Task 4c (completed..)

Task 4c (completed..)

 

As promised, here is a drama teacher's response to my initial questions. She has been working at State and Private Schools as a drama teacher for years.

 

How does script work aid a child's understanding of text, not only in drama & english literature, but in day to day life?

I think script work often introduces topics pupils have little knowledge of. In order to perform the role as an individual and to work in a group there is an element of research that must be undertaken, which will inevitably improve understanding and knowledge of the world around them. This can be something like Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers or Our Day Out, which look at home-life and the lot of children in disadvantaged areas. – Quite valuable for our school. Can also raise awareness of issues in other countries etc. Could go on for hours here!!

 

How can teachers help young adolescents believe that pre 1914 drama is interesting and not boring?

This is quite a tough one. Obviously script selection is paramount. Working on scenes that can be seen as comic. How can we make it amusing for a modern audience - most adolescents still like slapstick. Modernising plays – making the language easier to use and understand. Looking at the issues and finding modern ways of expressing them. Shakespeare is still relevant if you find modern parallels. I suppose that sums it up - make it relevant and approach it in bite sized bits, but also approaching it as a performance and not just as a piece of script. They were after all meant to be seen and not read!

 

How can actors use dance to express emotion when performing a drama production? How can professionals incorporate both dance and drama?

I am not a dancer myself, but there are always girls in a class who love dancing and we have more interest in Dance with things like strictly. I think it is important for those pupils who don’t dance to see it more as “movement,” because that is much less intimidating. You tube is a great resource. I try to get them to use movement and music to express the mood of particular moments in a production.

 

How can a teacher help a student to understand the concept of 'inner monologues'?

I think an effective way is to get them to work in pairs on short important sections of a scene. Where one person says the lines and the other voices what is going on in their heads. They can swap around as many times as they like and discuss what comes up. The results are often surprising and very perceptive.

What is the importance of drama/acting in a child's development?

Learning to work as part of a group in rehearsals, which involves learning to cooperate and negotiate. Learning how to use their voice and body. Developing poise and confidence. In short developing important life skills.

 

How can we, as teachers, help a student to understand the importance of homework and bringing relevant material to lesson?

By drawing attention to their improved success when they do bring in their homework. Highlighting the fact that it is less stressful to do the work on time than to let it build up. Good luck it’s a teachers nightmare!

Should children use method acting to help with character development? If it is used how does this effect the child's academic and emotional development?

I think you need to be really careful with this one as it can be quite dangerous. I prefer to use Stanislavsky’s emotion memory etc. Still need to be very careful, but it can be useful and even therapeutic as it can enable pupils to deal with issues that have affected them in a more abstract way.

 

How much should an actor's imagination contribute to actual performance? Will this encourage too much improvisation?

An actor’s imagination is crucial to developing good and interesting Drama. They need to learn a balance between using their imagination and using fact, but as a teacher you can direct that easily. I don’ think you can encourage too much improvisation. It is a great tool for developing roles and performance.

 

How does a student's self esteem effect their performance? What can teachers do to help?

This is a difficult one to answer, because it is so individual. You can get pupils with low self esteem who immerse themselves so much in a role that they deliver the most amazing performances. But generally speaking low self esteem will have a negative effect. Obviously praise and encouragement, but I think for those pupils who find performance totally daunting just by encouraging them to take baby steps taking on a little more each time so that they are successful. In other words try not to set them up to fail, but rather than offer them really challenging parts give them parts they can do fairly easily and well. The performance itself is the real challenge. It is my personal belief that the more performance opportunities they are given the more confident they will become and this will have a positive effect on their self esteem.