Non-stop drama fun for children in Year 1 to Year 6, with age-specific creative activities that aim to develop self-confidence
and performance-awareness.
Specialised workshop sessions offer a range of carefully selected creative exercises to improve voice-projection, focus, concentration, and confidence. Drama activities will encourage each child to practise listening skills and turn-taking in a fun and creative learning environment. Drama games will nurture the children’s social skills and encourage curiosity and a desire to learn. In addition, children will create and devise scenes and may also have the opportunity to work on scripted extracts from child-friendly plays.
Our Workshop Camps have been especially created to accommodate Stage Two children (Year 1 & Year 2) and Stage Three children (Year 3 - Year 6) who can only attend on a daily basis. Camps will be allocated for these children in consultation with Jessica Grant.
Click to read about A Day at a Dramarama Workshop Camp
Click to read Dramarama Workshop Camp frequently asked questions
Camp time: 9.30am -3pm (drop off from 9.15am)
Children participate in a variety of fun and creative drama games and activities designed to spark curiosity, develop self-confidence, offering opportunities for children to turn their ideas into action. Specialised daily workshop sessions are carefully structured to encourage each child to develop at their acting skills at their own pace.
The structure of a day at a Dramarama Workshop Camp
On the first day, the teacher will introduce themselves and their assistant to the children, and the children to each other. Throughout the week, the assistant will repeat instructions as necessary to ensure that all the children are fully aware of what is expected of them, and are confident to participate in all of the group’s activities. In both morning and afternoon sessions, all children will be given the opportunity to lead a game or exercise.
Upon arrival each day, the children will be registered and each session will begin with an explanation to the group what they will be doing that day.
Morning Session
Warm up and physical/movement games and exercises, aimed to expend energy and channel excitement in a creative, nurturing environment.
Children will have a mid-morning short, supervised snack break.
Creative and imaginative activities and games, to develop self-awareness and performance-awareness. The aim is to build confidence, develop voice-projection/communication and enhance listening skills as the children follow the teacher’s instructions and cues. There is also emphasis on teamwork, taking turns, and working together as a group.
Supervised Lunchtime
The teacher will ensure that children eat all the food provided.
Afternoon Session
Focus on developing acting skills with a variety of stories, themes, and scenes from poems, child-friendly short stories and plays. The children will devise stories and acting scenes and they will build on their understanding and retention of each story in a friendly and nurturing environment.
All children are given a character role to play; some stories are original, based on the children’s own ideas and interests, and some are based on excerpts from family-friendly published stories.
Children will be provided with information and cues as an early introduction to performing.
End of Day Summary
The drama teacher will provide a recap of the day’s games and activities, reminding children what they have done and encouraging them to recall their favourite game/story/character from the day.
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What is Stage One?Stage One is a fun-filled Drama camp including creative activities to develop children's self-confidence and performance-awareness. Each day, different stories and acting adventures are created. Our camps are taught by experienced Drama teachers, along with a teaching assistant. Friends will be placed in the same group if requested (please let us know if your child has friends attending, as we may have more than one group.) Our aim is for children to develop their communication skills, cultivate their empathy, explore their emotions, and fire their imagination within the framework of a safe, nurturing and creative environment.
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Who is Stage One for?Stage One is for pre-Reception and Reception children. Pre-Reception children must have been attending Pre-Reception school for at least a term and be confidently toilet trained, as children cannot attend wearing nappies or pull-ups. Children will be taken on regular toilet trips by the group assistant; however, we are not permitted to enter the cubicle with your child to provide intimate care. If your child does not meet these criteria now, don’t worry! We look forward to welcoming them to Dramarama, once they are ready, on a future holiday camp. We run camps regularly throughout the year, during Half Terms, Easter, Summer and Christmas Holidays. Please note: Stage One is just for the children! All Dramarama camps are drop-off sessions and unfortunately, parents and carers cannot stay to watch (or join in!)
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What is the drop-off and collection procedure?You will be advised of your child’s drop-off/collection points before the start of the camp. We will also let you know which group your child is in the week before the camp start date. Please let us know in advance if you think your child may have separation anxiety, and we will explain our caring and nurturing approach to this.
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What should my child bring to the camp?Please provide a named, nut-free packed lunch each day, in packets/containers that your child can open and close. If you give your child food items such as grapes or cherry tomatoes, please ensure that they are sliced in half, as they can otherwise pose a choking hazard. Please ensure all lunch items are fully named, as there are often many similar-looking lunch boxes, bags and cups! Please only provide food that you know your child will eat! Unfortunately, we do not have the facilities to warm food, and cannot provide tableware or cutlery. You may also provide a small, named, nut-free, mid-morning snack. Children should not bring any other items to the camp (eg. toys, games, personal/valuable items). Children should wear comfortable clothing - please ensure that all removable clothing, such as cardigans, hoodies and jackets, are clearly named. Children are welcome to attend wearing their favourite dressing up outfits, although this is not compulsory - again, please name everything! Alternatively, your child can bring a prop eg. crown, tiara or similar. To ensure a happy, positive environment, please do not provide toy swords, guns or scary masks, etc.
