Volume 1 Number 2

Hi Folks,

LESSON/ACTIVITY IDEA

Here's one I think I may have invented by myself - trouble is that I read so many books and webpages that I may have gleaned the idea from somewhere else without realising it.

• Single Word Script

For those of you working with students who need to develop original script work; and even just as a general exercise in stagecraft here's an idea I've had amazing success with... 
A very useful lead up to Task 7 of the WA Drama Studies E647 course.

Tell the students they have some homework for tomorrow - they'll all groan but ignore that.  Advise them that they will have to write a script; cast size is to be between 2 and the total number of students in the class.   The script is to last 1 minute in performance.   The only limitation is that the dialogue is limited to one utterance of one word.  That's right, in one minute of performance only one word is said, once!  (Shades of Mr Marceau in Mel Brook's "Silent Movie"?)

My first challenge to the students used the word "YES" but I've given it some thought and ANY word will work with this...  try "DINOSAUR", "APPLE", "POLITICIANS", "KIDS", "TYPICAL", "TEABAG", "EVERYTHING"...  

Each student is to come to the next class as director of their own script.  I tend to let it become a 30 minute free-for-all, with the instruction that as a class they are to rehearse as many scripts as they can ready for performance in the second half of the class.

30 minutes later we all sit down and watch the performances.

This activity could easily be modified to become an improvisational theatre game of the TheatreSports® variety.

Outcomes:

• Students develop non-verbal skills and techniques.
• Students collaborate on devised performance
• Students make directorial decisions
• Students explore verbal possibilities of the word
• Students show rather than tell!!

RECOMMENDED WEBSITE

• The Samuel Beckett Endpage

 The Samuel Beckett Endpage is a resource for all those interested in the life and works of Samuel Beckett. It also houses the official page of the The Samuel Beckett Society.  Who can forget the recent controversy in Sydney where the Beckett estate, championed by Old Sam's nephew, Edward, decided they didn't like the addition of some music to the performance and threatened to shut it down?  The news articles are great stuff to expand discussion by your students about the nature of theatre in thus day and age.

See these articles:
Godot won't be worth waiting for (THE AGE) 
Literary Time Bomb  (NSW WRITERS CENTRE)
Waiting for police (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD)

• Free Schools Websites

Just what it says - a site with very functional templates that allows schools to create their own websites.  Maybe you could start one for your school theatre group.  (Thanks to Gill Chesney-Green for the tip)

PROFESSIONAL NEWS

• ARTS IN EDUCATION - COOPERATION OVER BORDERS
  9 -12 AUGUST 2003, FINLAND
  
  The theme of the conference is "How to use drama, theatre, dance, music and visual arts in young people's education in collaboration with refugees and immigrants".

The aim is especially to find new ways to benefit and learn from the peaceful coexistence with the different artistic and cultural backgrounds and knowledge that are presented by refugees and immigrants in European countries, USA and Canada.

The presenters of the congress will share their experiences and cases to all participants and work then also in small groups developing their ideas together with colleagues of other art forms as well.

More information and registration form: CLICK HERE
www.idea-info.org 

• NEW DRAMATHERAPY COURSE AT EDITH COWAN

Full details available from the Edith Cowan/WAAPA website

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

An Acrobat of the Heart : A Physical Approach to Acting
by Stephen Wangh, Andre Gregory (Afterword)

"The actor will do, in public, what is considered impossible." When the renowned Polish director Jerzy Grotowski began his 1967 American workshop with these words, his students were stunned. But within four weeks they themselves had experienced the "impossible."  In An Acrobat of the Heart, teacher-director-playwright Stephen Wangh reveals how Jerzy Grotowski's physical exercises can open a pathway to the actor's inner creativity. Drawing on Grotowski's insights and on the work of Stanislavski, Uta Hagen, and others, Wangh bridges the gap between rigorous physical training and practical scene and character technique. Wangh's students give candid descriptions of their struggles and breakthroughs, demonstrating how to transform these remarkable lessons into a personal journey of artistic growth. Courageous and compelling, An Acrobat of the Heart is an invaluable resource for actors, directors, and teachers alike.

ADVOCATING THE ARTS IN EDUCATION

DID YOU KNOW?

Young people who participate in the arts for at least three hours on three days each week through at least one full year are:

• 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement
• 3 times more likely to be elected to class office within their schools
• 4 times more likely to participate in a math and science fair
• 3 times more likely to win an award for school attendance
• 4 times more likely to win an award for writing an essay or poem

from Americans for the Arts

Kim Flintoff
Director of Technology - Drama Australia
Web Manager - DramaWest
Drama Teacher - John Forrest SHS
Chairman - SHY (Seen and Heard Youth) Inc

I cannot help fearing that men may reach a point where they look on every new theory as a danger, every innovation as a toilsome trouble, every social advance as a first step toward revolution, and that they may absolutely refuse to move at all for fear of being carried off their feet. -- Alexis de Tocqueville

Copyright © September, 2004