Nominated for Outstanding Drama Education Resource at the 2024 Music & Drama Education Awards

A first-of-its-kind anthology, Beyond The Canon’s Plays for Young Activists combines plays, toolkits, and an online guide to empower young people into activism.

With award-winning plays from the UK’s most revolutionary female writers of colour, as well as bespoke multimedia learning guides, this collection offers young global activists aged 16+, as well as teachers and creatives at any level, the opportunity to diversify their education and enhance their understanding of politically driven plays, world politics and social justice.

Unique in how it amplifies these selected award-winning plays by incorporating learning guides that accommodate different learning styles (be they visual, auditory, reading/writing and kinaesthetic), Beyond The Canon dares readers to take a deeper dive into the world of the play, be inspired by the themes and provocations and use the anthology to evolve into the ultimate activist.

The plays include:
Muhammad Ali and Me by Mojisola Adebayo
A Museum in Baghdad by Hannah Khalil
Acceptance by Amy Ng

With resources like top tips on creating a safe space, practical drama challenges and games, interviews with the writers, research guides and activism test sheets, Beyond The Canon’s Plays for Young Activists will spark the imagination of any and all readers, likely inspiring the next Mojisola Adebayo, Hannah Khalil and Amy Ng.

Prizes

Nominated for Music & Drama Education Awards 2024 (UK)

These are genuinely groundbreaking plays, full of provocations and rich sources of discussion, both in and out of the classroom … The watching, studying and reading of these plays can contribute to those aspirations being realised, encourage students to take a deeper and more clear-eyed view of our shared history and cultural assumptions, and ultimately help them step out of their comfort zones. -- John Dabell * Teach Secondary Magazine *
This anthology is a good resource in starting conversations with older students about relevant socio-political issues, particularly in reference to race, gender and identity. * National Drama magazine *

Beyond The Canon is an organisation committed to increase the visibility and accessibility of ground-breaking yet lesser-known classics, masterpieces and gems by British and international culturally diverse playwrights.
Working in collaboration with theatres, academia and publishing houses, Beyond The Canon produces UK and international revivals, monologue showcases, workshops, publications and podcasts. Founded and led by Simeilia Hodge-Dallaway with executive producer Sarudzayi Marufu, Beyond The Canon aims to support, empower and inspire culturally diverse artists, and enrich the artistic industry in the UK and across the world.