Join ISTA for a dynamic virtual PD&L session designed for theatre educators eager to expand their approach to staging and spatial storytelling.

Led by an expert practitioner, this 90-minute online workshop offers practical strategies, creative insights, and classroom-ready techniques to help both educators and students move beyond default end-on staging. Explore the creative possibilities of traverse, in-the-round, promenade, and site-specific configurations—even within limited or unconventional teaching spaces. Participants will leave equipped with tools to deepen student understanding of audience perspective, narrative space, and the expressive potential of staging. With a focus on Tension, Emotion, Atmosphere, and Meaning (TEAM), the session supports design thinking that enhances devising, ensemble work, and script-based performance.

Ideal for educators working with middle years and pre-university students, this session provides high-impact, subject-specific professional development that strengthens both student engagement and curriculum delivery.

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Learning objectives

In this workshop participants will:

• Identify and analyse the characteristics, affordances, and limitations of a range of staging configurations, including traverse, in-the-round, promenade, and site-specific spaces.
• Evaluate the impact of spatial design choices on audience perspective, narrative clarity, and the development of Tension, Emotion, Atmosphere, and Meaning (TEAM) in performance.
• Apply design thinking strategies to creatively adapt performance work to non-traditional or resource-limited spaces, including classrooms and outdoor environments.
• Experiment with spatial storytelling techniques that challenge default staging habits and encourage student-led exploration of space and audience interaction.
• Design inquiry-led learning experiences that empower students to question space as a narrative tool, integrating spatial experimentation into devising and scripted performance units.
• Share classroom practices and challenges related to teaching spatial awareness and design, building confidence and community through collaborative problem-solving.
• Reflect on how non-end-on staging supports learner agency, collaboration, and creative risk-taking, aligning with MYP and IB Theatre objectives and assessment criteria.

Schedule

Region 1: Asia & Europe

• London, UK (GMT) – Saturday 7 February 2026 at 9:00-10:30 AM
• Amsterdam, Netherlands (CET) – Saturday 7 February 2026 at 10:00-11:30 AM
• Singapore (SGT) – Saturday 7 February 2026 at 5:00-6:30 PM

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(Booking will close 24 hours before the event)