For older children, the Drama Skills program explores mime, physical theatre, improvisation, theatre games, storytelling, readers theatre, play-building and script work. There is a focus on ensemble-work, stagecraft and performance skills.
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The program is designed to build and extend skills over a period of time. Students can join at any time, however best results are achieved when the program is experienced on a year-long continuum.
Improvisation
Improvisation...the art of creating theatre spontaneously!
In improv, every choice is decided in the moment, not unlike our daily experiences at school, workplace and in life.
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Improvisation teaches children to be decisive, to listen carefully, to collaborate with others and, most importantly, to ‘fail’ without fear. Students are given permission to experiment without judgement. Students will learn Theatresports games, which challenges them to use quick thinking and spontaneity to respond to each other’s ideas.
Playbuilding
Playbuilding is a process where we use a stimulus such as a picture, poem or song to kickstart students’ ideas which are then workshopped into a play.
This creative process is highly collaborative and students begin their work as an ensemble. As students improvise scenes, the teacher documents their dialogue…and so a script is born.
Scriptwork
A script is selected that suits the interest, numbers and strengths of the ensemble.
We make casting choices, run 'table readings', develop scenes and put together a play to perform for an audience
