‘Acts of Resistance’ Collection of Plays for Secondary Schools

December 3, 2025

‘Acts of Resistance’ Collection of Plays for Secondary Schools

We are supporting the launch of Acts of Resistance, a collection of original plays written by retired secondary school Drama teacher Mandy McMillan, aimed at helping learners explore themes of social justice, inclusion, and resilience.

Developed for use in secondary schools, the plays address contemporary issues affecting young people with honesty and sensitivity – including online harms, homophobic bullying, and immigration. Each piece is designed to prompt critical thinking and meaningful discussion in the classroom.

Each play provides a platform for discussion, reflection and understanding, supported by engaging workshop activities and lesson plans to deepen learning.

One of the plays explores the origins of our campaign for LGBT Inclusive Education in Scotland and is based on the true story of our work, helping young people to explore the impact of homophobic bullying and what schools can do to address it.

After taking early retirement from teaching for 33 years, I wanted to write a book of plays that could be easily accessible for Social Education, English, and Drama teachers. Drama is such a great medium for opening up discussions about issues and contemporary subjects.

I wanted to capture the TIE assemblies, Jordan and Liam’s inspirational stories, in a dramatic format so that so many more young people could hear their story.

I also wanted to address the issue of sexting, when young people are coerced into sharing intimate pictures. 9 out of 10 girls have received unsolicited images and been subjected to sexist name calling.

The third play is a devised piece, suitable for S1, which explores the issue of refugee status and immigration. It encourages empathy through a series of lessons resulting in a performance by the young people.

I hope that the plays spotlight key issues of oppression, discrimination, and promote understanding and empathy.

Mandy McMillan Author, Acts of Resistance

The collection includes:

‘Regrets’ explores the dangers of ‘sexting’ – highlighting the emotional and social consequences of sharing intimate images online. The play encourages students to consider digital responsibility and the impact of their actions.
‘Your Voice Can Change the World’ is a docudrama about the rise of the TIE Campaign – ‘Time for Inclusive Education’. The play encourages pupils to reflect on homophobic bullying and how to stop it.
‘Waves of Hope’ uses improvisation and guided activities to challenge the myths and misconceptions surrounding immigration which results in a devised performance. Pupils are invited to step into different perspectives, prompting empathy and critical thinking.

We have collaborated with Mandy McMillan to provide free copies of Acts of Resistance to secondary schools in Scotland – a partnership which is anticipated to reach more than 22,000 pupils.

It is a relevant, contemporary tool to spotlight key issues of oppression and discrimination experienced by young people, while promoting engagement with and understanding of such issues across school communities.

Alison Mitchell Headteacher in Residence, University of Glasgow School of Education

Act of Resistance is available in bookshops now: ISBN 9798301379031

If you are a school teacher in Scotland and would like a free copy for your setting, please complete this form and we will post it to you. Please note that this is a short-term partnership project and books are subject to availability.

Find additional curriculum resources our Secondary page. More information for teachers on LGBT Inclusive Education is available on our Teachers page.