Student conferences

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Student conferences are large-scale events based on a National Theatre production. Designed for GCSE and A-Levels, they feature talks and masterclasses with members of the company and creative team. Sessions include exploration of the play text and the process of bringing the production to the stage.

We design conferences to prepare students for their English Literature and Drama exams. They take place at the National Theatre. Any school or college can apply for tickets to our student conferences.

If you’d like to get in touch with our Secondary team, please email us below. We’d love to hear from you!

Email the Secondary team

Upcoming conference

Live theatre review student conference: Exploring The Other Place

The next National Theatre Student Conference will take place on Thursday 7 November 2024, and will explore The Other Place, Alexander Zeldin’s radical adaptation of Antigone.

The event will include interactive sessions and talks with members of the company, exploring the creative process. It will support students studying the production for the live theatre review component for A Level drama.

The conference sessions will take place from 1.30-3.30pm. After the conference, attendees will receive tickets to The Other Place at 5pm that day.

A woman wearing a lilac coloured trouser suit and with eyes closed, lies flat on their back on a a green grassy space.

Ticket information

Each booking includes:
– Ticket to the student conference.
– Ticket to the evening performance of The Other Place on Thursday 7 November, 5pm.

Tickets cost £15 per student for UK state-funded schools, and £20 per student for independent schools.
2 x free teacher tickets per group with any additional teachers charged £15 each.

Recommended age group – KS5/16+.

Apply for a place

This form will close at 6pm on Friday 6 September.

You will be notified shortly after this date as to whether you have successfully secured a place.

If you have any questions about booking for the conference, please email secondary@nationaltheatre.org.uk.

Past conferences

Live theatre review student conference with Gecko

This conference, in January 2024, was designed to support students with this component of the GCSE and A-level specifications.

The day featured a masterclass from critically acclaimed theatre critic Lyn Gardner, as well as talks and interactive workshops with the company, exploring their devising methodology and creative process.

This was followed by the schools performance of Kin and an exclusive schools-focused post show Q&A with Artistic Director Amit Lahav and members of the Gecko team.

A group of individuals engaged in a coordinated dance routine, leaning to the right with their right hands extended upward, conveying a range of emotions. — Photo by Mark Sepple

Hear from our participants :

Live theatre review student conference 2024 photos © Emma Hare

This was a truly informative and interesting experience. I particularly enjoyed Lyn Gardner’s talk and the workshop!

– Student, Live theatre review student conference 2024 attendee

Being able to hear from the Gecko company directly and then see a Gecko production – this was brilliant for the students in shaping their experience of the piece. Also, just having a full day dedicated to ‘Theatre’ was just such a joy.

– Teacher, Live theatre review student conference 2024 attendee

Othello

The conference was designed to provide an insight into The National Theatre’s recent production of Othello, directed by Clint Dyer in January 2023.

The Crucible

The National Theatre welcomed schools back for a sold-out student conference for The Crucible in October 2022.

Three Sisters

The National Theatre’s student conference on Inua Ellams’ adaptation of Chekhov’s Three Sisters took place in January 2020.

Antony & Cleopatra

The National Theatre’s student conference on Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra took place in January 2019.

Our funders

The Mohn Westlake Foundation supports nationwide Learning programmes for young people.

Young People’s Programmes are supported by Bank of America, The Maurice Hatter Foundation and the Richard Radcliffe Trust. With thanks to the MAP Fund.

Nationwide learning is supported by Buffini Chao Foundation, Clore Duffield Foundation, Crevan O’Grady & Jane McClenahan, MFPA Trust Fund for the Training of Disabled Children in the Arts, The Kartik Foundation, Behrens Foundation, Marlow Trust, Cleopatra Trust, and The Andor Charitable Trust.

Find out more about supporting our work