Some genres of applied drama & theatre

Some Genres Some Genres of of

Applied Drama & TheatreApplied Drama & Theatre

Jouni Piekkari,Finland

Jungle of concepts !

different peopledifferent intentions

What is drama?What is drama?

• Drama is collective activity, where people create and share meanings

• by imitating stylistically or realistically the phenomena of the real or supranormal life

• Drama does not need special space, costume or separate audience

• HOMO LUDENS - serious playfullness of drama

What is Theatre?What is Theatre?

• Theatre is a composition of dramatic elements or episodes,

• meant to be performed

• for a specific audience

• in a specific space carrying dramatic meanings through visual elements

What is applied drama & What is applied drama & theatre?theatre?

• in the western world theatre is often seen as a value in itself: it is an entertaining and aesthetic art form

• In the West theatre does not need to have any other purposes

• in the rest of the world theatre has usually served other functions: religious, ritual, political, pedagogical, healing, recording history…

• lately, in the West, too theatre and drama have been more widely applied for other purposes:

as a tool for healing, politics, learning, creating communities...

Learning

Drama in Education (DIE)Drama in Education (DIE)

• drama as education about theatre art

• drama as a tool for learning other subjects

• drama for integration of subjects: holistic & constructivist approach

• drama for human growth

Contemporary paradigma?Contemporary paradigma?”Drama education for me

is more a ”space” for creating culture than a ”space” for educating or teaching for

something that according to the current norms and general thinking in the society

is considered as right and important --[Drama education] is not teaching in a

traditional sense, rather it is creating different viewpoints

and alternative possibilities - re-defining the future”

Dr. Hannu Heikkinen, University of Jyväskylä

Learning classical play texts and theatre styles with a theatre group

Photos: Titi Lillqvist

Theatre in Education (TIE)Theatre in Education (TIE)• research • scripted plays• clearly focused themes• on any school subject (art history, physics…)• integrated into the official curriculum• professional, travelling theatre groups• sometimes interactive parts• workshops after and/or before the performance• study materials

Exploring

Devised TheatreDevised Theatre• theatre without a play script• collaborative process (creación colectiva)• scripting in a group• ”scripting on the feet” - improvisation,

movement, interviews, installation, photo…• non-linear and non-narrative dramaturgies• themes

Polytechnic of Seinäjoki students constructing their understanding on technology: fight between the sexes Photo: Jussi Kareinen

SociodramaSociodrama

• explores social phenomena for understanding:

• social problems and interactions, news, political events, trends...

• distancing from the experiences of individuals (vs. psychodrama)

• completely improvised• created by Jacob L. Moreno

Healing

PsychodramaPsychodrama

• created by Jacob L. Moreno in the 20´s

• drama for therapy

• concentrates on the problems or traumatic experiences of an individual

• completely improvised - ”here and now”

• training in therapy work necessary

• long training

• ”Sharing of everyday life experiences is healthy and healing”

• improvised theatre: a group acts elements of the stories of the audience

• can be done also as a workshop without an audience - ”easy-for-everyone” techniques

• inspiration from socio- and psychodrama• Jonathan Fox, USA

Play-back TheatrePlay-back Theatre

Drama therapyDrama therapy• emphasis on ”now” and the ”future” instead of

childhood traumas• individual focus: emotional empowerment• distancing: use of myths, stories, etc.• allegories to the own life experiences of the

patients• usually workshop, sometimes rehearsed

performances• more theatricality

Hospital ClowneryHospital Clownery”laughing is essential for the well-being of a human being”

• Laughter is proved to have positive physical and mental health effects• paradoxically: hospitals are often sad and lonely places for children• Patch Adams is the founder for hospital clownery and Gesundheit Institute of alternative health in USA

Marco Ferreira (Portugal) as a clown in Drama Way workshop in Tallin, Estonia

Participatingand

empowering

TheatreTheatre for for

DevelopmentDevelopment

Photo: Idalotta Backman

• theatre as a tool for participatory development

• method of research

• dialogue

• forum for solving conflicts and problems

• finding concrete solutions

• field research

• folk media - local forms of expression

• tool for illiterate people to express and discuss

MASUZYO/ AFRICAN DIRECTIONSLusaka, Zambia

Photo: Idalotta Backman

WhatWhatis is participatoryparticipatoryapproachapproach??• communitiesthemselvesplan, implement

and evaluate- outside facilitatorshelp the process

• all membersarehelpedto participate-regardlessof age, genderorsocial status

• the goal is positivesocial change

• whatis ”positivechange”is definedbythe communityitself - notthe”developers”fromoutside

• buildingof identityand cultural aspectareessential

Theatre for AwarenessNatya Chetana, Orissa, India

Photo: Tarja Ervasti

• travelling theatre

• by bicycle from village to village

• provoking discussion and awareness

• co-operation with other NGO`s

• in link with other campaigns for justice

• talking to politicians

Cuttack

PURI

Konark

Theatre Theatre of the of the

OppressedOppressed

What is forum theatre?

• created by Augusto Boal (Brazil) in early70́s• inspired by Pedagogy of Liberation• interactive theatre:• audience comes to the stage to solve conflicts through

acting• can be also a workshop to explore the issues of the

participants• in Europe and America used by some groups in schools

and youth houses:• typical themes: bullying, sex, drugs, family problems

PamodziZambian-Finnishexperiments of

Theatre-for-Development

in Finland, 1994

photos: Mikael Rönkkö

Other forms of Other forms of Theatre of the Oppressed...Theatre of the Oppressed...

• invisible theatre

• image theatre

• Rainbow of Desire - drama for therapy

• legislative theatre - drama for making new laws & descisions

Building communities

Drama & ritualDrama & ritual

Photo: Leena Jokinen

”New kind of communities

need new kind of rituals:…for healing...

...marking cycles of life... ...for integration... ...for celebration…...for purification…

...for empowerment…...for creating harmony…

...for making visible…

...for understanding ...what is important to us.”

Why rituals?Why rituals?

Celebratory dramaCelebratory drama

• building local identity

• empowerment through the strengths:

• creating with hands, bodies & hearts

• use of carnevalistic elements: masks, processions, imaginary spaces, music

• local traditions

• less ”intellectual” - more intuitive

What can we What can we be proud of?be proud of?

Photo: Jussi Kareinen

Sampocak – Finnish myths and Sampocak – Finnish myths and Balinese body rhythm workshop in Keuruu, FinlandBalinese body rhythm workshop in Keuruu, Finland

S.Cucufate´96 project in Alentejo, PortugalS.Cucufate´96 project in Alentejo, PortugalDirected by Luis CruzDirected by Luis CruzPhoto: Paulo Chaves

Live Action Role Play (LARP)Live Action Role Play (LARP)

• genuine young people´s movement in the 90´s• positive escapism from the reality to the

imaginary worlds: future, past, mythology…• A frame story created by the game leader(s)• each participant assumes a role and acts it

throughout an improvised role play• Sometimes can take several days• often in the nature, castles, other interesting

spaces• virtual sharing

More info & links:

www.tkk.utu.fi/dramawaywww.tkk.utu.fi/dramaway