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4.5 PD HOURS

Event Details

25/11/2026

9.30am - 3.00pm - Log on between 9.15am and 9.30am Victorian Time

Live Streamed Webinar (Zoom)

All Primary and Secondary Teachers

$294 + GST

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Booking Conditions

No applications for this program will be accepted after all vacancies have been filled. Unsuccessful applicants will have their monies refunded in full. Cancellation prior to two weeks before the program date (cut-off date) will incur a 15% service charge per applicant. This program will be payable in full for cancellations made on or after the cut-off date or for failure to attend the program. All cancellations must be in writing and emailed to us. In the event of insufficient applications this program will not proceed and registration monies be fully refunded. In the event of this program being cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances registration monies only will be refunded as Critical Agendas will not accept liability for the payment of any other associated costs. Critical Agendas reserves the right to vary the advertised programs prior to commencement. Please note Critical Agendas reserves the right to transfer participants from face to face to webinar format with price adjustments (if required), should minimum numbers not be met for face to face event

Essential Skills for Producing a Professional School Production

Don’t put on a show without doing this PD first!

‘A fantastic, inspirational and motivating workshop.’ Wendy Thomas, Sydney, 2016

Ron will save you hours in preparation. He will help you assemble the team you need. He will show how to avoid the pitfalls of script choice, auditioning and casting – and venue and stage choice. Ron will give you a ‘Performance Plan’ to ensure attendance and create an efficient rehearsal schedule. He will guide you through the minefields of controlling: backstage/front of house/sets/lighting/sound/OHS/costs/props/costumes/make up/etc. He will save you heartache by providing you with strategies to deal with the unexpected, the bureaucracy and maintaining morale. He will provide you with a comprehensive checklist of ‘what to do on the night’ and most importantly, how to revive a sinking show. Whether Theatresports, playlets, serious drama or the BIG Production – this is the PD you need! Even how to get funding is covered!

Ron Thomas has directed over 20 major school musical productions and dozens of serious dramas -including Year 12 Performances, Monologues, Group-devised dramas and scripted plays.  He also runs and judges Theatre Sports Competitions. He has taught ‘The Play in Performance’ in Year 12 Literature for many years. He coaches year 12 monologues and teaches presentation skills to staff and students all over Australia.

Ron is author of ‘Engaging Students in Drama’ available from Phoenix Education.

Ron’s many seminars in Drama and English for teachers are known for their relevance, high energy, tight focus and participant enjoyment.

Critical Agendas Speaker
Presented by Critical Agendas

Ron Thomas

Ron’s key areas are English, Literature, Drama and Gifted Education. As well as long experience in Secondary and Primary education. He has run seminars for teachers across Australia in all these areas.

He also has a unique background in corporate training: Mindshop (Corporate Consultants on Thinking Programs) courses in Strategic Planning, Continuous Improvement and the industry based, Student Excellence Program; and is a Graduate of ‘The Art and Science of Adult Learning’ (Presentation Skills for Human Relations Managers) which he utilises to make his presentations scintillating, active and memorable.

Ron is also a published writer: poetry, Drama Text and journalism. He is also a Gold level Toastmaster and trains primary students in leadership and Public Speaking.

Ron’s focus is always immediate use in the classroom and he is a regular presenter for GATEways (Gifted and Talented providers – nationally and in Bangkok) – including the Challenge Program at Canberra Grammar.

Typical Feedback

‘Presenter, Ron was absolutely fantastic – highly intelligent, packed a huge amount of information into a short time frame and all the resources were inspiring and usable. Ron was like the teacher I never had, but wished I’d had! Would recommend his presentation to anyone.’

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