Senior Drama Ensemble
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 in Term 1, 2 or 3, 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 and have a go as often as possible.
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
