TELLINGS TALES WITH DRAMA WORKSHOP

Duration:

Various ( 1 Hour - Full Day)

Suitability:

Grades P - 6

Available Terms:

Terms 1 - 4

Book Online

TELLING TALES WITH DRAMA

Venue: Double Teaching Space, Drama Classroom, Studio, Theatre, Hall

OVERVIEW

Telling Tales with Drama is a vibrant, hands-on workshop designed to ignite creativity, collaboration, and confidencethrough the ancient and universal art of storytelling. Led by seasoned performer and educator Clint Bolster, students explore how voice, movement, mime, and narration combine to turn stories into theatre — and theatre into a powerful tool for expression and connection.

From imagining enchanted forests to re-telling real-world experiences, students are guided through a journey of devising, performing, and sharing stories that are uniquely their own.

WHO IT’S FOR

Prep – Year 6 students of all abilities
Suitable for mainstream and specialist settings
Works with small class groups, multiple classes, or full-day intensives
Tailored versions available for F–2, 3–4, and 5–6 cohorts

WORKSHOP FOCUS AREAS

Joy of Dramatic Storytelling

Learn how stories come alive through drama
Explore creative play as a launchpad for imagination

Devising Skills

Create original group or solo stories using brainstorming, character creation, and scene-building
Learn how stories are structured with beginnings, middles, and ends

Narration, Mime, Voice & Movement

Explore storytelling with and without words
Use body language, gesture, facial expression, and vocal tone to create emotion and character

Collaborative Storytelling

Work in small groups to build shared stories
Learn teamwork, listening, and shared creative responsibility

Performance & Confidence Building

Perform short, devised stories in a low-pressure, celebratory environment
Build confidence in sharing ideas and performing for an audience

Teacher Takeaways

Teachers will leave with practical drama games, story starters, and devising strategies for the classroom
Supports literacy and oral language development through active engagement

AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM LINKS (Years F–6)

The Arts – Drama

Foundation to Year 2

ACADRM027: Explore role and dramatic play with voice, movement, and space
ACADRM028: Use body and voice to communicate character and story
ACADRR029: Respond to drama and discuss feelings and ideas

Years 3–4

ACADRM032: Develop story elements using voice, movement, and improvisation
ACADRM033: Use dramatic elements to convey ideas
ACADRR034: Reflect on how drama explores characters and situations

Years 5–6

ACADRM036: Rehearse and refine performances using expressive skills
ACADRM037: Devise performances that show character, story, and setting
ACADRR038: Identify and explain how dramatic action creates meaning

English

Foundation to Year 6

ACELY1651/1694: Plan and create spoken, written and multimodal stories
ACELY1660/1700: Use interaction skills including listening, turn-taking, and spoken language
ACELT1578/1607: Explore how narrative structures communicate meaning
ACELT1580/1612: Create imaginative, informative, and persuasive texts that show understanding of character and setting

Health and Physical Education (HPE)

ACPPS005/037: Practise personal and social skills to interact positively with others
ACPPS003/056: Recognise emotions and how they influence behaviour
ACPMP025: Engage in movement activities that require decision-making, cooperation, and communication

GENERAL CAPABILITIES

Personal and Social Capability

Strengthen confidence, self-awareness, and resilience
Learn respectful collaboration, teamwork, and self-regulation through group tasks

Critical and Creative Thinking

Think imaginatively about characters, stories, and solutions
Reflect on ideas, test creative choices, and give feedback

Literacy

Strengthen oral storytelling, active listening, and sequencing
Use drama to explore meaning-making through multimodal expression

Ethical Understanding

Explore right and wrong through characters’ actions and choices
Build empathy through roleplay and perspective-taking

THEMES & SKILLS DEVELOPED

Creativity & Play – Turning simple ideas into full stories
Empathy & Connection – Understanding how others think and feel
Problem-Solving – Devising scenes and resolving narrative challenges
Self-Expression – Finding your voice and being heard
Storytelling & Structure – Learning how stories work and what makes them powerful

POST-WORKSHOP EXTENSION IDEAS

Drama Activity: Turn a favourite book into a group performance
English Activity: Story map or diary entry from a character’s perspective
Art Integration: Design character masks or draw a scene from a devised tale
Reflection Journals: “What did I create today?” / “What made me laugh the most?”
Teacher Pack: Includes 5 story-based drama games and printable storytelling prompts

WHY TEACHERS LOVE IT

Engages reluctant speakers and writers through movement and creativity
Supports oral language, narrative structure, emotional literacy, and teamwork
Offers practical tools you can bring straight into the classroom
Aligns with both literacy and arts outcomes

Devised by: Clint Bolster
Directed by: Clint Bolster

★★★★★
I would like to thank you for the creative inspiration you brought to our students. You had the ability to engage all year levels (yr 3-10). It took very little time for 'generally reserved' students to lose their inhibitions and participate fully with other older students they did not know. All the students came away with a sense of accomplishment and greater confidence in themselves.

- Zillmere State School, QLD

★★★★★
Thank you so much for the wonderful work you have done with my Year 7 Drama Academy students this week. They were engaged and enthused from the very start. Your manner with and care of the group was inspiring. I observed higher order reflection, synthesis and analysis- making the learning deep and authentic (not to mean FUN!). The best of all was I go to see ALL my students SHINE!
Some of the student feedback included:-
“I love that it was different to other workshops!”
“Clint was hilarious and fun to work with. He made the experience comfortable from the start by giving us nicknames and fun activities. “
“He let us accept ourselves and know it’s okay to laugh at ourselves.”
“He made finding our inner clown real and doable!”
“We loved embracing the humour.”
“He gave us a reason to SMILE!”
Again thanks Clint for a series of dynamic, engaging and well run workshops that have ‘value added’ to my class!"

Helensvale State High School, QLD

★★★★★
We loved having Clint come to Haileybury to enthuse, entertain, energise and educate our Drama students. A warm and funny fellow, Clint warms up students with humour and a great sense of fun. He forms connections with boys and girls alike, before leading them into productive comic acting and mask workshops. We all loved Clint’s delightful manner and appreciated his intelligent and nurturing approach. Almost everyone raised their hands high and fast whenever volunteers were sought, obviously enthusiastic to try the new skills and tasks being introduced. Clint engaged students from Years 5 to 12, with his gifted sense of timing and his creativity. He brings out the best of students as they explore Mask and Clowning. Audiences were treated to some excellent theatre, from peers performing with Basal and Shaun masks, within Clint’s teacher-led scenarios. Clint runs a well-structured class. He is flexible and intuitive, a fine educator and a genuine, supportive and easy-going person to deal with. We were all inspired by the energy and time Clint shared with us here at Haileybury. I highly recommend him!