Consultancy

Mark and Charlie Wheeller Workshops
Between October and December 2011 Mark and Charlie Wheeller are presenting workshops in schools. Click here for more information.

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In my early years as a drama teacher I experienced two different drama teaching pedagogies first hand:

1/ Dorothy Heathcote/Gavin Bolton mould. I am still in contact with Luke Abbot my first Head of Department and am currently training as a trainer on the Mantle of the Expert work he continues to champion.
2/ Documentary Theatre work of Roy Nevitt and his Living Archive Project in Milton Keynes which led to my own more contemporary Docuplays.

I remember Alistair Black (Drama Adviser) asking me which side I fell on in terms of process v product. There are no sides to be taken... both ways of working are valid and have their place. I have never understood Drama teachers who are divisive in this respect and nor did Alistair!

The other important input to my development are some amazingly inventive students I have worked with along the way. It is them who have developed my practice most and continue to do so to this day... particularly in terms of presentation work. My work has been for the most part with young people grappling with how to present a variety of challenging material on stage.

I was an examiner for the Edexcel Drama GCSE from the early days. In the early 2000’s became an Assistant Principal Examiner for the Edexcel. I have regularly contributed to Drama Teaching magazines and in 2009 contribute to the Pearson Edexcel Student and Teacher book to support the (then) new specification. My scripts are featured in the book, dvd and also the rival Hodder book! They have for a long while been praised by the Chief Examiner of Edexcel GCSE as they offer students the kind of opportunities to achieve the best results. I am an experienced course leader in the UK and abroad.

I am in the fortunate position of others now being interested in seeing how I work and to listen to what I have to say. I am frequently asked to do:

• Demonstration lessons

• Teacher training sessions

• GCSE preparation lessons

• Book weeks

• Production evaluations
  

I work with young people in schools, colleges and university, Youth Theatre, amdram and professional theatre groups.

Previous work
I have listed below my international work and also more recognisable national groups. Much of my work is on a much smaller scale (often for one day) working in individual schools across the UK:

Houston High School For Performing and Visual Arts: Texas USA (also toured Houston Schools with Hard To Swallow and Too Much Punch For Judy).

Wellington City Council: New Zealand student workshop tour to support Too Much Punch For Judy professional tour

British School of Brussels: along with Anthony Horowitz & Bali Rai presented Keynote Speech & Drama workshops in their Book Week.

National Association of Youth Theatres: Workshop for leaders and YT members

National Student Drama Festival: Workshops for performers

Keynote Educational: Presented numerous practical Drama workshops.

Southampton University: PGCE Teacher training.

Reading University: Teachers workshop

The University of Winchester: Workshops on TIE for Post Grad students

National Drama: Workshop for teachers

National Association of Teachers of Drama: Workshop for teachers.

Phillip Allen Updates: Presented numerous practical (and popular) workshops. (London & Manchester)

In addition to the above, I often visit schools in the UK to work with students and/or teachers. Very often (but not always) the focus is my plays. On occasions a school will an INSET day and invite other Drama teachers in. I am always willing to lead a demonstration lesson and follow this up with work specifically aimed at teachers. However I am equally happy to work with students or teachers for the whole day.