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When I ask my child what they do at Dramarama, they do not give me any information!It is very common to find at the end of the day that your child does not provide you with much/any information about what they have been doing all day! This is normal; it is usually because we do so many different activities with the children throughout the day. Just before the children leave to go home, we remind them of all the different games and exercises they have done all day. Here is a selection of some good questions to ask: What was your favourite game? What was your favourite story? What part did you have in the story? Which songs did you learn? Which was your favourite song? Did you use the parachute today? Which was your favourite finger puppet? A combination of any/all of these questions should remind the children of the activities they participated in, and should help them to answer your questions.
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My child suffers from separation anxiety, and I know they will cry as soon as I to leave them in the morning. What should I do?If you have any concerns that your child will suffer separation anxiety, please consider first if now is the right time to try the camp, it may be too soon for your child. If your child is not ready to be left yet, don’t worry! We look forward to welcoming them to Dramarama on a future holiday camp. We run camps regularly throughout the year, in Half Terms, Easter, Summer and Christmas Holidays. We have several proven, successful ways of dealing with this delicate issue, including distraction techniques with our drama props. We know that it helps if the parent/carer is enthusiastic and positive about the camp in advance of the child starting. Please try not to vocalise any anticipated issues with your child. It helps if your journey to Dramarama s as stress-free as possible, and that your child is comfortably dressed, and not hungry or thirsty. We ask that parents leave the vicinity as soon as possible, and also to allow our Drama teachers and assistants to engage with your child immediately, and positively. Please try to arrive on time, as arriving too early, or late, can be disconcerting. If your child is attending with a friend, it may help to drop them with the friend first, so that they can arrive together at Dramarama. Please note that under no circumstances are parents/carers allowed into the Dramarama classrooms with children.
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I need to pick my child up early one day. How do I arrange this?Please email the office info@dramarama.co.uk in advance to arrange this, or inform your child's Dramarama teacher in the morning.
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Can my child be in the same group as their sibling?Children attend Dramarama in age-related groups, so siblings can attend together if they are the correct age to be in the same group.
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I love to see my child perform – can I come to watch?Unfortunately, parents/carers are not permitted on-site to watch any part of the camp, or sit with their children as they participate. When space permits, parents may be invited to join us for a special open session, and we will let parents know about this at the start of the camp.
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Where should I drop-off and collect my child?We will email the drop-off and collection points the week before the start of the camp, along with your child's group name. Please make sure whoever is dropping off your child on your behalf is aware of their group name so that drop-off is made to the correct group.
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What happens if I am running late one morning for drop off?If you are more than five minutes late, please drop-off at the drop-off point. However, if you are going to be more that 5 minutes late, please email info@dramarama.co.uk to let us know when you arrive. We will then arrange for someone to meet you at the drop-off point when you arrive.
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What is the earliest time I can drop-off?Please drop-off no earlier than 9.15am.
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What should my child bring with them each day?Please provide a named, nut-free packed lunch each day, in packets/containers that your child can open and close. If you give your child food items such as grapes or cherry tomatoes, please ensure that they are sliced in half, as they can otherwise pose a choking hazard. Please also provide a refillable water bottle. Children should not bring any other items to the course (eg. toys, games, personal/valuable items).
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I have two children attending; which child should I collect first?Siblings can be collected together - please collect all children with your youngest child.
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What should my child wear?Your child should wear comfortable clothes, and can attend wearing their favourite dressing up clothes. Please ensure that all removable clothing is clearly named. If the weather is warm, please apply sunscreen in the morning, and provide a sun hat or cap.
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Will my child be able to play outside, to get some fresh air?Our camps take place in a well-ventilated indoor classroom. Stage One children do not play outside.
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Can my nanny collect my child?Yes, please include the names of all adults authorised to collection your child on the online registration form. Please inform your child’s teacher of any additional collection information at drop off. If you’d prefer to email any information not included on the registration form, please email info@dramarama.co.uk
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Are there any parking restrictions I should be aware of?Please be mindful that there are restrictions on entering certain roads at certain times of the day (during state school term time). If restrictions apply during our camp times, we will let you know of this in advance of the camp. Please make a note of this, as if you enter a road during restricted hours, you will receive a Penalty Charge Notice. Most of the surrounding roads have pay-and-display parking; please ensure that you pay for parking if you park in a pay-and-display bay.
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My child will scoot or cycle to and from the camp; can they leave their scooter/bike on-site for the day?Unfortunately no personal items, including bikes or scooters, can be left on site.
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If I have any further questions, who should I ask?"In the first instance, please direct all questions and queries to the Dramarama office - email info@dramarama.co.uk If there is any personal information you need to discuss related to the camp, please contact Jessica Grant directly on 07721 978503.