Some genres of applied drama & theatre

Some Genres of Applied Drama & Theatre Jouni Piekkari, Finland

Jungle of concepts ! different people different intentions

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?
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 & 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 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? ” 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)
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 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

Sociodrama
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

Psychodrama
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 Theatre

Drama 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 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

Participating and empowering

Theatre for Development 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 DIRECTIONS Lusaka, Zambia Photo: Idalotta Backman

Theatre for Awareness Natya 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 of the Oppressed

Pamodzi Zambian-Finnish experiments of Theatre-for-Development in Finland, 1994 photos: Mikael Rönkkö

Other forms of 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 & 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?

Celebratory 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 be proud of? Photo: Jussi Kareinen

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

S.Cucufate´96 project in Alentejo, Portugal Directed by Luis Cruz Photo: Paulo Chaves

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/dramaway

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Some genres of applied drama & theatre

by Marko Kroflič

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