Will

DRAMA EXPERT- Friendly and enthusiastic Drama specialist - Tutor and Practitioner. Teaching all ages and levels- Primary, KS3, GCSE, A Level, Degree, Auditioning for drama schools and coaching for professionals.

Drama is often taught incorrectly. It is not the same as English. Drama is an art and should be taught as such. Exam boards want to see that students response-
`demonstrates an excellent knowledge of how drama and theatre is developed and performed` (AQA).
Therefore students shouldn`t just be encouraged to write lots, in the hope that they`ll hit the spot somewhere. And they shouldn`t be encouraged to write the same thing as everyone else in their class. Students that stand out in drama, that get the high marks, have a personal voice and express their own original ideas.
So I teach students so that they have a real understanding of what the art of drama is all about- so they then have their own ideas, which demonstrates, in a real way, their understanding of what drama is and how they would produce it.

I work with past papers to make sure students are thoroughly prepared for examinations and I work in a person-centred way so that the teaching session is focused on each student`s particular needs, skills and personality. I have helped students with special learning needs to pass their exams. I also work with the student`s thoughts and feelings.

My extensive practical experience of writing, drama; acting and directing, means I can be of particular assistance to students studying plays and novels. I have developed special resources for most GCSE and A level texts- plays and novels eg. A Doll`s House, Jeckyl and Hyde, An Inspector Calls, Of Mice and Men, Medea, Our Country`s Good, The Seagull, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Woyzeck etc. etc. These resources enable students to gain a deep understanding of the text and to know how to approach exam questions.

SCHOLARSHIPS & AUDITIONS - Because I have been working in professional theatre for many years and directed numerous productions with countless actors- I have the skills, knowledge and insight to help those about to perform be the best that they can be -
"We have just received the news that Alan has been successful for the music and drama scholarship. Thanks for all your help and guidance. They described his audition pieces as outstanding and showed exceptional acting potential and he will be a key part of the drama department in the senior school".
Alan`s dad February 2018

Hi Will, just to let you know that Angela has been offered places at BOTH drama schools with callbacks for scholarships!
Angela`s mum March 2018

Note - I am also qualified to practice Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and counselling, so I can help students who are feeling anxious, stressed or overwhelmed or where the school or college or lack of teaching has let them down. And to help students think in more healthy and helpful ways. I am happy to be contacted to discuss any issues students are experiencing.

Availability: Daytimes, evenings and some weekends.

Willing to travel: 50 miles

Experience: I have taught in both mainstream and special needs schools and colleges in London (Wandsworth College and the City Lit.) and for East and West Sussex Education authorities. I have run special projects for Gifted and Talented pupils and have run youth theatres and produced numerous theatre, film and writing projects. I taught Drama and creative writing to seriously ill children at St Bartholomew`s Hospital school for over five years. My work has been featured in The Times Educational Supplement.

I have teaching qualification from the City Lit. A degree in drama from East 15 Drama School/University of Essex. I trained in film at the Kensington Film Project and at Brighton Film School as well as with the film director Mike Hodges (Get Carter, The Croupier).

Extensive experience of directing actors in theatre and film. Have founded a number of theatre companies and currently run a nationally recognised social issues and human rights drama company who have produced numerous national tours and been commissioned by Councils and The Home Office. I received a Queens Award for this work.

Experienced writer and happy also to teach writing and play/screenplay writing.

Here`s some email feedback from 2019 students:

Dear Will,
I wanted to let you know that Eddie got an A in his drama! And he got into his drama degree which is fantastic and we have to thank you for all your enthusiasm and effort and driving you put into help him during the holidays and we can’t thank you enough. It was always an absolute pleasure to meet you and I very much hope we will see you again.
A huge thank you for so much for when times were tough revising, you re-energised him and got him started again and reignited things for him and that meant so much.
With our very best wishes and please keep us informed with your work.

Hi Will,
I’m really pleased to tell you that Amanda got Grade A in her Drama A Level! She got really good marks across all parts of the course and on her exam paper:
Live theatre review 15/20
That Face performing 14/18
That Face designing 12/18
The Maids 19/24
Many thanks for all your support in preparing her for the exam.
She is now really focused on preparing for her drama school auditions and we were wondering if you had any time this week to talk to her about choosing audition monologues and general help/advice about the process and the different schools/courses.

2018 students

"Dear Will, I just wanted to let you know how brilliantly he did in his exams! He got the well deserved A in drama, an A* in English and a C in Biology. Warwick required AAB but A*AC is the equivalent and they have confirmed his place for September 2016.
Thank you for all your help and support.

"Good news. She secured a B overall in her Drama A2 as a result of a B in her written paper – it was this B which in fact secured her place at Southampton. So the exercise of resitting the written exam was well worth it and your input made all the difference, so huge thanks from us both".

"Just to let you know he got B in both Drama and Film. He is really pleased and only 3 marks of an A overall!! so thanks for all the help and I hope we can do some more work this year.

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