FROM ZERO TO HERO – FROM CREATION TO PRESENTATION - A DEVISED AND COLLECTIVE APPROACH TO THEATRE - COURSE DESCRIPTION

 

Introduction

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This course is aimed at anyone who is working with theatre groups: teachers and school staff from primary to secondary, vocational, adult and special needs education, staff of non-government organisations, government and policy makers as well as students. If you are involved as a mentor, participant or leader with any kind of theatre work (school clubs, community theatre groups, student theatre groups etc.) you should find this course very useful. 

Participants will be introduced to all stages of the creative process needed to stage a performance; from pre-preparation to dealing with stage fright. Acquired knowledge can be applied to a variety of public presentations, appearances and performances such as theatre skits, short scenes, public events etc. To put it simply and lightly: a teacher/mentor wants to stage a play/performance. He/She/They ask a question HOW TO DO IT? Let’s find the answer together! Participants are expected to have at least B1 level of English proficiency.

 

Methodology

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Devised theatre/devised process is a theatre that starts without a script. It starts with an empty space, creative minds and diversified participants that through various methods, formats, improvisation, techniques etc. start developing stories that they would like to tell and perform, together. Collectively, we create a completely unique performance, that inclusively carries a message of the whole group of participants. From zero to hero.

Through several different formats we will embark on the field of devised theatre techniques, while also approaching the subject of collective theatre practices.  Both approaches will enable the participants to use different creative outlets such as everyday objects, themes, issues etc. and transform them to the actual scenes. 

Inclusivity and cohesion will be the guiding themes, so that we can give every participant the opportunity to participate with their unique viewpoint and therefore then transfer the knowledge to their classrooms, environment etc. 

The methodology will be explored and upgraded on a daily basis and the participants will be able to adapt all the learnt techniques of devised and collective theatre approach to their own needs and specific local contexts. 

The content of the course will be divided in three phases:

• Exploration: ice-breakers, discussions, collective and individual exercises

• Improvisation: introducing several devised and collective theatre approaches, formats and techniques, gathering the materials, exploring different scenes

• Creation: finding a cohesiveness amongst the materials and scenes gathered, staging scenes, collective and creative teamwork, observational learning

 

Objectives

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• Defining theatre, drama and education.

• Understanding drama conventions and ways of structuring them to create meaning and engagement.

• Understanding how to lead a theatre group.

• Improving the participants’ ability to use the language of theatre, the sound, the image and the movement.

• Learning how to approach a creative theatre process. 

• Exploring diverse cultural backgrounds.

• Facilitating experience that will motivate participants to provide similar experience to their learners.

• Developing communication, collaboration, presentation, problem solving, negotiation, critical and creative thinking skills.

• Implementation of different approaches to theatre work. 

• Learning how to engage student in acting without acting.

• Enhancing understanding of the potential drama and theatre methods have in education and opportunities they provide.

• Enhancing professional skills through acquisition of versatile drama conventions and ability to structure them in order to reach envisaged learning outcomes.

• Creating a final production.

• Improving English fluency (official language of the course).

• Enhancing intercultural cognition.

• Sharing experiences of drama in education from different countries in order to help each of us to be more effective in our work.

• Strengthening the European collaboration among people practising drama in education in different contexts but unified by similar drama-pedagogical approaches.

• Providing insights into different education systems.

 

Networking opportunities and cultural programme

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The course includes networking opportunities and cultural exchange opportunities to create European dimension and find possible partners for future projects as well as a city tour or a cultural trip (depending on the location). These are included in the course fee and at no additional expence for participants.

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Preparation

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After registration participants will receive a pre-course questionnaire which will be used by the trainer to learn about participants’ teaching backgrounds and to assess their exact needs. Before the beginning of the course a basic reading list will be suggested to participants to prepare for the training. Participants will also be asked to prepare a presentation about themselves, their professional context and their culture which will be presented during the course. Participants will receive information about the country they are going to visit in order to prepare them for their cultural experience. Participants are expected to bring a chosen folktale (myth, fairy tale, legend) printed in English in 2 copies.

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Follow up

 

After the course participants will be asked to share what they have learned with the rest of the staff in their schools. Further books and articles to deepen the topic and contacts with some other practitioners all over Europe and in the world will be suggested by the trainer. The methods shared and explored and the bibliography given will allow the participants to complete and improve their educational path.

 

Certificate

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Each participant will get a course attendance certificate and the Europass Mobility Document.

 

Accommodation

 

We do not directly offer accommodation and subsistence and participants are responsible for organising it by themselves.

 

Paperwork

 

We also provide all the support with paperwork you might need for your Erasmus+ project documentation such as mobility agreement and registration letter.

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Cancelation policy

 

Free cancellation up to 30 days before the start. After that, the reservation is not refundable. Changes in name and profile of the participant are possible any time before the start of the course (replacement participants from the same school/org are accepted at any time). In case the school/org doesn't find a replacement, we will still offer a place at any of our confirmed courses later in the year without any additional costs but we can not guarantee that every course session will be confirmed and the school/org will only be offered to choose from already confirmed course sessions. In case it will not be possible for the participant to attend the course or for us to organize the course due to extraordinary circumstances (classified as such by the European Commission) which present themselves in the period of less than 30 days before the start of the course and we don’t manage to find an alternative solution, we will keep 50 % of the payment and refund the remaining balance of 50% to the payer’s bank account.