Teach Secondary 13.7

Written by a highly experienced drama practitioner, performance examiner and teacher trainer, this resource book for drama teachers explores how to devise a dramatic work without a pre-existing script. Being able to make something out of seemingly nothing at all is quite the skill – especially when the aim is to create an original piece of performance theatre that conveys meaning, has a cast of characters and a plot, and is concerned with specific themes and issues. For author Jason Hanlan, assembling and fashioning drama as a class is akin to working with Lego, with ideas standing in for bricks. Each idea fits around all the others, adding shape and structure, but not always successfully. Through a process of experimentation, this assemblage of ideas may or may not click into place at first – but gradually, you’ll find yourself constructing something unique, colourful, sometimes unexpected and perhaps even remarkable that bears the fingerprints of every student. This is a first-rate resource that offers great insights, and which explores the subject in considerable depth, while still being highly accessible and hugely inspiring. In the opening portion of the book, Hanlan outlines his thoughts on why devising original drama is an important and worthwhile task, before moving on to why a good knowledge of your students is important when choosing the topics and themes for your original piece. Hanlan asserts that students are indeed capable of devising deep, meaningful performances that are rich with language, metaphor and complexity – but that they will require a strong framework and a teacher aware of how the trapeze works. This is the cue for an especially good section focusing on techniques that will prevent your lessons from degenerating into a creative free-for-all. The bulk of the book is made up of 200 ‘mini guides’ to carefully selected topics, spanning subject matter that ranges from child soldiers, online dating and reincarnation, to human trafficking, eating disorders and PTSD, with plenty in between. Each topic guide begins with a thought- provoking quote, before setting out the suggested age and group size, ideas for games and workshop activities, and a series of potential talking points. The guides then conclude with stimulus ideas that can include suggestions for other plays, films and books to draw inspiration from, as well as artefacts and images that might spark students’ creativity. If you still need persuading, there’s a chapter dedicated to eight case studies of classes that have successfully created works from the topics presented, in which Hanlan shares his personal insights and experiences of the creative processes he saw his students going through. Devising theatre as a class can feel exhilarating or terrifying. If the idea makes you feel more of the latter, then consider this book your safety net and enjoy the art of letting go. Your drama class has studied some great plays – perhaps now it’s time for them to create their own? A T A G L ANCE DRAMA • A toolkit for drama teachers that outlines how to devise original theatre • Contains 200 age-appropriate topic suggestions • Lesson ideas for introducing students to the creative process • Covers strategies for encouraging creativity and organising ideas • Guidance on how to analyse work and provide feedback Priced at £16.99; for more information, visit bloomsbury.com/9781350279636 ✓ A focused, teacher-friendly tool packed with exciting and engaging stimuli ✓ Sets out a powerful framework for bringing ideas together in the service of creating original theatre ✓ The suggested activities will help to foster students’ inventiveness and collaboration skills ✓ Provides drama teachers with helpful advice on how to analyse and evaluate the creative process ...you’re looking for a playful, optimistic and dynamic resource to help unlock the imagination and creativity of your drama students. V E RD I C T UPGRADE I F . . . REVIEWED BY: JOHN DABELL 200 Themes for Devising Theatre with 11–18 Year Olds R E V I E W 81 teachwire.net/secondary