This event is offered in 2 regions. Please see "Schedule" section below for specific timings and time zones.

Join ISTA for a 90-minute virtual PD&L session designed for theatre and language educators—including those teaching IB Literature and Performance—who want to explore how performance poetry can unlock deeper student engagement and creative expression.

Led by an expert practitioner, this interactive workshop provides practical strategies and classroom-ready activities to help students connect with language through voice, rhythm, and interpretation. Participants will engage with selected poems and learn how to guide students in transforming both published and original texts into live performance.

Ideal for educators seeking impactful, interdisciplinary professional development, this session supports emotional literacy, creative confidence, and performance skills—all within a focused, accessible format.

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Learning objectives

In this workshop participants will:

• Confidently integrate spoken word and performance poetry into the IB Literature and Performance curriculum (or any theatre/language classroom), using practical strategies to engage students through both literary analysis and creative expression.
• Teach a diverse range of poems and poets in dynamic, student-friendly ways that make textual analysis accessible, interactive, and relevant—bridging the gap between page and stage.
• Use poetry as a powerful tool for both devised and scripted performance, helping students explore voice, rhythm, character, and narrative in ways that deepen their understanding of performance techniques.
• Demonstrate the intrinsic relationship between poetry and performance, guiding students in using spoken word as a medium for personal expression, emotional literacy, and social commentary.
• Adapt poetic techniques for learners of all ages, equipping students with the tools to write, edit, and perform original work with confidence and intention.
• Enrich the interdisciplinary aims of Literature and Performance by analysing a variety of poetic forms and exploring how performance choices impact meaning, mood, and interpretation.
• Leave with a toolkit of adaptable exercises and activities that support creative risk-taking, critical thinking, and meaningful engagement with poetry—across the classroom, rehearsal room, and stage.

Schedule:

Region 1: Asia & Europe

• London, UK (GMT) - Saturday 18 April 2026 at 8:00-9:30 AM‍
• Amsterdam, Netherlands (CET) - Saturday 18 April 2026 at 9:00-10:30 AM ‍
• Singapore (SGT) - Saturday 18 April 2026 at 3:00-4:30 PM

Region 2: Americas & Europe

• Los Angeles, USA - Saturday 18 April 2026 at 7:00 AM PDT
• Chicago, USA - Saturday 18 April 2026 at 9:00 AM CDT
• New York, USA - Saturday 18 April 2026 at 10:00 AM EDT
• London, UK - Saturday 18 April 2026 2026 at 3:00 PM BST‍
• Amsterdam, Netherlands - Saturday 18 April 2026 at 4:00 PM CEST
  

(Booking will close 24 hours before the event)