Thinking like a Drama Teacher

This process drama workshop is based on a visit I made to Xi Shi’s Hometown in Zhuji 2019 when I was at the IDEAC Congress. I was inspired by the statues of the yarn washers and people of the village on the shores of the river. The tranquil atmosphere of the place inspired me to think about imaginatively exploring stories. This, in turn, led me to look at the story of Xi Shi as well as the traditional stories of Nü Wa.

There are two Big Ideas to this workshop:

1) we learn drama by making drama

2) we learn to teach drama by reflecting on how we make drama.

By engaging with the processes of drama, taking on roles, exploring situations and tension, time, space, and symbol, we learn to express and communicate through drama. By reflecting on the structures and strategies used in the workshop we connect with possibilities for our own drama teaching. We understand ourselves as drama makers and as drama teachers.

A Process Drama Workshop as a springboard for drama learning. Robin Pascoe, 9th IDEAC International Drama Education Conference, Zhuhai, China. May 18-21 2023

Day 1

There are 8 parts to Workshop which runs for 12 hours in total over 2 days.

Workshop Notes

ActivAte your leArning

• During the workshop, take images (but don’t be too distracted from the drama making activities).

• Make notes.

• Make a note of your reasons for participating in this workshop.

• Reflect on how you have achieved your intended purpose through the workshop activities.

Drama StorieS aS Starting pointS for making Drama

One of the simpler definitions of drama is that through drama we tell stories. Drama as story relies on making and sharing meaning with others. The world is full of great stories. Many of them are useful for drama teachers. But not all of them. Our first role in planning drama based on stories is identifying source material that works for drama Where do we find stories for drama?

We find stories in: Our lives/ Our Traditions/ Our culture/ Our imagination. Our lives are stories. Our world is story. But not every story works for drama.

In considering stories for drama I look for:

• Interesting roles to explore 探索有趣的角色

• Interesting situations driven by tension that produces dramatic action 由产生戏剧性动

作的紧张局势驱动的情况

• Ways of using your whole bodies –movement, voice and mind 使用你整个身体