Don’t think that your show is not worthy to be considered for Student Theatre Awards. Some of the winners over the last few years have been from schools that have staged their first production, from teachers who have never directed before and children who have never acted before. You don’t know how good your show actually is so don’t be afraid and submit your application!!!!

Under funded? Don’t worry. Some of the best shows that we have seen in the Student Theatre Awards have had a total budget of €300. A little bit of imagination and the help of others can make a wonderful production. Don’t be afraid to ask fellow teachers, parents, ex-pupils to help out.

Get your rights right – The first thing you must do when thinking about what show you would like to stage is check for rights. Rights don’t cost a fortune and ensure that your show is eligible for the Student Theatre Awards. You can check www.dli.ie and www.samuelfrench.co.uk for information on rights

Practice, practice, practice – We all know that practice makes perfect – this is so true when it comes to performing. Take time to learn your lines and find someone to rehearse them with

Keep it simple – there is nothing worse than someone overacting a scene

Sometimes things go wrong during a live performance – say someone drops a prop – don’t worry it happens to the best actors - don't ignore it. Try to deal with it in character and carry on.