Drama is not, like communicative language teaching, a new theory of language teaching, but rather a technique which can be used to develop certain language skills. Currently many teachers view it simply as something enjoyable (but fraught with dangers and difficulties), to be used mainly with easy - going, extrovert students during classes in spoken communication skills. The result is that many teachers tend to steer clear of it. But there are others, such as Gavin Bolton, who take the opposite view: that drama should be placed at the centre of the curriculum, applicable to all aspects of learning. I would prefer to take the middle course: drama is neither a terrifying, riderless horse to be approached only by the naturally extrovert, nor is it a complete answer to all the problems of language teaching.