When parents enquire about our classes, they usually fall into one of two categories:
First, there’s the parent who wants to build their child’s confidence. Often, they’ve been told by a teacher that their child is ‘shy’ or reluctant join in class discussions. Sometimes the teacher has even suggested signing up to a drama class as a way to help.
Then there’s the parent whose child already loves performing. Perhaps they’ve been singled out for a leading role in a school assembly or end of year performance and have now caught the acting bug!
Whether your child is naturally outgoing or quietly thoughtful, drama isn’t just about acting — it’s about growing.
At The Playing Space, we’ve seen first-hand how drama supports children far beyond the performing for an exam, or on stage at a festival. Here are 7 life skills that your child is developing in every session:
1. Confidence
Not the loud, performative kind. We all know the child that always has their hand up to answer every question. Imagine if we had 30 of them in a classroom? And answering every question isn’t necessarily a sign of confidence – it might be a sign of needing reassurance or alidation. We want all our children to be able to listen, and then to be able to contribute if and when they have something important to say. We don’t want our children to have an idea but feel too scared to share it. Maybe they think they’ll get it wrong, or be judged, so they keep the idea to themselves. At The Playing Space our aim is to instil real, internal confidence in all our students. The kind that lets a child raise their hand in class, introduce themselves at a new school, or stand up for a friend.
2. Communication
Drama sharpens vocal clarity, expressive language, and active listening. Students learn to speak with intention and listen with empathy — essential tools for interviews, presentations, relationships and life in general. To communicate well, you need to have a rich vocabulary. By introducing children to works of literature – both poetry and prose, classic and modern – we are helping them gather the words they need to express themselves clearly.
3. Empathy
To play a character well, you have to understand them. Even if they’re very different from you. That means thinking about why people behave the way they do, how they feel, and what motivates them. In a world that often rushes to judgement, drama encourages compassion.
4. Resilience
Drama is full of setbacks — and that’s a good thing. Sometimes things go wrong on stage or in an exam room. The sun still rises the next day. Students learn to keep going, keep trying, and keep showing up. Resilience becomes muscle memory. Also, by being encouraged to get things wrong in the rehearsal space, they get much more used to dealing with things going wrong in a performance. It really doesn’t have to be a disaster – there’s always a way out. Students quickly learn that even when something feels like it has gone very askew on stage, the audience may not even have noticed!
5. Teamwork
Whether devising a group scene for a festival or giving feedback to a partner in class, drama teaches collaboration. Students support one another, learn when to lead and when to step back, and celebrate collective effort over individual spotlight.
6. Creativity
In drama, there’s often no “right answer” — just many possibilities. Children learn to experiment, adapt, and explore their imaginations. This kind of flexible thinking is linked to better problem-solving and innovation in later life.
7. Self-awareness
Drama helps students become more attuned to their own emotions, body language and reactions. They notice how they come across, how they feel, and how to manage nerves or frustration. It’s a gentle but powerful journey toward emotional intelligence.
More than Make-Believe
A recent report from the Centre for Education and Youth (CfEY), in partnership with LAMDA, confirmed what drama teachers have long known: high-quality drama training boosts confidence, communication, and academic engagement. The Headteacher of one school said:
“I think that it’s huge for resilience. The process of having to learn for an exam ahead of time and having that practice in place really helps them with their GCSEs as well.”
At The Playing Space, we see the transformation all the time. The quiet Year 4 who now speaks up in assembly. The anxious Year 9 who handled a school interview with poise. The child who simply lights up when they walk into class, because here, they get to fully be themselves.
If you’re wondering whether drama is right for your child, remember: it’s not about turning them into an actor. It’s about equipping them with tools for life.
And that deserves a standing ovation.