INTRODUCTION

Drama is a very popular and accessible hobby, suitable for all ages and offering a great deal of choice. It is excellent for developing self-confidence, social and verbal skills and even a love of literature. Children and young people can explore, develop and discover their own talents and interests both individually and communally. They can gain expertise in a number of practical skills as well as, or instead of, acting. Of course participation in drama classes or performances as a child might instil a love of performance, the theatre or literature that will help define adult, professional lives. But this is by the by. The key thing about drama for children is that it is fun. 

Youth theatre groups tend to cater for children from age 13 upwards (although you should always check: some accept children from 11 up). However even children as young as three years old can be welcomed by certain schools, groups or teachers who tailor classes for them.

It can be a relatively inexpensive hobby (depending of course on the nature of the instruction and participation your children choose to pursue) and it has the added advantage of requiring no special equipment. If you choose to seek out private tutors and groups then, as with learning a musical instrument, you will have to pay fees. But excellent amateur groups do exist and fee-paying schools and groups will often have suggestions about bursaries, grants or ways to spread the cost.

Under its various guises (including performing arts and theatre studies) drama is increasingly popular as a subject studied in schools up to and including public examinations such as GCSE, AS and A-level, and it can be studied at degree level.

GETTING STARTED

The first question to consider is whether your child would benefit from individual tuition or by pursuing drama as part of a group.

INDIVIDUAL TUITION

Private, individual drama lessons can be taken at almost any age purely for pleasure or for qualifications. Lessons are usually taught by local tutors many of whom are registered and approved by one of two examining bodies - Lamda (The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) or The Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Both institutions administer examinations in acting; speech and drama; mime; the speaking of verse and prose; improvisation; and public speaking on a grade system from a preliminary level, for very young children, up to grade eight. (The examinations continue at a highly advanced level which gives teaching status). 

Examinations in the earlier grades, which are tailored to children, are practical and last for fifteen minutes or so. Exams take place at approved centres all over the country at least once a year. The point of exams is - as much as anything - to give the child a sense of progression and achievement. Between the two institutions there are differences of tone and detail, so you should examine their syllabi either on their websites or contact them by phone or post for details.

Both bodies will provide a list of approved tutors for your area, on request. Prices vary according to location and the individual tutor but begin at about Ј5 per half hour (classes can be half an hour or one hour depending on the age and needs of the student). 

Contact details:

Visit the Lamda site or e-mail to enquiries. The address is Lamda Examinations, Colet Hall, 155 Talgarth Road, London, W14 9DA, or telephone .

Guildhall School of Music and Drama (go to 'drama', then to 'graded exams') or contact the Guildhall Examinations Service, 3 Lauderdale Place, London EC2Y 8EN. Telephone: . E-mail: exams

GROUP DRAMA

Children's and Youth Theatre Companies are a good way for children to get to know other people as well as learning about drama. These companies offer plenty of opportunities for acting and taking part in productions as well as a chance to learn about technical aspects of theatre.

Youth theatre groups generally cater for the 13-year plus group but there are companies for younger children in most areas.

Stagecoach is a franchised organisation with branches all over the country, which offer sessions in drama and other performing arts to children between the ages of four and 16 throughout the year and in the holidays. They also publish a magazine for young people called Theatre Mask, which you can subscribe to on the net. To find the school nearest to you, visit the Stagecoach or Stage-School sites. 

Many regional theatres run drama workshops for children and some have youth companies attached to them. For information visit this University of Exeter School of Drama and Music web resource for theatre and drama.

There is also a National Association of Youth Theatres (e-mail: naytuk or telephone: ). Based in Darlington, they are the membership organisation for Youth Theatres in England and Wales (although they also offer links to the Scottish Youth Theatre). Its members include professional and amateur groups, local authority youth projects and Special Needs groups.

Another useful address is Stage Register, which provides a register of independent drama schools and stage schools. Go to 'Part Time Stage Schools' for regional lists.

Don't neglect the many local Amateur Dramatics groups with opportunities for children to take part. Amdram.co.uk offers listings of amateur dramatics groups by area and makes special note of those catering for children and youths. Bear in mind too that a lot of excellent amateur groups are run part-time, on a shoestring, by enthusiasts. These groups almost certainly will not have websites, but you might find them in Yellow Pages, mentioned in the local newspaper or - perhaps best of all - by word of mouth. 

SUMMER SCHOOLS

Some groups and companies offer drama summer schools both residential and non-residential. Again, Stage Register, above, lists some summer schools; Stagecoach and the National Association of Youth Theatres (both listed above) also have information about holiday activities.

GETTING MORE SERIOUS

For teenagers with talent and some experience, there's the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain, based in London, which runs workshops and summer schools. Entry is by audition. First auditions take place in most large cities at specified times. Final auditions take place in London. There is also a section for technical theatre. Contact the National Youth Theatre through its website, e-mail to info, phone on or write to 443-445 Holloway Rd, London N7 6LW.

There is also the National Youth Music Theatre, which focuses on musical theatre and music theatre skills. They run annual, nationwide, audition-based talent spotting initiatives, as well asaccess workshops (admission on a first come first served basis). They can be reached via their website or by phoning .

One way to check out the standards and ethos of these institutions is to go and see the performances they stage. Again, details can be found on their websites. 

DRAMA SCHOOLS

Many schools offer Drama (or Theatre Studies or Performing Arts depending on the examination board and the balance between practical and academic content) at GCSE, AS level and at A-Level. And there are increasingly opportunities to take drama study further to higher education or university level.

There are also the stage schools, schools that specialise in the performing arts but also offer the usual GCSE and A-Level opportunities. Entry is by audition and interview. A list of these schools can be found at Stage Register in the 'Full-Time & Residential' section.

See the Good Schools Guide’s advice on choosing a drama school for your child - look for 'How to Find a Good Arts, Music, Dance or Drama School' in the 'Articles' section.

DRAMA FOR DISABLED CHILDREN

For all that it can offer children by way of enhancing self-esteem, verbal and social skills, physical self-awareness, and confidence, drama can be a source of great pleasure and learning for disabled children. Some of the groups listed above (such as the National Association of Youth Theatres) may be able to put you in touch with teachers or a group or in your area that welcome disabled children. 

The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) has a site aimed at 11 to 16 year olds, listing leisure opportunities. They also have a section called 'Let's Go' which provides a calendar of events for the visually impaired, which often includes theatrical performances that are audio described. For information about Vacation Scheme Programmes (which include drama along with arts and crafts activities for the visually impaired) contact Angela Dinning on . 

The National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS) offers a list of regional groups who keep details of leisure activities in your area and will have information on the nearest drama and mime groups available. Contact them at the NDCS website, by e-mail ndcs, by freephone (voice or text) or at 15 Dufferin Street, London EC1Y 8UR.

For children with Down's syndrome there is the Kaleidoscope Theatre, based at Kemberton Hall, Kemberton, Shropshire, TF11 9LH (Telephone ), a theatre company which provides training in dance, drama, mime, music and art and opportunities for young people with Down's Syndrome to perform.

In Scotland, Artlink Central organises arts projects, including drama, for disabled children. Telephone: .

The contact details for the charities and organisations dedicated to arts for disabled people throughout the UK can be found in our section on Leisure for Disabled Children.

For more information about what’s going on in your area, visit your Local Authority’s website. It can provide details on activities, attractions and services available to you and your family.