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Student conferences

A group of students talking in the Olivier Theatre stalls at the 'Antony and Cleopatra' Student Conference 2019

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

Past conferences

Kin student conference

The conference was designed to supporting 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

What participants say:

Antony and Cleopatra Student Conference, 2019

Without a doubt, the best educational visit I have attended in my career. Our students loved the day, took so much away to support their learning and relished the chance to hobnob with an actual director, set designer and cast of a National Theatre production. Wow!

– Teacher, The Crucible student conference 2022 attendee

It was so fun and interesting. We weren’t just talked at. I would come back again.

– Student, The Crucible conference 2022 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, Tim & Sarah Bunting, MFPA Trust Fund for the Training of Handicapped Children in the Arts, Behrens Foundation, Cleopatra Trust and The Andor Charitable Trust.

Find out more about supporting our work