Questions from readers #4
How to choose a contemporary Australian play for the English classroom, when teaching drama is out of your comfort zone.
This week I had a question about teaching contemporary plays in the English classroom. I have to admit this is not my area of expertise! So, I have relied on a little external help.
I’d love to hear from you readers, too. Can you help answer this question? If so, please comment below! This can be a group effort.
*Please note: I have edited the email slightly for anonymity and brevity.
Can you please recommend some Australian plays to teach at Year 10? We’re stuck with the same old ones (Shakespeare, The Crucible, A Streetcar Named Desire) but also looking to go more contemporary than Away, Cloudstreet and Hotel Sorrento, etc. Some First Nations work would be great.
We are keen for something that is engaging for the kids but also not too intimidating for the teachers! The form can make some of them more nervous than teaching novels, poetry, etc.
Thank you for this question! I am sure you are not the only one struggling with this kind of thing. And I’m always keen to help get more contemporary stories in Australian classrooms.
The first place I’d recommend heading is the Reading Australia website. I started working for the organisation late last year, project managing their secondary resources, and there are some really great options when it comes to plays for the high school English classroom.
A couple that I’d suggest that fit the bill include:
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