DRAMA WORKSHOP (Mantle of the Expert) hosted Dr. Helen Hallissey
A DRAMA WORKSHOP
(Mantle of the Expert Drama Approach)
Some examples:
The Dog Pound (Mantle)
…. A letter ‘arrives’ to the classroom. The local authority has received complaints from the local dog warden that there are too many stray dogs in the town. The client is inviting the class to help solve this issue. They are to set up an office in the new dog pound. In-role, the class design and transform (using furniture, labels, objects) the classroom into the busy office. In role, they complete a number of tasks: making a sign for the name of the new dog pound; making lists of dog types and their requirements; writing names of some stray dogs they have found, a list of money spent to date… Collectively and now invested in the project, students (in-role) write to the local authority giving details of their progress to date, expenditure, and their exciting plans for the future. But then, a letter comes back from the local authority. There has been a change of plan……
Other Mantles
‘The Jaguar that Lost its Roar’. A Mantle based on Messy Play. The Pantanal Vet Specialist Team must investigate how the Jaguar has lost its roar. They soon identify a set of environmental issues but …..Éadaoin Kerr
‘The Rip’. The class sets up a company for the safe transport of precious paintings from China for an international exhibition at the National Gallery of Ireland. All is well until a box is opened and they discover a rip in one of the paintings………Yan Lan
‘The Map’. The Minister of Tourism writes to a Tourism Company, concerned that numbers of tourists are falling at Flame Mountain. They are to create a map indicating the danger spots. They set off to climb Flame Mountain to investigate the dangers. But soon ………Peiyan Li.
Following the workshop, participants will continue to receive support (resources) to help them implement Mantle in their classroom if they so wish.
This workshop is facilitated by Cork Drama Meitheal as part of Cork Arts Meitheal which seeks to build teacher capacity in the Arts. Cork Arts Meitheal is convened by Dr Helen Hallissey and Máire Goggin.
Facilitated by
Richard Kieran (head teacher) and Lisa Hinton (deputy head), Woodrow First School, Redditch, UK
Date: Saturday, 28th February 2026 - 10.00am – 2.00pm
Venue:: Cork Education Support Centre
This workshop is aimed at Primary School Teachers
Richard Kieran will show why children (and adults) find Mantle compelling and demonstrate techniques which could be used in your teaching.
Lisa Hinton has been creating dramatic inquiry-based experiences that empower children to take ownership of their education for 15 years.
Iona Towler Evans has been a lifelong devotee of Dorothy Heathcote’s work and has incorporated her philosophy and practice into a range of educational settings.
