Session Six
Curriculum
Session: 6.1
Title: Can-Do Drama: Inclusive education, drama and teaching for diversity
Presenter: Jo Raphael, University of Melbourne & Deakin University
Suitability: All
Form: Workshop
Description:
Increasingly throughout Australia there has been a move towards the inclusion of students with disabilities into primary and secondary mainstream classrooms. In this workshop participants will experience practical drama activities that delve into the challenges and opportunities that drama educators face when they endeavour to create inclusive drama environments. Working from an affirmative concept of disability, the workshop will also explore ideas for increasing opportunities for drama and theatre experiences for young people of all abilities. The workshop begins with an outline of a research project in which pre-service teachers learn about inclusive education through participation in the drama-based Diversity Workshop involving leadership by members of a community-based theatre company who have intellectual disabilities. The practical drama activities demonstrate how the Diversity Workshop can provide a disruptive and aesthetic space and ultimately a creative space for learning about and for appreciating diversity.
Biography:
Jo Raphael is the founding Artistic Director of Dramability (now part of Fusion Theatre). Jo undertook a qualitative case study of the group for her M.Ed. and is currently conducting research towards her PhD at the University of Melbourne. Jo holds the position of Director of Projects on the board of Drama Australia and lectures in Drama Education (primary and secondary) at Deakin University in Melbourne.
Industry
Session: 6.2
Title: Obtaining funding for a bright and relevant future
Presenter: Margaret Robbins, MacroSphere
Suitability: All
Form: Workshop
Description:
Many schools are in need for new facilities or refurbishment of existing buildings. In most cases there are insufficient funds in the kitty to cover the massive costs involved in the planning, construction and fit-out required. This workshop will assist participants in making sure their finished performing arts space/building has the desired, practical and sustainable outcome. It will also give invaluable insight into setting up a grants committee and/or completing a SUCCESSFUL grant submission for any type of project. To make the workshop really worthwhile, we ask that delegates arrive with some idea of what their next project may be so that we can provide information specific to those needs.
Biography:
Margaret Robbins has been with the company for over 25 years, and as Project Manager where her ‘hands-on’ experience has helped MacroSphere evolve into a leading solution provider for integrated audio visual and performance arts equipment. Her early involvement in the planning and development of any project helps ensure that funds are available and correct specifications are adhered to within budget.
Research
Session: 6.3A
Title: TheatreSpace: The Queensland cases
Presenter: Professor Bruce Burton, Associate Professor Penny Bundy, Dr Madonna Stinson & Mrs Andrea Burton, Griffith University
Suitability: All
Form: Paper
Description:
TheatreSpace was a four-year research project investigating the responses of young people (14 – 30 years of age) to theatre in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. The research aimed to discover what attracts, engages and sustains young people’s current and future theatre attendance and what factors might exclude them. The research concluded in 2011 and key findings were presented in November, at the TheatreSpace symposium in Sydney.
In this paper the Queensland TheatreSpace team will discuss the seven case studies undertaken in partnership with Brisbane Powerhouse, Queensland Performing Arts Centre and Queensland Theatre Company. They will consider the interconnections between attendance, engagement, curriculum and location evident across these cases, and what the implications may be for educators working in the Queensland context.
Biography:
Bruce Burton, Penny Bundy and Madonna Stinson are all members of the Applied Theatre team at Griffith University. Each teaches and researches across a range of fields involving applied theatre, drama education, and theatre and performance.
Session: 6.3B
Title: Process Drama Practice and Democratic Literacy Development
Presenter: Constantine Loucopoulos, Sydney University, South Sydney High School, University of NSW, Teacher Training Australia
Suitability: All
Form: Paper
Description:
Drama Practice’s Role in the Development of Democratic Literacy in Adolescents. The role of pedagogy in a democratic society has often had the aim to encourage critical awareness and emancipation from oppressive or fundamentalist values. This paper will explore findings in a research project that is exploring development of 'democratic literacy' in students who are engaged in process drama. It proposes that process drama can offer liberating moral instruction, as opposed to moral induction, in that students better choose their value set after a process of critical and reflective thinking. The students are therefore free individuals who are aware of hosting oppressive or discriminatory behaviours or beliefs. Hence drama might not only give students some of the skills required for the workforce but also actively engages them to be free, empowered participants in the classroom and society.
