seen. The students loved it, they loved the enthusiasm of the tutors from Complicité and most of them want to pursue a career in the arts.” Student Workshop Feedback

“The workshop brought me so much joy and reminded me that although I love teaching I also love working within an ensemble and performing!” Teacher CPD Feedback

FAQ:

If you have any questions, you can refer to our FAQ’s below. Alternatively, you can email creativeengagement@complicite.org.

How many students can take part in the student workshop? We lead workshops for a minimum of 6 to a maximum of 25 students. This helps us to ensure that students are benefitting fully from their three-hour workshop. For larger groups, we recommend registering for an additional in-school workshop at a discounted rate of £320.
Can I book an additional student workshop? You can book additional student workshops at a discounted rate of £320/workshop. Please indicate the number of groups and students on the registration form.
Can I register for the student workshop only? We don’t offer one-off student workshops unless you have previously participated in a Complicité CPD. If you have participated in a Complicité CPD in the past, we still recommend taking part as there will be new material covered each year. Please email creativeengagement@complicite.org if you have participated in a previous CPD and would like to book for a workshop-only place.
When is the teacher CPD? You can choose between one of two CPD dates and locations in London and the South West, exact locations and dates to be confirmed in July.
How many teachers can attend the teacher CPD? One teacher per school registration can attend the CPD. We will have limited additional places on the CPD for trainee teachers. Please indicate on the registration form if you have a trainee teacher who would be interested in attending.
When are additional costs for travel and accommodation required? Schools are required to reimburse our associates for their travel costs if the school is based outside of London. If a student workshop is scheduled so that an associate needs to stay overnight, schools will also need to reimburse the accommodation costs.
Can the Complicité associates help the students work on their devised pieces? The Devising in the Secondary Classroom programme is designed to help give students some tools and framework for creating devised work. Students will be given short devising tasks to practise implementing some of the skills built. These can then be used in future classes to create new work. The programme is not intended to provide specific directorial advice for students’ assessment work.

Our Devising programme is generously supported by John Lyon’s Charity.