Drama classes and lockdown

[bringbackspirabars]

I have name changed for this as it could be extremely outing.

Is there anyway that a drama type class could keep running under lockdown legislation in England? Could they class themselves as a 'Saturday school'?

Both the drama schools my son goes to have moved online. One of them is a national franchise so if they could find a way to stay open; I'm sure they would have??

If they’re at elite level and are considered education, then yes, they could. Some dance classes are continuing because of this reasoning.

my daughters classes have moved online, including the associates intensive training programme

I don't think that I would call them elite - I presume you mean RADA or something equivalent?

It's more what you would find in one of the national franchise operations but not actually one of them.

They seem very certain that they can keep operating, but I am much less so and have kept my child away so far (which they are quite upset about).

Some are trying to do this. In short the guidance and legislation is not clear and there is nobody for these people to ask/nobody regulating.

Lots have closed as a precautionary measure or because they feel it’s right and that’s the way they have interpreted guidance but it is about as clear as mud.

This is being debated on a creative business teaching group I'm on with legal input.

Only sport can be classed as elite under very specific condition laid down in both the regulations and guidance. I have even this week heard of a full time dance college that has been (wrongly in my opinion) closed down by the local council during lockdown.

Full time colleges can continue, part time classes and associate schemes can not.

The only circumstance in which class can legally continue is if a provider is on the compulsory ofsted childcare register and is providing childcare for children under the age of 13 for the purpose of parents being able to work. This is much more likely to happen during a holiday period holiday clubs that double up as childcare) or if the majority of the children attend for an entire day or half day at the weekend for the purpose of childcare (rather than an hour or two). Also some primary schools can provide drama classes as part of their wrap around care provision.

The legislation is quite clear but many are sharing just one section of it which references supervised children's activities but omitting to refer to the section which defines what a supervised children's activity is legally.

Yes, information has been clearer on sport. We had clear guidance that this would close for the duration.

For the moment we have been staying away (and still paying for the classes - we don't mind this as we understand how hard it has been this year and are very impressed with how they have kept it going). I don't think that they are OFSTED registered.

I was shocked to discover that some in person acting classes were going ahead in Manchester this weekend. Not an elite organisation. Pictures online saying “we got the green light from the government to go ahead”. It was clear from pics that they were socially distanced and small numbers but... still. Doesn’t seem right to me.

These were mainly adult classes btw.

Professionals can still train and rehearse, but not amateurs or children.

Most of them aren’t professionals. There is no production at the end, so it wouldn’t count as rehearsal. They are paying to be there rather than being paid iyswim...it’s an adult drama class (improv etc) in a church hall. I’m confused as to why this is allowed but not yoga, string quartets etc etc...

It's not allowed namechange. They need to hope they don't get caught.

Part of the problem is inconsistencey between local councils. I mean how can that continue when places like Phil Winston's Theatreworks who provide full time diploma courses for students aged 16 plus and 18 plus have been ordered to close.

@Comefromaway

It's not allowed namechange. They need to hope they don't get caught.

Part of the problem is inconsistencey between local councils. I mean how can that continue when places like Phil Winston's Theatreworks who provide full time diploma courses for students aged 16 plus and 18 plus have been ordered to close.

I think they would probably say they are training professionals but they aren’t ComeFromAway.

@Comefromaway

It's not allowed namechange. They need to hope they don't get caught.

Part of the problem is inconsistencey between local councils. I mean how can that continue when places like Phil Winston's Theatreworks who provide full time diploma courses for students aged 16 plus and 18 plus have been ordered to close.

That sounds odd as Phil Winstons are clearly providing full time education and as such can continue to run. I know of one dance associates scheme who are continuing to run and have been given the ok by PHE to do so.

Which associates is that @PaquitaVariation? All my DD's have moved to Zoom which she hates :-(

Just hoping this doesn't go beyond the current lockdown - a year of online auditions has been bad enough!

It’s my daughter’s grad year. She’s desperately hoping showcase goes ahead.

I'm desperately sad for anyone graduating this year @Comefromaway - have everything crossed that the good news about a vaccine this week means that her showcase can go ahead and the industry in general can start to get back to normal.

We're right at the start of our journey (DD is year 5) - hoping that auditions are back to being in person by the time she applies for voc school. Though I am a little worried that the schools will continue to use videos for prelims whatever...

Best of luck to your DD for whatever the future holds!