Teaching resources
Explore our learning hub of educational resources and teaching tools to support creative learning in the classroom.
Learning hub
Learning Hub Filters
Learning age
Theatre styles
The Learning Hub is our new free, online library of National Theatre resources. Find teaching tools for curriculum set texts or explore creativity, literacy and oracy using theatre and drama skills.
The Hub includes:
- Free downloadable PDF resources
- Short-form videos with educational content
- Learning outcomes and production information
- Suitability and content warnings
You can filter by key stage and theatre style, or simply search for keywords or production areas, such as performance skills.
Whether you’re looking for new ways to teach English, drama, and theatre studies, or to support your own learning, the Learning Hub is your gateway.
Resource spotlight
Explores the key features of theatre practitioner and director Katie Mitchell’s unique style and methodology with:
Widening the curriculum
Ensure a range of voices are represented in the classroom and acknowledge the impact of colonialism on how we learn and teach.
How We Made it: The Boy With Two Hearts - education resource
The Great Wave rehearsal diaries
Small Island rehearsal diaries
Lit in Colour Q&A: Inua Ellams on Barber Shop Chronicles
Online exhibition: Black Plays at the National Theatre
An introduction to Greek Theatre
Video series on Greek plays staged at the National Theatre, drawing on the resources of the Archive.
An Introduction to Greek Theatre
An Introduction to Greek Chorus
An Introduction to Greek Tragedy
An Introduction to Greek Comedy and Satyr Drama
An Introduction to Women in Greek Theatre
Online exhibition: Greek Tragedy at the National Theatre
Antigone: Character Relationships - Greek Theatre video resource
In Search of Greek Theatre: Women of Troy (2007)
In Search of Greek Theatre: Philoctetes (1964) and Paradise (2021)
In Search of Greek Theatre: Bacchae (1973) and Bacchai (2002)
In Search of Greek Theatre: Iphigenia at Aulis (2004)
In Search of Greek Theatre: Katie Mitchell's The Oresteia Part II (1999)
Shakespeare essentials
Delve into Shakespeare with insights on staging, characters, themes and more.
Hamlet - Shakespeare - education resource
Twelfth Night: Disguises and Mistaken Identity - Shakespeare - education resource
Othello - Shakespeare - education resource
Online exhibition: Shakespeare at the National Theatre
New writing and contemporary theatre
Fresh narratives and innovative productions that have redefined the theatrical landscape, featuring rehearsal diaries, character studies and more.
Devising Jane Eyre
Complicité's Mnemonic education resource
War Horse - education resource
The Ocean at the End of the Lane - education resource
Hedda Gabler - education resource
Adapting The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time for the stage
Physical Theatre and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
How We Made It: Our Generation with Alecky Blythe and Daniel Evans - education resource
How We Staged It: The Effect - education resource videos
Online exhibition: Black Plays at the National Theatre
Primary teaching inspiration
Creative activities and videos all about theatre-making, designed to spark imagination and inspire young minds.
Five Creative Ways to Energise the Class: drama teaching tool
Five Creative Ways to Prepare the Class to Focus: drama teaching tool
Let's Make it Up Toolkit drama teaching tool
Let's Perform director's tips drama teaching tool
Let's Perform voice work drama teaching tool
What is… a director? Drama teaching tool
What is… a playwright? Drama teaching tool
More resources for teachers
National Theatre Collection
Home to 60 high-quality filmed theatre productions from the National Theatre and other leading venues. The best of British Theatre, streaming direct into your classroom.
Free for all UK state funded schools (primary and secondary) and FE colleges.
Archive
Our Archive holds a treasure trove of performance material, including recordings and photographs of our productions.
Free to visit and open to everyone by appointment. School groups are welcome.
Black Plays Archive
An online catalogue of the first professional production in the UK of plays written by Black British, African, and Caribbean playwrights. Explore our specially written resources for teachers and educators.
The National Theatre Bookshop
Our Bookshop offers special discounts for educational orders over £100, for teachers and those who work in education*. Contact us at bookshop@nationaltheatre.org.uk to find out more.
*You will need proof of working in education for us to validate the discount.
Our funders
The Mohn Westlake Foundation supports nationwide Learning programmes for young people.
The Hearn Foundation is the Principal Funder of the Primary Schools Programme.
Nationwide learning is supported by Buffini Chao Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, Clore Duffield Foundation, Tim and Sarah Bunting, Behrens Foundation, Cleopatra Trust, The Andor Charitable Trust and Milton Grundy Foundation.
