Embracing Tradition: The Importance of Routine in Drama Class

Whether you're running drama class around your kitchen table or in a traditional classroom with rows of desks, having some fun routines and theatre traditions in place can totally transform your time together. These little rituals don’t just set the stage — they set the vibe! They're a great way to start building connections between your performers, whether they’re brand new to the spotlight or seasoned scene-stealers. In the world of theatre, teamwork is everything. Creating routines that bring everyone together helps build a community where your students feel safe to take risks, get creative, and shine.

3 girls on stage looking at each other

Kick things off by introducing the routine and setting expectations: Whenever we start a brand-new show or class, I take a few minutes to share what I expect from my performers. Every teacher or director gets to create their own vibe and their own list, but I’ve found it’s super helpful to be clear right from the start so everyone knows what to expect and we’re all on the same page. Here are a few key expectations that have really worked for me over the years:

1. Respect your fellow performers and teacher/director (Listen when someone is talking)

2. Leave the outside world at the door. If you are having a bad day or are fighting with a friend I ask performers to try to leave it at the door and focus on what we are doing in this space.

3. Just Try It. If I play a game or exercise that you don't love I ask performers to just try it at first. If later they want to come to me and tell me they hated it, I take the feedback.

4. If you are doing any movement to a fellow performer make sure they know and you have asked ahead of time.

5. Let's have fun!

Know the Plan:

Every time we meet—whether it’s for rehearsal or class—I like to let the group know exactly what’s on the agenda. If we’re working through a song, learning a dance, diving into a scene, or focusing on character development, I’ll spell it out right at the beginning. It helps everyone know what to expect, where to focus their energy, and what we’re aiming for. Plus, if we don’t get through everything, it gives me a chance to check in and see why—and celebrate what we did accomplish!

It empowers kids to be a part of the plan and feel involved right from the start. I do this with kids of any age,

Warm-Up:

Every great class starts with a warm-up—it’s like our mini ritual to get focused and ready to play. I usually begin with some big, stretchy breaths while moving the body and letting out sounds (silly ones totally welcome!). Then I keep the breath flowing while inviting performers to create sounds for the rest of the group to echo. Depending on the group’s vibe, we’ll play with this for a few rounds to shake off the day and drop into theatre mode.

Warm-Up Games:

Once we’re warmed up, it’s game time! I love kicking things off with a few energizing theatre games to get those creative juices flowing. The specific games I choose depend on the mood in the room and what the group needs that day—sometimes we need a laugh, sometimes we need to focus, and sometimes we just need to move. Either way, it’s always a blast!

Kids on stage pulling a performer

Focus Games- Some of my favourite focus games are:

Zip, Zap, Zop

Kitty Want A Corner

Clap and Pass

Whoosh

Squirt

Energy Building Games

Sound and Movement

Shakes

Character Games

To Me

Emotion Levels

Back To Neutral

Depending on your group and task at hand you only want to play few warm-up games and then can get onto your work for the day. The more you can build simple routines into your class or rehearsal the better the group will work together.

End of the class

Clean up and shake down. We talk a lot about respecting the space we are in. So as a group we clean it up before we do our shake down to end the class

Shake down: We start slow and quiet and with our right hand we shake counting 5,4,3,2,1 - then you move to left hand doing the same, right foot doing the same and left foot doing the same. You get a bit louder and faster start with the right hand 4,3,2,1 - then you move to left hand doing the same, right foot doing the same and left foot doing the same.

You continue this pattern getting louder and faster until the end you are yelling 1,1,1,1

I always get the group to bring their hands together and cheer something for the day. It can be silly, it can be Happy Birthday to a classmate, it can be a silly phrase from an improv scene and we cheer together.

Here is an example of a shakedown at one of our shows - https://youtu.be/-UJTQHb9v1M

As you’ve probably noticed, we carry our beloved shakedown tradition all the way through to show day! By then, it’s something the performers know inside and out—it brings a sense of ease, comfort, and confidence because it’s familiar. But here’s the twist: on show day, we don’t end with it… we start with it—right before they head onstage. It’s the perfect energy booster and a powerful reminder that they’re part of something special, together.

The secret to building a great routine in your drama class? Keep it fun, keep it interactive, and make it something your group looks forward to. These little rituals help performers feel connected, confident, and ready to shine—because they know what’s coming and how they fit into the big picture.

So go ahead—get creative, build those traditions, and let the theatre magic unfold. Who knows? You just might spark the next Broadway dream… right from your classroom. Break a leg!

Have you checked out my FREE actors warm-up - scroll down to get it today. It is a great way to start any class.