PEN WORKS MEDIA
The greatest stories are yet to be told
ON THE HORIZON
Over the past five years, writer, therapist, and public speaker Jody Medland has built an educational programme that uses original plays to develop the communication skills of its participants. He has run the programme for teenagers at secondary schools in the UK, and as a teacher training programme across central and eastern Europe. This project is set to continue with a new programme added every year.
About the trainer
Jody Medland is a published author, playwright, and fully credited screenwriter. At the age of 8, he couldn’t read a word until an English teacher took him under her wing and changed the course of his life, igniting a passion for the arts, as well as education. Alongside writing, Jody runs his courses to help promote oracy skills of students interested in developing their abilities in English and/or drama. He also works as an integrative humanistic therapist, giving him a deep insight into people and their behaviour. Jody often runs workshops and seminars at ELT conferences across Europe to discuss the methodology of his work.
To see an example of Jody’s seminars, you can watch his session from the SCELT conference in Slovakia 2025 by clicking the link below.
What is oracy?
The term “oracy” refers to all communication skills, including reading, writing, listening, observation, public speaking, and even body language. As a training programme, not only does Jody’s oracy programme provide an engaging way to embrace Continual Professional Development, but it also gives teachers the opportunity to run the programme with their own students, a perk for which they won’t be charged.
The course itself is flexible in its delivery and works well as a 1-6 day programme. Trainers can even choose to end the course with a live table read of the full script, or run a live performance of the play where everybody has equal participation, allowing the course to end on a real high.
At present, there are three plays to choose from, all of which come with PDF lesson plans, scripts, workbook questions for participants, workbook answers for course tutors, and a central powerpoint of the entire programme, which provides visual learning. Creator Jody Medland has also vowed to create at least one new play per year as he continues to build a library of content for its users.
Each course follows the same structure, allowing anyone who has experienced the oracy programme to teach it with real confidence, yet the different content leads to hugely different territory in terms of themes, emotions, and the discussions that naturally arise from each play.
Who is it for?
This programme has been run as a dramatherapy course in the mental health sector, but it is primarily for teachers of English and/or drama who are looking at innovative ways to engage learners with fresh content in their classroom.
AVAILABLE COURSES | 2025-26
Title Silo
Genre Sci-fi / Drama
Themes Humanity’s relationship with technology, Pros and cons of AI, Pending sense of loss
Synopsis During a state of emergency, an inventor sends a self-building robot to his estranged father to care for him in his dying days. But as the robot gets creative with the rules by which it’s governed, it starts to pose a threat to the whole of humanity.
Age Range 14+
Title The Lady by the Water
Genre Mystical / Fantasy / Drama
Themes Human effects of war, Immigration, Adoption, Becoming an orphan
Synopsis When an orphan named Eve is sent from her war-torn country to a loving couple in Devon who are unable to conceive, the mounting trauma makes her unable to speak. But that all changes when a trip to the beach leads her to a mystical sea creature named Verity.
Age Range 11+
Title Good Grief
Genre Black Comedy / Drama
Themes Family dynamics, Grief, Loss, Living with regret
Synopsis When a feuding family return home for their mum’s funeral, a series of shocking revelations unfold, including the fact their dad has already buried her.
Age Range 14+
TESTIMONIALS
“An amazing, unique experience that I would recommend to every English teacher.”
Keti, Macedonia
“There is no course more wholesome than Jody’s oracy programme, which makes you believe in the power of education.”
Marija, Serbia
“One of the best international experiences I’ve ever had.”
Ziga, Slovenia
“I love how creative the course was, and the way it shows how powerful drama is for helping develop language.”
Natalia, Russia
“Since returning home, I’ve browsed through the photos and videos a hundred times. It was a pure delight.”
Dori, Hungary
“Even though I’m back at school, part of me is still in Karlovci, reliving the oracy programme.”
Katja, Montenegro
“The combination of engaging content and practical communication skills makes this a ‘must attend’
for both teachers and students.”
Ana, Moldova
Contact Details
For any questions about the oracy programme, please contact Jody directly in the first instance on the details below:
Jody Medland
+44 (0) 773 136 1264
jody@penworksmedia.co.uk
