Adjudicator Spotlight: Ann Bauer

Ann has spent her working life in education teaching in secondary and primary schools, theatres, university and therapy teams, as well as examining drama and theatre studies. Ann ran her own drama school for many years and has worked in mainstream education as a drama and English teacher, a SENCO and specialist teacher for pupils with SEN.

Ann trained to teach under John Hodgson at Bretton Hall, his major influence was the importance of improvisation. Ann continues to be an enthusiastic teacher of improvisation for developing all performance skills.

She believes strongly in the inclusive power of drama, that it offers confidence building, teamwork, and the discipline of controlling body, voice – and nerves. Combining that with her love of the written word, her first degree was English; she counts herself lucky to spend her life talking about what she loves.

Currently Ann combines her teaching with doctoral research into teaching maths to young people with complex special needs. She is also an adjudicator for The British and International Federation of Festivals. Drama skills are never far away in her strategies whichever subject she is teaching. In her spare time, Ann still attends ballet and tap classes, a lifelong passion, and enjoys theatre-going and precious time with her family.


Ann will be adjudicating the Speech & Drama section in our 67th Annual Festival.