Who are Theatre of Debate?
Theatre of Debate projects tour throughout schools in the UK and in essence consist of a play, an informed debate and online interactive resources.
Each participating school receives a preparatory resource pack prior to our visit. The performances are designed for a whole year group (up to 200 young people) and before each performance the Theatre of Debate facilitator introduces the audience to the use of the electronic voting system and subject matter.
The performance is followed by a facilitated, informed debate in which the actors return in character and answer questions from the audience. Electronic voting is used before the performance and then throughout the debate following the performance.
After the company leaves the school, online resources are made available for students and teachers to deepen their knowledge and learning, enabling the conversations around the subject matter to continue.
Latest Theatre of Debate Projects
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Featured Project
A Picture of Health
This play explores the story of the smallpox vaccination programme in Mysore, India in the early nineteenth century.
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From The Dentists Chair
Set in West Yorkshire, the action revolves round a dentist’s surgery just before Christmas and directly after the new year.
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Every Breath
Set against an instantly recognisable background of family life and pressures, Judith Johnson’s play takes a difficult subject and looks at both sides of the argument.
All our work is underpinned by rigorous information gathering, consultation and collaboration with a wide range of relevant experts who enable the creation of plays, associated debates and educational resources.
Medical science and associated issues related to human health are developing at an unprecedented pace. Such developments concern us all, and yet the ways in which young people can engage in, explore and understand these subjects are extremely limited.
Theatre provides an accessible way into complex scientific issues through story telling. By providing a structure that everyone can relate to – human relationships – challenging and complex issues become understandable and interesting.
Why our work is important
Medical science and associated issues related to human health are developing at an unprecedented pace.
Such developments concern us all, and yet the ways in which young people can engage in, explore and understand these subjects are extremely limited.
Theatre provides an accessible way into complex scientific issues through story telling. By providing a structure that everyone can relate to – human relationships – challenging and complex issues become understandable and interesting. The human health issues addressed by Theatre of Debate are universal, ethical questions, and are key subjects on the GCSE Science curriculum.
Evaluation of Theatre of Debate programmes demonstrates enhanced understanding and performance in this area by participating students, as well as developments in critical thinking and citizenship studies.
We address key issues, including:
- Patient and public involvement
- Sugar, obesity and type 2 diabetes
- Genetic disease and screening
- Electronic patient information
- Neuroethics
- Clinical Trials
- Novel neurotechnologies
- Stem cells in research and therapy
- The use of animals in medical research
Subscribe to Theatre of Debate
Full access to our suite of resources
School Licence
- Full access to all Theatre of Debate projects
- New/Upcoming projects included
- Watch all full length plays
- Read the play scripts
- Watch actor and playwright interviews
- Detailed facilitator notes
- KS3/KS4 curriculum links
- Full lesson plans
- Debate packages
- Extension activities
- Engaging resources
- 2 Week free trial included
Up to 300 Pupils
2 Weeks for free, then
£150 p/year
Up to 500 Pupils
2 Weeks for free, then
£250 p/year
Up to 600 Pupils
2 Weeks for free, then
£300 p/year
Up to 900 Pupils
2 Weeks for free, then
£450 p/year
Home Licence
- All school licence features
- Single user licence only
- 2 Week free trial included