Will

I am a Drama Expert - Friendly and enthusiastic specialist - A Teacher and Director and Drama Producer. I teach Drama at all levels- Primary, KS3, GCSE, A Level, Degree, Auditioning for drama schools and scholarships, coaching for professionals. I also teach English GCSE in regard to the texts.

I have been teaching, directing and producing drama for over thirty years. I have written, directed and produced many plays and films, working extensively with professional actors. I have toured plays nationally and had produced in festivals such as Brighton Festival. I founded a number of theatre companies and created a nationally recognised human rights drama company that has produced plays and films for, amongst others- The Home Office, The National Health Service and many national charities.

Tutoring Experience

I am a very experienced tutor and facilitator. Having taught in 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, English 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 a 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 Brighton Film School as well as with the film director Mike Hodges (Get Carter, The Croupier).

I am an experienced writer and happy also to teach writing and play/screenplay writing.

Tutoring Approach

Drama is often taught incorrectly. It is not a science and it is not English. Drama is an art and should be taught as such. This is what examiners are looking for - 'That the 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 and hope they'll hit the spot somewhere. If students really have an understanding of what the art of drama is all about, then they'll be able to give sophisticated answers that demonstrate their understanding of what drama is about and how they would go about making it. This is what makes one student stand out among the many students going through the process of doing drama exams, and the GCSE students who think Drama is an 'easy option'. Drama is not necessarily easy. it is brilliant and exciting and it requires thought, but it's about life and what it is to be a human being - so it's interesting and everyone has ideas about it. (If a student is bored with drama it is not being taught correctly!).

I work with past papers to make sure students are thoroughly prepared for examinations. I work in a person-centred way so that the teaching session is focused on each student's particular needs, skills and personality. I get students enthusiastic about the work and able to think for themselves. I have helped a number of students with special learning needs pass their GCSE's.

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 will be a key part of the drama department in the senior school".
Alan's dad February 2018

I can also produce HIGH-QUALITY DRAMA SHOWREELS, SCENES FOR CASTING, RECORDING OF PRODUCTIONS & SHORT FILMS as I work with a professional cameraman/editor.

Note - I also have a qualification in COUNSELLING and am very good with students who are feeling stress, anxiety or overwhelm or where the school or college or lack of teaching has let them down. I am happy to be contacted to discuss any issues students might be experiencing.

Some other feedback from recent students and their mums:
Rating: 5/5
Comments: Will was incredibly helpful when contacted at very short notice to see if he could give feedback on drama A Level coursework. His comments have been very useful and easy to understand. The advice he gave will be invaluable throughout the rest of the course too. Highly recommended!

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 helping 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.

"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.
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.