IB Workshop
New York IB Workshop - DP Theatre
Thursday 15 Octoberto Saturday 17 October 2026
- Event type
- IB Workshop
- For
- Educators
- When
- 15–17 October 20269:00 AM – 12:30 PM EDT
- Where
- New York, United States
- Booking
- Booking closed
About this event
This event has now closed however there are still some spaces available for Category 3: Collaboratively Creating Original Theatre. Please email Sophie Galton, using the details to the right of the webpage if you would like to book.
ISTA is an officially accredited IB professional development provider with over 20 years of collaboration with the IB. Our IB DP Theatre workshops are trusted by international schools worldwide and go beyond standard teacher training. Alongside certified IB learning, every workshop includes two live performances and a hands-on specialist workshop led by a professional theatre artist, giving you real creative experiences you can bring straight back to your classroom. Our workshops are open to all educators — no ISTA membership required.
This event features the following specific workshop categories:
- Category 1 & 2 (Combined) — For teachers at any stage of experience, with differentiated pathways supporting both foundational understanding and deeper practice. Note: All participants receive a Category 1 & 2 IB certificate.
- Category 3: Collaboratively Creating Original Theatre — For theatre educators who want to deepen their devising practice and develop more effective strategies for supporting students through the Collaborative Theatre Project.
This workshop takes place alongside our New York TAPS (Theatre and Performance Symposium), a vibrant event for DP Theatre students. It's the perfect opportunity to bring your students with you—while they explore and perform, you'll be connecting, learning, and recharging your teaching practice.
What to expect at an ISTA IB DP Theatre Workshop:
- Multi-day, in-person professional learning in an arts-rich environment
- Hands-on, practice-based exploration directly connected to the DP Theatre curriculum and assessment tasks
- Facilitation by experienced IB workshop leaders with active theatre-making backgrounds
- Collaborative work with educators from different schools, backgrounds, and theatre traditions
- A specialist workshop led by a professional theatre artist
- Two live performances
- A free ISTA Solo membership is included with your place
Your ISTA experience
Workshop focus
Category 1 & 2 – Combined
Perfect for teachers who are new to the DP Theatre course as well as those with some experience looking to deepen their practice.
- This workshop builds a strong foundation in the IB mission and philosophy and how they underpin the DP Theatre course. You'll explore the subject guide, syllabus, and assessment requirements in depth, including opportunities to practise marking student work.
- Through collaborative exploration, you'll deepen your understanding of teaching, learning, and assessment, develop strategies to strengthen feedback and grading practices, and design a course that integrates authentic assessment while supporting student success.
Category 3 — Advanced Practice
For theatre educators who want to deepen their expertise in a specific area of DP Theatre practice.
Collaboratively Creating Original Theatre
- This workshop focuses on ensemble devising and collaborative creation, exploring practical methodologies for generating, structuring, and refining original performance work.
- You will engage in hands-on exploration of the devising process, from initial ideas through to performance.
- You will leave with clear strategies and practical tools to guide students toward confident, original, assessment-ready work for the Collaborative Theatre Project.
Not sure which Category is right for you? Download our Category Selection Guide to help you choose the workshop that best matches your experience and professional development goals.
Live performance
This ISTA IB DP Theatre workshop includes two live theatre performances as part of the programme, chosen to complement and enrich your learning across the three days.
PRODUCTION 1
Performance Title: The Lost Boys
Venue/Theatre: Palace Theatre, New York City
Date and times: Thursday 15 October 2026 / 7:00 PM
Description: Get ready for the ride of your life!
When Michael moves to California with his younger brother Sam and their mother Lucy, he’s desperate to leave his old life behind and start fresh. A wild night out on the boardwalk finds him in the shadows of Santa Carla and brings him face-to-face with David, the magnetic leader of a local rock band. David and his bandmates offer Michael freedom, adventure, and the connection he’s been longing to find. But when the band’s dark secret finally comes out, Michael must decide how far he’s willing to go to belong.
Based on the classic Warner Bros. film, The Lost Boys is “a jaw-dropping, rock-fueled must-see” (Cosmopolitan) featuring Tony-winning performances from Shoshana Bean and Ali Louis Bourzgui. Directed by three-time Tony winner Michael Arden (Maybe Happy Ending, Parade), the production features Tony-nominated music and lyrics by The Rescues, a book by Tony nominees David Hornsby and Chris Hoch, choreography by Tony nominees Lauren Yalango-Grant and Christopher Cree Grant (Parade), and music supervision by Tony nominee Ethan Popp (Tina). The Lost Boys is produced by James Carpinello, Marcus Chait, and Patrick Wilson.
PRODUCTION 2
Performance Title: Operation Mincemeat
Venue/Theatre: Golden Theatre, New York City
Date and times: Friday 16 October 2026 / 7:30 PM
Description: The year is 1943 and right now we’re losing the war. Luckily, we’re about to gamble all our futures on a stolen corpse.
