EDU 107.4 Report of DRAMA AND ART IN EDUCATION- THEATRE PRACTICE -PARTICIPATION IN WORKSHOP/TRAINING REPORT

 

EDU 107.4 DRAMA AND ART IN EDUCATION

THEATRE PRACTICE -PARTICIPATION IN WORKSHOP/TRAINING REPORT

1.0 Introduction             

 Drama is the printed text of a play, in other words a drama refers to the script of a play. The British theatre guide define drama as “a branch from theatre based on a representation of an event written in prose or pantomime that is meant to duly enact and illustrate an event or situational conflict through acting”. The term ‘drama’ is derived from the Greek work ‘dran’ meaning to act or to do. As with novels or other written literacy work, the people enjoying the drama have different interpretations to the context. In a drama, have different, there is direct interaction between the author and the reader. The term drama also refers to an episode of life, or fiction that involves emotions or conflict. In the contemporary society, this word is used to refer to genres of films and TV series as well.

 Theatre, on the other hand, is derived from the Greek term ‘theasthai’ which means 'to behold'. Theatre refers to the actual production of the play on the stage. This requires a stage, actors, background, costumes, lighting, sound effects and most importantly an audience. Theatre is a collaborative effort of the playwright, director, actors, technicians and many other peoples. Here, there is no direct interaction between the audience and the playwright. Theatre can present another interpretation of the play. For example, the interpretation we get from reading Shakespeare's Macbeth might be different from the interpretation presented by a theatre performance of Macbeth.

1.1. A brief History of Drama

 Drama is defined by Aristotle as “a criticism of life, on a stage with action, characters and dialogue’. In traditional Greek drama, the chorus is also considered as a character in the development of the plot. The chorus moves the action of the play along and sometimes act as a commentator on the decisions made by the characters on stage.

During the middle ages, drama was performed on the streets in the market place. Thus, the mystery plays (based on event from the Christian scriptures). Morality plays (bad human playing the role of the virtues and vices) and miracle plays (based on the lives of saints) became part of the history of drama.

 In the 18th century drama became known as ‘comedy of manners.’ Dramatic performance took the form of satirising the habits of the rich and a famous. The modern play emphasize more psychological rather than the physical setting or action.

1.2. Types of Drama

Comedy: Comedies are usually humorous plays. However, being funny is not the only way to define a comedy. The elements of comedy include light hearted one, word play, happy ending, off beat characters, serious topic addressed in humorous way.

Force: A force is a type of broad comedy. it depends less on a narrative story line and more on physical humour, sight gags and silly fokes. Some of the elements of force include improbable events, non-sensical story line, exaggerated humour, slapstick gags, one or more settings humour often crude and inappropriate.

Melodrama: Melodrama's tell a serious story in a serious way. It include character tropes such as heroes, heroines, villains etc. Sweeping stories of romance or serious topics larger than life plots and circumstances exaggerated character reactions, flawed characters who must overcome their false in order to reach their resolutions.

 Musical drama: Periods of standard story line interrupted by songs. Characters often singing. In unison to express feelings, song as plot- changing devices, dramatic or comedy story lines catchy musical score, often lots of singing and dancing.

Opera: Operas are dramas in which the characters sing each line rather than speaking. The entire production is set to a musical tone.

Tragedy: A tragedy is a play which includes a protagonist with a tragic flow. Circumstances quickly get out of control and not in a funny way. Features of downfall of a previously heroic or well-liked characters, an irredeemable that result in one or more characters death.

Tragic comedy: It is a literary genre that a blends aspect of both tragic and comic forms. A serious story line told in a humorous sardonic way.

1.3 Importance of Drama and Performance Arts in Education:

 Drama and performance arts are pivotal outlets for self-expression and by using drama as a teaching tool, students are involved intellectually, physically socially and emotionally. The use of drama and performance arts in education leads to holistic learning, accelerates personality development and imparts students with crucial life skills, problem solving skills, leadership, co-operation and collaboration. The core benefits are:

• Ø  Students become better learners
• Ø  Learn to empathize with other social elements
• Ø  Developed leadership skills and attitude of co-working.
• Ø  They become torch bearers of critical thinking and encourages the flow of discourse.
• Ø  Students comprehend the benefits of experiential learning

Some of the key objectives of Drama and arts education:

Ø  Students will be imparted with the knowledge of pronunciation, Intonetion as well as storytelling.

Ø  Students will be equipped with critical with critical thinking skills, performance skills speaking and writing skills, public speaking skills and teamwork.

Ø  It makes children more creative and imaginative through various activities.

Ø  It enables students with useful Motor skills. Drama and performance arts also requires immense practice hence, it fosters perseverance in children.

Ø  By boosting creativity and imagination of children, it also improves focus thereby making children more active in the classroom.

Ø  As children learn to be a part of a group through performing arts and drama, the learn about accountability and how important it is especially in a team

1.4 Report on Drama and Theatre workshop    

 As a part of B.Ed curriculum students of Adi Sankara Training College, Kalady participated in a workshop on drama and theatre conducted on February 14th in the college auditorium. Mr. Sabu Thomas, High school asst. St. Thomas Higher Secondary School, Malayattor, was the resource persons, who secured many awards in drama field. Archana, one of our student teachers, welcomed and introduced him to us. Vice principal Praseetha V.  in her felicitation told the importance of drama in education. Teachers were also present the workshop.

The workshop starts at 10 am with a warm-up, the 100 students were circled and Sabu sir in the midst, talked about drama, its origin, phases of script writing, types of stages, who is an actor, types of acting etc.

He taught that, the drama (play) is a mirror turned towards the audience. He gave more emphasis to acting to saying that the acting is coming from four ways from the actor; they are (1) Angigam (2) Vachikom, (3) Aaharyam, (4) Sathikom. He also taught who is an actor and what are the qualities of an actor. The word ‘actor’ itself symbolizes the qualities of an actor A stand for action, C- Concentration, T- Timing, O- Observation, and R- rhythm. When these five are in harmony, one become a good actor.

For acting practice, he conducted a small game and whoever loses will call to the midst and act a role with a given tool. Then he checked each one’s acting and gave him correction and explanation.

At the end of the workshop, he divided the entire students into ten groups and entrusted them a proverb as a theme of drama, on that theme prepare the script for the drama, as a group activity. The workshop was wind up at 1 pm, with vote of thanks given by Anooda, our student teacher.

The workshop was a new and refreshing experience for us; because it made us confident, enhanced our creativity, imagination and co-ordination. It was indeed, a memorable and informative session which culminated by rendering our heartfelt gratitude for providing us with an unparallel experience to the resource person. The ten groups prepared the script and eagerly waiting for the day to act on the stage.