About WonderPlay Workshops

Mat Carroll | Drama Practitioner & Arts Worker

Workshop sessions are led by Mat Carroll BA Hons. Mat trained at Dartington College of Arts - known for training thoughtful, creative arts practitioners and for its emphasis on the role of the arts in and with the wider community, creative writing, site-specificity, event improvisation and digital technology.

He is an experienced Youth Leader, specialising in drama and theatrical design.

Mat is a trained Arts Award Adviser and has carefully considered the Arts Award framework and assessment criteria in the creation and development of the WonderPlay Workshop Series.

Our WonderPlay Workshop Approach

Drawing on three decades of creative and developmental practice, our workshop methodology has evolved to support effective learning and engagement.

Establish a supportive learning environment that encourages trust, risk-taking, and collaborative engagement among participants.
Use embodied and experiential learning approaches to deepen understanding through physical exploration, role-play, and active participation.
Promote reflective practice by integrating structured opportunities for discussion, feedback, and critical evaluation of experience.
Facilitate inclusive participation by adapting methods to accommodate diverse learning needs, backgrounds, and levels of confidence.
Encourage creative autonomy and agency allowing learners to contribute actively to the development of material and artistic decision-making.
Link drama processes to broader learning objectives ensuring that practical activities are aligned with cognitive, social, and emotional outcomes.
Support the development of communication and interpersonal skills through ensemble work, dialogue, and shared problem-solving.
Embed progression and skill-building by designing sessions that develop competencies over time, from introductory exercises to more complex performance tasks.
Use drama as a tool for critical inquiry enabling participants to explore social, cultural, and ethical issues through narrative and representation.
Recognise the value of process as well as product emphasising learning gained through participation, not solely final performance outcomes.
Apply robust evaluation methods to evidence learning impact, including qualitative reflection, observation, and participant self-assessment.
Ensure professional facilitation and ethical practice through clear safeguarding, respectful engagement, and sensitivity to participant wellbeing.