Biography:
Constantine Loucopoulos is currently enrolled in a PhD at Sydney University and researching democratic literacy development in process drama teaching practice. He teaches at a range of places but is mostly involved in the training of drama teachers. Constantine also works for the Board of Studies in NSW in a range of roles that include marking, judging and exhibitions coordination for the Higher School Certificate in drama. Costa Loucopoulos runs a business called Transform and works freelance with private training companies as an applied drama practitioner. His recent projects include work with World Vision and Sydney City Council. Costa is also currently enrolled in a PhD at the University of Sydney in drama education.
Asian Perspectives
Session: 6.4
Title: Japanese Theatre: Discovering Noh, Kabuki, the Suzuki Method & Butoh
Presenter: Lynne Bradley, Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre
Suitability: Middle & Senior Years
Form: Workshop
Description:
Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre Artistic director Lynne Bradley spent 5 years in the late 80s & early 90s living in Japan. During this time she was adopted by a famous Noh family and studied and performed Noh in Kyoto, as well as Nihon Buyo (Kabuki dance). She subsequently met and studied with the founders of Butoh and the Suzuki Method around Japan and is now one of the leading actor-trainers in Australia in these areas. This workshop will delve into these esoteric Japanese dance-theatre forms, and through a process of cultural translation make them easily accessible for Australian teachers and students alike. Workshop participants will learn one exercise from each form handed down from the Masters, and will learn the key Japanese concepts that underpin them as well as how they are still incredibly applicable to performance in the 21st century.
Biography:
Lynne Bradley is the founder of Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year! Lynne teaches physical theatre nationally and internationally to practitioners and lectures regularly in Brisbane at UQ, QUT, and Griffith University. She is also a director, with recent productions including ‘Cabaret’ at QPAC, the Matilda Award-winning ‘The Tempest’ and ‘Amadeus’ in Hong Kong.
Indigenous Perspectives
Session: 6.5
Title: Stolen
Presenter: John Saunders, Southern Cross Catholic College & Drama Queensland
Suitability: Primary, Middle & Senior Years
Form: Process Drama
Description:
‘Stolen’ is a Process Drama based around two pretexts; ‘The Rabbits’ by John Marsden and Shaun Tan and a first-hand account of a member of the Stolen Generations. Participants in this workshop will participate as students in the Process Drama as they explore the issues and themes from the Stolen Generations. The Process Drama was originally designed for a Community Theatre unit; however, since it was written it has been successfully implemented with Senior Students studying Indigenous Theatre and Forum Theatre. ‘Stolen’ has also been run with Middle Years Students and Year 6 Students in conjunction with a SOSE (Studies of Society and Environment) unit on Indigenous Australian History. Participants will receive a copy of the Process Drama.
Biography:
John Saunders is a Middle and Senior Years Drama Teacher at Southern Cross Catholic College and the current President of Drama Queensland. John is on the board of Playlab Inc, the Youth and Education Reference Group at Queensland Theatre Company and is a selection panellist for the Australian Festival of Student Theatre. He has presented workshops, guest lectures and professional development at Drama Queensland State Conferences, Drama Queensland Regional Professional Development events, Queensland University of Technology and with Brisbane Catholic Education to Generalist Primary Teachers. John is also a former Artistic Director of Vena Cava Productions.
Teaching and Learning: Primary Years
Session: 6.6
Title: Teaspoon of Light theatre project: Reimagining hope at a time of crisis.
Presenter: Peter O’Connor, University of Auckland and University of Sydney
Suitability: All
Form: Workshop
Description:
This practically based workshop demonstrates the work undertaken in Christchurch schools immediately following the February 2011 earthquakes. Using a simple story and a process drama approach, children engaged in dance and visual arts making to help fix a torn cloth of dreams. The work has evolved into a UNESCO funded theatre in education programme that has worked with over 3000 children in some of the most quake effected areas of Christchurch. Thinking about how to help children reimagine futures and make sense of ongoing trauma through an arts-based approach is at the centre of this workshop. The session includes a practical exploration of the project and a display of the work done by children in Christchurch.
