How Drama Classes Support Literacy - A Personal Story

I’ve always loved books.

I was the child who got lost in stories, who felt at home in libraries, who believed reading was one of life’s great joys. And I know how lucky that makes me.

So when I became a parent and discovered that one of my children didn’t love reading in the same way, I’ll be honest - it was quietly crushing.

We did all the “right” things.
Books from babyhood.
Reading as the most important part of the bedtime ritual.
A book on the potty during toilet training.
A library card from day dot.

And still… it didn’t click.

If you’re a parent in that space, you’ll know the worry that can creep in. Reading confidence affects so much - learning at school, willingness to participate, self-belief. It can feel like a door you desperately want your child to walk through, but they just won’t.

What that child did love, though, was role play.

They loved stories - just not always on the page. We told stories aloud. We dressed up. We created characters and imaginary worlds. Some mornings we’d sit down to breakfast not knowing who we’d be sharing the table with - a pirate, an explorer, a robot?

And slowly, without pressure or panic, something beautiful happened.

That child grew into a storyteller.

They are now an adult who is paid to tell stories for a living. And yes - they read. Widely and thoughtfully. Just on their own timeline.

That experience has shaped the way I teach drama.

When children participate in drama classes, they aren’t just learning to perform. They’re learning how language works in the body and the imagination. Scripts, scenes and storytelling invite young people to experience words, not just decode them.

In drama classes, students practise:

• Reading aloud with clarity and expression

• Understanding meaning through context, tone and rhythm

• Expanding vocabulary organically

• Building confidence through voice and presence

For children who find reading tricky, drama can be a gateway rather than a hurdle. For confident readers, it deepens nuance and comprehension. For all students, it nurtures a genuine love of language.

At Upstage Youth Theatre, we love how literacy can be woven into every class through pretty much every moment.

Sometimes, the long way around is exactly the right way in.