Practical Drama: On Stage, At Work, In Life

Introduction

Did you act at school or university and do you miss it? Are you nervous or shy about public speaking? Have you never even set foot in a theatre before? Want to try something new?

In the current economic climate, many of our past students stated a desire to improve skills that they can use in the work place – public speaking, empathy, team work – to give them an edge above colleagues. Imagine being able to reassure an employer in a performance review that you have committed your own time to improving your skills!

The course is intense, with 2 evening theatre trips, 6 evening teaching sessions and 2 Saturday half days over a 6 week period.

Course Breakdown

- A Detailed Study of Chekhov's Three Sisters

Week 1. Class 1:

Introduction to the Course
An introductory session, beginning with a look back at the basic principles of dramatic technique learned in previous DramaScene courses, and how we will further and deepen our practical understanding over the course. There will also be a short introduction to the play text we will be working from in all the classes.

Week 2. Class 2:

Approaching a Text
An in-depth look at what to do when approaching a text for the first time, physically, mentally, and vocally. We will be looking at principles of tone, phrasing, action and pace, ensuring that we start to get the most dramatic and communicative potential out of any given text. Each student will be given a very short monologue from our play text to learn for the next session.

Week 3. Class 3:

Monologues
In this class we will apply all the principles applied thus far to the learned monologues. This session will build confidence for performing in front of others, and emphasize the importance of working as a group to get the most out of a single performance.

Class 4:

Given Circumstances
Now we will start to look at longer scenes from the playtext, and explore together how the context of a scene affects the way you act it. We will actively look at the scene in a wider sense, learning how to apply basic detective work to find out how a scene ? and a whole play ? works dramatically.

Theatre Trip 1 - to be confirmed

Week 4. Class 5:

Character
Character is a concept that seems simple, but is in fact remarkably elusive. As you start to get to know the scenes better, and take on roles yourself, we will explore what character is, and how to deepen a performance without resorting to cliché or stereotype.

Week 5. Class 6:

Dramatic Actiona
Now you know who you are, and how to say what you have to say, we explore what you are doing. We learn that every action has meaning, and how to physicalize your role clearly and specifically, especially in relation to other actors and the space.

Theatre Trip 2 - play to be confirmed

Week 6. Class 7:

Rehearsal

This session allows you to pull everything you've learned together, and start to properly rehearse the scenes you've been working on. You will gain the experience of being directed on a professional level.

Class 8:

Final Performance
The work-in-progress scenes are performed to an invited audience. There will be a short question and answer session afterwards, where audience, actors and staff reflect on their experience.