Devising in the Secondary Classroom

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

It 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 our Associates use in these workshops are taken directly from the Company’s work in rehearsal. The workshops are practical and engaging, focusing on devising and collaborating, risk-taking and experimentation. We will explore building an ensemble through physical training, teaching the importance of play and creating a shared visual language, which will begin to help your students shape and communicate the stories they want to tell.

The next programme will take place in September – December 2025.

Registration will open in May 2025.

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

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. The day will explore movement, rhythm, space, games, improvisation, chorus and the ensemble in the context of teaching devising. The CPD will take place in London.
A 3 hour in-school workshop for your students led by an experienced Complicité Associate with a background of devising world-renowned theatre.
Access to one of our filmed productions for a full year: Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, or A Disappearing Number, or Can I Live? with a production Teacher Pack, 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.

“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 bought 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 Chessie at 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 26 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 £275.
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? The teacher CPD will take place in September. The date and exact location will be announced in early 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.

The programme is for schools based in the UK.

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