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Career Profile

Drama teacher

Drama teachers help secondary students learn acting, performance and stagecraft, building creativity and confidence while teaching the drama curriculum.
Creative and MediaEducation and Teaching
Average weekly salary
$2166
Future demand
Stable
Most common education level
Bachelor degree

What does a drama teacher do?

A drama teacher teaches drama to secondary school students, usually across Years 7 to 12. They plan and deliver lessons on acting, improvisation, scriptwriting, stagecraft and the theory behind performance, and they direct student rehearsals and productions. Beyond the subject itself, drama teachers help students build creativity, confidence, communication and teamwork. Most drama teachers also teach at least one other subject alongside drama.

Drama teachers work in government, independent, Catholic and other secondary schools, across cities, regional towns and remote areas. Some also work in specialist performing arts schools, distance education, or community and youth theatre programs. The role combines classroom teaching, rehearsals and performances with planning, assessment and reporting.

Is teaching drama right for me?

A career as a drama teacher may suit you if you love drama and performance and enjoy working with young people. You need patience, strong communication, and the ability to manage a classroom while bringing energy and creativity to your teaching.

Other desirable skills and attributes of a drama teacher include:

Adaptability
An ability to manage change positively and perform effectively in changing environments.
Communication
Clear written and verbal communication skills, supported by strong interpersonal skills.
Creativity and innovation
Creative expression, storytelling and original thinking.
Empathy and working with people
The ability to build positive relationships and support others effectively.
Leadership
The capacity to lead through effective decision-making, accountability, and support for others.
Organisation
Effective time-management and prioritisation skills.

How to become a drama teacher

If you are exploring how to become a drama teacher, the pathway runs through teacher education and registration. Most secondary drama teachers complete an accredited initial teacher education program with drama as a teaching area, then register with the teacher regulatory authority in their state or territory. In Queensland that is the Queensland College of Teachers. A working with children check, such as a Blue Card in Queensland, is also required. Requirements vary by state and territory, so check the rules where you plan to teach.

A common path to become a drama teacher include:

  1. Complete an accredited initial teacher education program, such as a Bachelor of Education (Secondary), with drama as a teaching area.
  2. Meet the literacy and numeracy requirements set for teacher education (for example, LANTITE).
  3. Complete supervised professional experience placements in schools.
  4. Obtain a working with children check, such as a Blue Card in Queensland.
  5. Register with the teacher regulatory authority in your state or territory before you teach.

Accreditation and qualifications

UniSQ's Bachelor of Education (Secondary) is accredited by the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) and meets the standards and requirements of the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) for Initial Teacher Education programs. As a graduate, you will have met the requirements to apply for teacher registration with the QCT. Registration requirements vary in other states and territories.

How long does it take to become a drama teacher?

A bachelor's teaching degree typically takes around four years of full-time study.

Students who complete a theatre degree first may then undertake a postgraduate teaching qualification, which can add additional study time depending on the pathway chosen. 

Start your journey with UniSQ

Train to teach drama with a UniSQ education degree, where drama is an available teaching area and the course meets the requirements to apply for teacher registration in Queensland.

Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
Go to degree
Bachelor of Theatre
Go to degree
Master of Learning and Teaching (Secondary)
Go to degree
Need help planning your career journey?
Book a career conversation

Responsibilities and work settings

Day-to-day responsibilities

Planning drama lessons and units to the curriculum

Directing student rehearsals and performances

Assessing and reporting on student progress

Managing classroom behaviour and safe stagecraft

Supporting students' creative and personal development

Where you might work

Primary and secondary schools

Arts and creative organisations

Government agencies, departments and councils

Museums, galleries and heritage institutions

Non-profit, charity and community organisations

Universities and higher education providers

Drama teacher FAQs

Drama teachers are paid on secondary school teacher pay scales, which vary with experience, sector and location. See an average salary per week for secondary school teachers at the top of this page. Pay usually rises through the incremental scales set by each employer or state system.

To teach drama in a secondary school you need an accredited teaching qualification with drama as a teaching area, such as a Bachelor of Education (Secondary), and registration with the teacher regulatory authority in your state or territory. A working with children check is also required. Requirements vary by state and territory.

Yes. Teaching in a school requires registration with the relevant state or territory teacher authority, such as the Queensland College of Teachers. Registration usually follows an accredited initial teacher education program and a working with children check. There is no separate drama registration; drama is a teaching area within secondary teacher registration.

Drama teaching suits people who want to combine a love of performance with working alongside young people. It offers variety, creativity and the reward of helping students grow in confidence, and the future demand for secondary school teaching is stable. A UniSQ Bachelor of Education (Secondary) with drama as a teaching area prepares you for registration and the classroom.

Day to day, a drama teacher plans and delivers lessons, runs rehearsals, directs performances, assesses student work, and manages the classroom. Around performance seasons, more time goes into productions and stagecraft.

Related careers

Primary school teacher
Early childhood teacher

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Disclaimer: UniSQ’s Career Finder is a guide only. While reasonable care is taken to ensure accuracy, career information may change over time. Career statistics are sourced from Your Career and Jobs and Skills Australia. © Commonwealth of Australia. Licensed under CC BY 4.0. Salary figures listed on this page are in Australian Dollars (AUD).