Elana Shyong

Category: Blog

  • Drama Tool of the Month: Split Stage

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    Elana Shyong
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    In 2025 I have been doing a monthly series of online drama in education workshops for a client based in Nanjing, China. Each month I introduce a different drama technique and how to apply it for education, and last month we explored the tool Split Stage! πŸŽ­πŸ’» In the photo, you can see the classic…

  • Play is Power!

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    Elana Shyong
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    β€œπ‘»π’‰π’† π‘«π’“π’‚π’Žπ’‚ 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆 π’˜π’‚π’” 𝒂𝒏 π’‚π’Žπ’‚π’›π’Šπ’π’ˆ π’†π’™π’‘π’†π’“π’Šπ’†π’π’„π’†. 𝑾𝒆 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒕 π’π’π’π’š π’˜π’π’“π’Œπ’Šπ’π’ˆ π’•π’†π’„π’‰π’π’Šπ’’π’–π’†π’”, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 π’Žπ’π’”π’• π’Šπ’Žπ’‘π’π’“π’•π’‚π’π’•π’π’š π’˜π’† 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒗𝒆𝒔. 𝑢𝒖𝒓 π’•π’“π’‚π’Šπ’π’†π’“ 𝑬𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒂 π’Šπ’” 𝒂 π’ˆπ’π’π’… 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓 π’˜π’‰π’ 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 π’–π’π’‡π’π’“π’ˆπ’†π’•π’•π’‚π’ƒπ’π’† π’†π’™π’‘π’†π’“π’Šπ’†π’π’„π’†π’”.” – Lily, SEN Teacher, Participant Such lovely feedback to finish up my week. I just wrapped up a 5-day Drama in Education training…

  • Drama in Education Training in Shanghai 2025

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    Elana Shyong
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    𝑺𝒐 π’†π’™π’„π’Šπ’•π’†π’… 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 π’Šπ’π’—π’Šπ’•π’†π’… π’ƒπ’‚π’„π’Œ 𝒕𝒐 π‘Ίπ’‰π’‚π’π’ˆπ’‰π’‚π’Š π’•π’‰π’Šπ’” π’”π’–π’Žπ’Žπ’†π’“ 𝒂𝒔 𝒂 Drama in Education 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒕 π’•π’“π’‚π’Šπ’π’†π’“! 🌏🎭 ✨ After working with this applied theatre company online during the pandemic and delivering a successful in-person training last year, I’m honoured to be invited once again to lead a three-day professional development programme on Drama in…

  • Positive Parent Feedback

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    Elana Shyong
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    It always brightens my day when I receive messages like this from parents. This kind of feedback reminds me why I do what I do. I run an online drama club called The Drama Playground that acts as a creative space where kids can come, play, laugh, and learn important social skills like creative collaboration…

  • Iceberg of Culture

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    Elana Shyong
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    As someone who has grown up across different cultures, thinking about cultural norms, values, and unspoken differences has always been second nature to me – I’m very privileged to have it be a part of my lived experience. 🌏✨ Facilitating the Iceberg of Culture activity during our inclusive education training was a powerful moment. We…

  • Enchanted 2025

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    Elana Shyong
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    𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 π’Šπ’‡ π’‘π’π’‚π’š π’˜π’‚π’”π’β€™π’• 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 π’„π’‰π’Šπ’π’…π’“π’†π’β€”π’ƒπ’–π’• 𝒂 π’“π’‚π’…π’Šπ’„π’‚π’ 𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 π’†π’™π’‘π’“π’†π’”π’”π’Šπ’π’ 𝒂𝒏𝒅 π’„π’π’π’π’†π’„π’•π’Šπ’π’? This is another 1 of the inquiries we’ll also dive into during Enchanted this year (with me!!). Enchanted is a gathering that has carved out a very special corner in my heart, and I am beyond thrilled to return, this…

  • Blast From the Past

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    Elana Shyong
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    Yesterday I had one of those conversations that fills your cup. I reconnected with Emma Goodman, a high school friend who I haven’t spoken to in yearsβ€”our last in-person memory is a blurry, joy-filled trip to Amsterdam nearly a decade ago! ✨ I reached out after seeing her amazing project Embolden by Em, and I’m…

  • Some Earth Day Musings…

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    Elana Shyong
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    This week, I’m running a course on Positive Education, and so much of our discussion has turned to how powerful nature’s role is in well-being and a positive mindset. From a walk in nature to calm our nervous system to holding classes outdoors to engage deeper and with more joy, we are all in agreement…

  • Happy World Theatre Day! πŸŽ­πŸŒ

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    Elana Shyong
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    Just last week, I was deeply honoured to be re-elected to serve another four years as a trustee on the board of ISTA – Global Learning Through the Arts. It is a privilege to continue advocating for the power of theatre alongside such an inspiring community and learning so much from my fellow trustees and…

  • My Go-To Drama Techniques

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    Elana Shyong
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    Two of my favorite drama techniques aren’t just fun for kidsβ€”they help develop essential 21st-century skills like confidence, critical thinking, and collaboration. 🎭 Hot-Seating – Kids step into character and answer questions in role, strengthening their quick thinking, creativity, and ability to express ideas on the spotβ€”valuable skills for public speaking, leadership, and communication. 🎭…