Brian Way facts for kids

Brian Francis Way (September 12, 1923 – February 23, 2006) was a British theatre expert. He started Theatre Centre in London, England, in 1953. His company created the modern idea of theatre for children that also teaches them.

Brian Way: A Pioneer in Children's Theatre

Brian Way was born in Sussex, England, in 1923. He became a key person in a group of teachers and lecturers. In 1946, they were thinking about how theatre and teaching could work together. People like Peter Slade greatly influenced his ideas. Brian even helped edit Slade's book, Child Drama.

Early Life and Big Ideas

Brian worked at Bristol Old Vic where he met his first wife, Kathleen. After they married in 1946, they moved to London. For a few years, Brian made a living by lecturing and teaching. In the early 1950s, he created a place for actors who didn't have work. This was at a hall in St John's Wood.

Starting Theatre Centre

At this hall, Brian put on plays. He often used a special stage setup called "theatre in the round." This means the audience sits all around the stage. Some plays he produced included Philoctetes and Pinocchio. He also made a shorter version of The Man Born to Be King by Dorothy L. Sayers.

Dorothy L. Sayers saw his play and was very impressed. She gave him £200 to help him start Theatre Centre as a company. She even joined its board of managers. Brian had already helped start the West Country Children's Theatre Company after the war. Now, he focused again on theatre that teaches children.

His Vision for Theatre

Brian believed that plays for children should be performed "in the round." He also thought they should be for specific age groups. The number of children watching should be limited. Professional actors should perform and be able to talk with the children.

He felt that plays should be fun and entertaining. But they also needed to be informative and teach something. This idea has been the main goal of Theatre Centre ever since. However, it wasn't until 1965 that "theatre in education" became a normal part of schooling and professional theatre.

Spreading His Ideas

Brian shared his beliefs in two very important books. These were Development Through Drama and Audience Participation. These books have been translated into many different languages.

Brian retired from Theatre Centre in 1977. He wrote more than 50 plays during his career. He became a visiting professor at several famous universities. In 1983, he moved to Canada for good. He lived in Toronto with his second wife, Perri. Brian Way passed away in Toronto in 2006. He is remembered by Perri, Kathleen, and his three children: David, Peter, and Amanda. He was a very important person in making educational theatre what it is today.

A Lasting Legacy

The Arts Council of Great Britain created The Children's Award. This award celebrates the achievements of theatre for young people. It especially honors playwrights who write for this field. Since 2006, Theatre Centre has managed this award. It was renamed 'The Brian Way Award' to honor this amazing and visionary pioneer.