Intro - Impro! A Workshop for a New Drama Group - Part 1.

Whether you're a dedicated Community Volunteer Worker, asked to take the Drama Group, or an experienced outreach Drama Worker, the success of the first workshops with a new group are vital if the group is to survive and develop. Therefore the first job of the worker, after the welcome, is to put everyone at their ease and quickly form the group into a one purpose organism, that includes the worker.

When your group first arrive into the Drama Workspace, whether it's the village hall or a purpose built drama studio, they will all have had an individual day - for some, a good day, - for others, a bad day, - so you must help them to leave their day behind by having a few exercises in focus, concentration, and reaction, working the group as a whole at first, dividing them later into smaller groups.

After the warm up, ask your group to gather themselves close together and advise them that, for the point of the excercise, you would like them to try and move their bodies and eyes together as one unit, as they follow your directions.

Direct them into a corner of the room, moving slowly and deliberately together, and then ask them to turn as a group, and face the diagonally opposite corner and look up to the imaginary image you can "see", i.e., an aerolane flying across or around the "sky" above, or perhaps, a tightrope walker about to cross a wire between two telegraph poles. Indicate to the group as you watch with them, all the while describing the imaginary scene by saying things like, "Look! He's coming towards us! Quick, hit the deck!", or , "Look, he's loosing his balance...".

In a new group, some may find this slightly difficult, but if you believe what you are saying, your group will find it easier to use their imaginations, and will react to what you are saying you can see, for they are relying on your leadership at this stage.

The exercise must last only around 5 - 10 minutes at most, but after you end it, thank the group and then repeat the exercise with a new imaginary image for them to focus on. Only this time, direct them. Let them move without you and watch as they follow your suggestions. You will see your group working as one unit, focussing, imagining, and reacting.

When you end the exercise, thank them and ask them to split up into smaller groups of 3/4/5. Explain that you are now going to continue to focus on improvisation through movement, but in smaller groups, and ask each small group to form a sculpture from their bodies as a unit. Allow them five minutes to try a few things out and then ask them to stop. Ask some of the groups to exhibit their sculptures as though in a museum, while you and the other members come round the "museum" as though visiting members of the public. Encourage them to focus on their stillness but this time advise them that they must not react, no matter what they hear while they are sculptures. Ask the others to describe each sculpture and say what they think it is or what they think about it, then swap places so that everyone gets the chance to show their sculpture and focus, or react as a member of the public.

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic