This article describes and evaluates an educational intervention that used a drama and theatre workshop to foster communication and interpersonal skills in mental health nursing students. Thirty-nine (77%) agreed or strongly agreed that the workshop was an excellent way to teach these skills. Arguably the workshop was a pedagogically effective, innovative and emotionally powerful attempt to develop communication and interpersonal skills in nursing students. Consequently, it may be effective to use drama and theatre to train nursing students for the nuanced, dynamic interactions that take place between nurses and patients in clinical practice.