How I Work With Schools
Opportunities abound
If you’ve found your way here recently, welcome. A lot of you have come from education, which makes sense, because so much of what I do lives at the intersection of theatre, writing, and young people. So I thought it was worth doing a proper introduction to that side of my work.
Here’s what’s available if you’re a teacher, HOD, wellbeing coordinator, or school leader looking to bring something into your community.
The Published Plays
I’ve been writing for young people for a long time, and a significant chunk of that work is published and available through Playlab Theatre. The full list is here. These are all available to purchase, licence, and produce. If you’re a Drama teacher hunting for something for Unit 3 or beyond, they’re worth a look.
Workshops and Speaking Engagements
This is where I can come to you.
I run workshops in two broad streams. The first is wellbeing - whole-school presentations and workshops for students that use storytelling and drama as a frame for exploring identity, connection, and resilience. These work well as one-off incursions or as part of a broader wellbeing day or curriculum sequence.
The second stream is creative writing and drama workshops - more targeted sessions for students who are actually making work. Script development, character building, devising, the mechanics of story. These can be tailored for senior Drama and English classes, or for aspiring young writers at any level.
I’m also available for staff professional development - whether that’s around integrating creative approaches into wellbeing programs, supporting Drama teachers with their own practice, or something more bespoke.
If you’ve got something in mind that doesn’t fit neatly into any of those categories, reach out anyway. This work tends to be more interesting when it’s a genuine conversation.
A Bonus: Emily Burton is Also Available
My wife Emily Burton is a working actor with deep experience in educational theatre and performance workshops. If you’re looking for someone to facilitate drama and performance-based sessions — particularly with a focus on the craft of acting — she’s available and brilliant at it. Worth knowing about if you need someone with serious performance credentials rather than a writer’s perspective.
Commissions
This one’s timely: Common Ground, which I was commissioned to write for Brisbane Grammar School, opens this week. It’s been a wonderful project, and if you get the chance to see it, I’d love to hear what you think.
More relevantly for forward planning, I’m now open for 2027 commissions. If your school has been thinking about a bespoke play — something written for your students, your context, your community — now is a good time to start that conversation. These projects take time to do well, and the good commission slots tend to fill up. Get in touch early.
The best way to reach me is by replying to this email, or through my website. I’d genuinely love to hear what you’re working on.
More soon.