Drama and Performance
Spring 2019 Session
Oakhill Correctional Institution
Instructors: Manon van de Water, Claire Mason
DESCRIPTION
Welcome to the theatre and performance class! This class aims to introduce participants to interpreting and performing dramatic scenes and plays. Dramatic literature, as opposed to novels and stories, are meant to be performed and are open to interpretation. We can relate the text and the performance to our own lives and experiences and show, rather than tell, what these plays and excerpts mean to us. A portion of this class will be preserved for rehearsing and performing a staged reading for others to attend. Details regarding the staged readings will be announced later.
No prior experience with drama or theatre classes is necessary to participate. All are welcome here!
GOALS
1) To develop an understanding of the different interpretations and performance techniques of the same play and to be able to recognize how this affects the theatrical elements of a play: characters, themes, imagery, language, actions, motivations, descriptions, etc.
2) To demonstrate this understanding through techniques and skills: voice, body language, self-expression, self-control in performance, creativity, flexibility and improvisation, teamwork, etc.
ATTENDANCE
We will meet Thursdays from 6:15-8:15pm. We understand that you may have other obligations, but attendance is very important. Try to make it every week. If you need to be absent once, that’s all right; just know that if you miss more than two weeks, your name will have to be removed from the roster, and you’ll no longer be able to attend class during the current session.
READINGS
The texts we discuss will vary by session. Copies of books and/or readers will be provided at the beginning of the session when you sign up for the class, and they’re yours to use until the last week. Please take notes about the plays and your thoughts as you go along, but please do not mark in the readers. We hope to keep them clean and useable for future groups. When you have time, try to read each assignment twice; you’ll notice and remember much more for the discussions that way. If you choose not to participate in the class or are transferred in the middle of a session, please return your copy of the reader to the school office.
TEXTS
- Drama and Performance Reader vol 1&2
- Theatre and Performance Reader
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS
In addition to the readings, there will be weekly written reflections. These are designed to prompt further thinking and to refine your own interpretations and opinions. Think of them as journal responses: creative, never formal but always important. You may alternatively write out your thoughts about what we discussed that week: What did you think of the reading? What was challenging, interesting, or confusing about it? Did you notice any connections between a character and yourself? Bring your reflections to class and be prepared to share with the group.
CLASS SCHEDULE
Week One
- Introductions
- Class, syllabus, theatre glossary
- Volunteers
- Participants: What do you hope to get out of this class?
- Starter activities
- Chekhov’s ten-line play
- Assignment: reflection in journal, write your own 10 line scene (bring two copies for Week Two)
Week Two
- Starter activities
- Reflection sharing
- Perform each other’s 10 line scenes
- Assignment: reflection in journal, write a short scene for at least three people (bring copies of the script for each actor to Week Three)
Week Three
- Starter activities
- Reflection sharing
- Perform each other’s scenes
- Discuss Staged Reading
- Assignment: reflection in journal
Week Four
- Starter activities
- Reflection sharing
- Staged Reading
- Assignment: reflection in journal
Week Five
- Starter activities
- Reflection sharing
- Staged Reading
- Assignment: reflection in journal, write Ten Minute play
Week Six
- Starter activities
- Reflection sharing
- Perform Ten Minute plays
- Reflect on plays
- Assignment: reflection in journal, edit plays
Week Seven
- Starter activities
- Reflection sharing
- Perform edited pieces
- Assignment: reflection in journal, write new plays
Week Eight
- Starter activities
- Reflection sharing
- Perform new plays
- Assignment: reflection in journal, prepare ideas for final performance
Week Nine
- Starter activities
- Reflection sharing
- Decide on End of Course performance
- Assignment: reflection in journal
Week Ten
- Starter activities
- Reflection sharing
- Rehearse Final performance
- Assignment: reflection in journal
Week Eleven
- Starter activities
- Reflection sharing
- Final performance