Raising Stakes is major project run by Islington Community Theatre, funded by Cambridge Education @ Islington, and designed to help GCSE Drama students develop exciting performance and written work and, ultimately, get better grades. It does this by:

• Creating easy, accessible ways for drama teachers across Islington to share ideas, explore new plays and work together.
• Supporting students’ written and practical work through in-school workshops, theatre visits and targeted worksheets.
• Raising the importance of drama by giving students the opportunity to perform in professional theatre venues.

Raising Stakes is led by professional theatre-makers and, because it is a relatively small project covering only Islington schools, is directed entirely by the needs of local teachers and students. Activities include:

Islington Drama Network
Accessible online and workshop support to help teachers from different schools work together, share experience and improve links. Regular emails with suggestions for plays to read/see, workshop ideas etc. Specialist master classes from theatre professionals specifically targeted at working with Year 10s and 11s.

Raising Stakes Showcases
A chance for students in Years 10 and 11 to share their Paper 2 performances to other GCSE Students at professional theatre venues in Islington.

Student Support
Free targeted workpacks and workshops based on Islington Youth Theatre’s productions and free tickets for all of our shows. Connecting teachers with colleagues in other schools exploring similar issues through devised (and scripted) work.

Other Activities
To be developed in collaboration with teachers and students as Raising Stakes develops.

If you are a drama teacher in Islington and would like to get involved, please contact us.