Singin’ in the Rain meets Strangers on a Train, Operation Mincemeat is the fast-paced, hilarious and unbelievable true story of the twisted secret mission that won us World War II.
Bursting at the seams with the kind of chaos you couldn’t invent, the question is: how did a dead body, a fake love letter, and - of all people - Ian Fleming come together to wrong-foot Hitler?
About the workshop leader
ISTA works with IB-approved workshop leaders who bring deep expertise in both theatre education and the DP Theatre course. All of our workshop leaders are experienced DP Theatre educators with active backgrounds in theatre-making, curriculum design, and artistic practice.
They are skilled facilitators who understand the realities of teaching the IB DP Theatre course in schools, and are committed to making professional learning practical, relevant, and genuinely inspiring.
Specialist workshop
Each of our workshops includes a focused, practice-based session led by a professional theatre artist, designed to extend your artistic practice, skills, and perspective as an educator within the IB DP Theatre course. Rooted in areas such as directing, devising, performance, or design, these sessions emphasise transferable approaches, embodied practice, and creative processes that deepen understanding through doing.
Working practically and collaboratively, you will engage in guided exploration, short performance tasks, and reflective discussion. You will leave with practical ideas, adaptable strategies, and new artistic approaches that can be applied directly to your teaching and to the demands of the DP Theatre course.
Joining the event
Booking and registration
All IB workshop bookings are made via your ISTA website account. To complete your booking:
- Provide your participant and school details, including name, contact information, dietary or accessibility needs, and whether you hold an ISTA membership
- Select your workshop category and share a brief overview of your IB teaching experience
- Confirm your agreement to ISTA's Terms and Conditions, including media consent and account creation
Once submitted, your booking confirmation will appear in the profile of the person who completed the registration. Please note: if a colleague booked on your behalf, the confirmation may sit under their account.
If you requested an invoice, it has been sent to the email address provided at the time of booking. Your place is reserved, subject to payment in line with our booking terms.
Please note: Registrations close 7 days before the event start date.
IMPORTANT: Participants attending combined workshops must register for Category 1 & 2 (Combined) via the ISTA website. All participants will be certified under this category, and certificates will state Category 1 & 2 (Combined).
Payment process
Please note the following before completing your booking:
- Once booked and invoiced, registration fees are non-refundable and non-transferable in accordance with our event terms and conditions
- Late registrants will not be able to order a t-shirt
- You're welcome to book up until 8 October 2026 However, if you book after 18 September 2026 we can't guarantee a theatre ticket or a hard copy of the teacher workbook, though we'll do everything we can to provide a suitable alternative.
Schedule
Workshop Schedule
- Start: 9:00am Thursday 15 October 2026.
- End: 12:30pm Saturday 17 October 2026.
The workshop runs from 9:00am – 4:45pm on Days 1 and 2, with a full programme of collaborative sessions, practical exploration, and reflective learning.
On Day 3, the workshop runs from 9:00am – 12:30 pm, focusing on assessment, reflection, and next steps before the event closes.
Please note: The IB requires participants to attend all sessions on all days in order to receive their certificate of completion. If you have an unavoidable scheduling conflict, please contact the Event Manager prior to the start of the workshop.
Click here to take a look at a sample workshop schedule to get a feel for how the three days are structured.
Prepare for your event
Travel, visas and accommodation
IMPORTANT: Participants must attend ALL workshop sessions in their entirety in order to receive IB Certificate of completion. Please plan your trip accordingly.
- Arrival: Plan to arrive in New York by the evening of Wednesday 14 October 2026
- Departure: Do not plan to leave Ripley Grier Studios before 12:30 pm Saturday 17 October 2026
- Visas: Participants are responsible for obtaining any necessary visas to enter the United States.
- Need visa support? Contact your Event Manager.
Accommodation
- Participants must book and pay their own accommodation
Please note: The IB requires participants to attend all sessions on all days in order to receive their certificate of completion. If you have an unavoidable scheduling conflict, please contact the Event Manager prior to the start of the workshop.
Meals and refreshments
The event fees include tea and coffee breaks each day, and lunch on Days 1 and 2.
What to bring
Participants should bring:
- Current IB DP Theatre Subject Guide (ask your IB DP Coordinator if you do not have one)
- Comfortable, movement-friendly clothing
- Laptop (with charger) or notebook and pen for note-taking
- Smart casual attire for evening theatre performances
Please note: ISTA and the host venue are not responsible for lost or damaged personal items.
Event materials
All registered participants will receive an E-Programme approximately two weeks before the workshop.
This digital guide includes:
- Workshop venue details, full schedule, and timings
- Facilitator and artist biographies
- Key information to help you prepare and make the most of your ISTA learning experience
At the workshop, you will receive a printed teacher workbook to use during sessions and for future reference, along with access to workshop resources.