Biography:
Associate Professor Peter O'Connor is the Director of the Critical Research Unit in Applied Theatre at the University of Auckland and Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Sydney. His work includes the development of applied theatre programmes on: child abuse; family violence; youth suicide prevention and mental illness.
Teaching and Learning: Middle Years
Session: 6.7
Title: Creating the socially inclusive drama classroom: Through the lens of engagement
Presenter: Alison O’Grady, University of Sydney
Suitability: Middle & Senior Years
Form: Workshop
Description:
This workshop is designed to provide beginning or neophyte Drama teachers with effective strategies for engaging students and creating a socially inclusive classroom. The workshop will incorporate ideas for developing a classroom that allows all students equity of access to a range of skill sets through various modes and praxis. Of most benefit to emerging practitioners, this style of classroom will also suit practitioners who are keen to see their classrooms develop into ‘theatres’ of access and inclusivity. This workshop will utilize visual text (picture books) to develop ideas for playmaking and creating the necessarily engaged classroom. It is applicable to all years of Drama but can be particularly useful for senior years where successful group work is highly dependent upon the engagement and inclusion of all participants. Participants will not be required to wear or bring anything specifically as stimulus material will be supplied.
Biography:
Alison O’Grady is a Lecturer in the School of Education and Social Work at The University of Sydney who particularly enjoys ‘handing on the mantle’ of teaching to the next generation of Drama and English teachers whose courage, talent and vivacity continually inspire her.
Teaching and Learning: Middle & Senior Years
Session: 6.8
Title: Scene It – Scriptwriting in the Middle and Senior Years
Presenters: Heidi Irvine (Queensland Theatre Company) and Debb Wall (Capalaba State College)
Suitability: Middle & Senior Years
Form: Workshop
Description:
In this workshop, Debb and Heidi will lead participants through a practically focused unit on Scriptwriting. They will share adaptations of this unit for both Middle and Senior School. This unit looks at using visual stimuli from the Surrealist movement to introduce students to conventions of style and scriptwriting.
Biography:
Heidi Irvine is the Education Liaison Office at Queensland Theatre Company in 2012, currently on secondment from Capalaba State College (P-12) where she teaches Drama, Film/Media and ICT. She has been teaching at Capalaba for 6 years. Alongside being a member of Brisbane East District Panel for Drama, Heidi is the Vice President of ATOM Queensland and the Education Consultant for shake & stir theatre co.
Debb Wall is the Head of The Arts and Languages at Capalaba State College (P-12) where she teaches Drama & German. Debb is Queensland Studies Authority’s State Review Panel Chairperson for Senior Drama. She is co-author of Dramactive 1 & 2 with Madonna Stinson.
Teaching and Learning: Senior Years
Session: 6.9
Title: Delving into Gesture
Presenter: Helen Sandercoe, CAE (Council for Adult Education)
Suitability: Middle, Senior & Tertiary Years
Form: Workshop
Description:
This practical workshop will delve into the expressive skill of gesture. This fresh approach will examine how gesture contributes to the creation of style and is a powerful means of expression. The first part of the workshop will unpack the dynamics of gesture and the second part will look at how gesture is integral to creating theatre styles from naturalism (Ibsen) to non-naturalism, showing the relationship between gesture and text. There will be a choice of a brief delve into possible gestures of the performing styles of an Ancient Greek chorus or Shakespearean soliloquy or a bit of Brecht. Some of the influences for this work come from Jacques Lecoq, Peter Brook, Ann Bogart, Michael Chekhov and Pina Bausch.
Biography:
Helen Sandercoe has been teaching, directing and performing for over thirty years, working with students from pre-school to tertiary. Over the years she has presented a wide variety of workshops about the nature and history of performance and rich sources for drama teaching at state and national conferences for drama teachers and at IDEA.