imitating the dog’s production of Remember Romeo provides multiple opportunities for creative learning. Romeo and Juliet is a set text on the GCSE English Literature syllabus across all major exam boards (AQA, Edexcel, Eduqas/WJEC, and OCR). Exploring the story via this innovative production provides an excellent opportunity for wider analytical reading and enriched understanding at KS3 and GCSE, AS/A-level and undergraduate level across a number of subject areas, including Drama, Theatre Studies, English Literature, Film Studies, Media Studies, Health and Social Care, Art, Design, Technology and more.

GCSE English Literature

Seeing ITD’s production of Remember Romeo and engaging with the free digital learning resources will help GCSE English Literature students to develop an informed personal response and critical style as they consider:

• aspects of plot, characterisation, settings, and the relationship between actions and events
• aspects of language, form and structure used by writers to create meaning and effects
• how to use understanding of writers’ and theatre-makers’ social, historical, and cultural contexts to inform evaluation of the texts and productions they create

Participating in an ITD workshop will enable GCSE English Literature students to engage more deeply with these points in a practical, embodied way, as well as enabling them to:

• identify and distinguish between themes, including love, memory, loss, and the passage of time
• compare texts across different media and make connections between their reading
• recognise the possibility of different responses to a text and evaluate alternative interpretations

GCSE Drama

Seeing ITD’s production of Remember Romeo, and utilising our free digital resources, will encourage GCSE Drama students to:

• consider the roles and responsibilities of theatre makers in contemporary professional practice
• analyse and evaluate the work of theatre makers and the creative choices they make
• consider how the play has been interpreted, both in this production and other adaptations
• consider the ways in which different performance and production elements are brought together to create a contemporary theatre production of a classic text
• experience pioneering uses of technology in live performance, particularly video projection and the integration of live performance with pre-recorded film

In addition, participating in an ITD workshop will allow GCSE Drama students to access, in a practical and physical way, a better understanding of:

• processes of adaptation, interpretation, re-framing and devising
• the relationship between moving image and live action
• communication of meaning via image, design choices, adaptation and performance

The production and workshop could also provide stimuli for the students’ own devising projects.

AS and A Level Drama & Theatre

Seeing ITD’s production of Remember Romeo and engaging with the digital learning resources, AS and A Level Drama and Theatre students will be encouraged to consider:

• directorial interpretation and performance style
• choice and utilisation of design elements: lighting, sound, music, and video mapping/projection
• intended (and actual) impact on the audience
• design fundamentals and use of technology
• the concept of ‘liveness’ and the relationship between live performance and recorded media

Participating in an ITD workshop would allow AS and A Level Drama and Theatre students to further develop the points above in a hands-on and kinetic learning environment, as well as exploring:

• integration of movement, language, image and technology in performance
• creative adaptation and interpretation
• use of theatrical space and the communication of ideas in performance

The production and workshop could also provide stimuli for the students’ own devising projects.

BTEC, Cambridge Technicals, and LAMDA Performing Arts Qualifications

Watching ITD’s production of Remember Romeo and engaging with our free digital resources will enable BTEC, Cambridge Technicals, and LAMDA Performing Arts students to meet many of the learning objectives identified in components such as Exploring the Performing Arts (BTEC), Combined Arts (CT), Influential Performance Practice (CT), Acting (LAMDA), and Devising Drama (LAMDA). They will be able to gain insights into how professional theatre makers and artists:

• respond to or treat a particular theme or issue
• use/interpret/modify a pre-existing style
• communicate ideas to their audience through stylistic qualities
• combine different art forms and styles
• respond to the social, economic and political circumstances of their time
• understand and engage with the content and context of the material

Participating in an ITD workshop will further enable students to acquire practical aspects necessary for achieving objectives in components such as Developing Skills and Techniques in the Performing Arts (BTEC), Performing Repertoire (CT), Improvisation (CT) and Acting/Devising Drama Levels 1–3 (LAMDA). These include:

• physical, vocal, interpretive, technological, and design skills
• improvisation skills informed by external stimuli
• extending and developing skills and techniques in response to repertoire

The production and accompanying talks or workshops could also provide stimuli for the students’ own devising projects.

Arts Award

Attending the show and writing a review, and/or participating in a workshop will enable candidates to meet the criteria for the relevant parts of Arts Awards at Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels. We would also be open to speaking to candidates who wished to feature the company or creative associates in other parts of their Awards.

Higher Education and Beyond

Workshops and bespoke residencies are available for undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as emerging and early career artists. These may be suitable for students of Acting, Drama & Theatre Studies, Film/Video and Animation, Design, Creative Technology, Media Studies, Art and others.

ITD has delivered workshops and residencies in HE and participatory theatre settings running from half-day, to weekend, to one- or two-week, to term-long formats. Please see our Creative Engagement page for details about our current offer and recent past projects, and contact ben@imitatingthedog.co.uk to discuss possibilities.

Further Resources and Information

Students and teaching staff will be able to access the full performance text on request.