The Essential Guide to Doing the School Play

And Not Screwing It Up

The Essential Guide to Doing the School Play cover

The Essential Guide to Doing the School Play

And Not Screwing It Up

Quantity
Pre-order. Available Feb 19 2026
$98.55 RRP $109.50 Website price saving $10.95 (10%)

Payment for this pre-order will be taken when the item becomes available

Description

I don't know much about drama how do I go about choosing the 'right' show for my students?

Our school has a wide range of backgrounds and abilities
how can I ensure fairness for all in the production?

I barely have any time to spare
how can I rehearse this every week?

My school has no budget for a production, how can I make our production pay for itself?


Given how daunting it can feel to be charged with putting on a school play, this book is essential for teachers new to school shows and a valuable aid for the more experienced. It serves as an invaluable guide to producing work from all-time favourite blockbusters (such as Grease and Oliver!) to more obscure straight plays and comedies.

From cautionary tales to regular simple lists of dos and don'ts, and covering topics from clearing performing rights and managing the budget to looking after your own mental health, this book gives you all you need to produce and direct a successful school production and take the headache out of the job.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
About this book
A bit about me
Introduction
1What is a school production?
2The right order
3The right stuff
4What's out there
5Selling it to the boss
6Selling it to the students
7Performing rights and permissions
8Visions & venues
9Putting your team together
10Directors & directing
11Musical directors and choreographers
12Designing and making your set and props
13Money stuff and front of house
14Sound and light and all things technical
15Stage managing
16Costumes, makeup and hair
17Your cast and their parents
18Timescales, lists and schedules
19Auditions and casting
20First cast and crew meeting
21Rehearsing
22The language of the theatre
23A collection of minor disasters
24How it played out
25A shout out for Shakespeare!
26So what are we doing next?

Appendices

Product details

Explore Methuen Drama
Published Feb 19 2026
Format Hardback
Edition 1st
Extent 240
ISBN 9781350501775
Imprint Methuen Drama
Dimensions 234 x 156 mm
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Jason Hanlan

Jason Hanlan has built and led a drama department…

Related Titles

Environment: Staging