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Session to introduce techniques for preparing a class to view theatre. includes

practicing theatre etiquette

reflection skills & analysing the performance (not the text)

Activating relevant language

Led by Tracey Grey
www.traceygrey.com

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“Everyone experiences a theater production according to their own values ​​and ideas, regardless of how strongly the director has given a picture. Because the form of representation in the theater always leaves room for creative, imaginative worlds of thought and interpretations.”

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10 incredible benefits of going to the theatre

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10 incredible benefits of going to the theatre

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School is not just a place to study through books. It is an institute that plays the most important part in a child’s development and growth. The schools that take care of different aspects of a child’s personality instead of relying on books are the real institutes working for a child’s growth. Extracurricular activities play a huge role in building characters and grooming individuals. Here are a few incredible benefits that theatre offers to students. The article marks the importance of benefits of theatre for school students.

Creativity

Thinking of new stories, creating new situations, and presenting them before the audience in the most effective way enhances the creativity in them.

Imagination power

Theatre is about imagining. Students have to use all of their thinking capabilities to bring life to the scene written merely on paper. Not just that, using all of their language skills to write down the script also makes them use all of their imagination. It increases their power to imagine beyond boundaries.

Social skills

Working with a team, taking in new people for the theatre, involving them in the play, and building relationships with them are the things that offer a lot of learning opportunities. They learn to socialize with different people using their abilities.

Communication skills

Not just talking to the team members and conveying instructions enhance communication skills. But also, when they have to perform and present before the audience, they learn a different type of communication that also enhances their confidence.

Self-esteem

Performing in front of the audience, receiving appreciation, and fulfilling different challenges enhance the self-esteem of students. It not only makes them more confident about their theatre performing skills but also helps in the other areas of their lives. Their self-esteem is enhanced and they are clearer about their goals in life and believe that they can achieve them. Moreover, studies have shown that self-esteem is directly and positively correlated to success in life. So, this is an invaluable opportunity for them.

Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand a situation, perceive others’ emotions, and react in the best way while composing oneself. It is also about understanding and reacting with the appropriate emotions. This type of intelligence is more important in academic performance and overall life growth than the typical IQ as proved by studies. A student develops this intelligence through activities like theatre.

Teamwork and cooperation

Teamwork is one of the most important skills in life. A person who does not have the capabilities to work in a team is most often isolated and does not fit in groups. Thus, they miss many opportunities. Theatre is one of the best activities that teach teamwork and cooperation with others.

Problem-solving skills

Problem-solving is the main trait of intelligent people. Working in groups, tackling new challenges every day, bringing solutions to them, and devising the best possible plans for different tasks is what theatre teaches to students. The problem-solving skills that they learn from this activity are implemented in all the areas of their lives.

Extraordinary learning

Learning beyond the boundaries of a book is what the advanced educational sectors believe in nowadays. Theatre is an activity that provides extraordinary learning opportunities to students. Through implementing the knowledge and bringing the best use of their skills what theatre allows students to do.

Conceptual understanding

Mere reading is not enough to learn the countless aspects of a play or a story. Whereas, performing that story or the play allows them to learn all those aspects of learning conceptually. Long story short, this is one of the best learning opportunities that a school can ever offer to students.

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Tips and advice on how to practice good etiquette and appropriate manners when attending a live theater show.

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Tips and advice on how to practice good etiquette and appropriate manners when attending a live theater show.

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Theater newcomers aren’t sure what the proper behavior and theatre etiquette is when attending a play or musical. Common questions are: What is the appropriate attire for the theater? Are refreshments available at the theater? When do I applaud during the performance?

Those are all good questions, but there are also other important questions that most visitors don’t think to ask, many of which are related to how to behave (and how not to behave) during the show so as to better enjoy the performance and to allow the rest of the people in the audience to enjoy it as well.

Sitting in a live show is not like being at a movie theater nor at home streaming!  it’s usually much quieter, so you have to be more careful not to make noise. The performers who are entertaining you are doing so live and in person, so it’s important to be respectful to them as well.

Because many first-time theater attendees – and, frankly, many regular theatergoers who should really know better by now – aren’t exactly sure what the proper theatre etiquette and behavior is, here a primer on the Do’s and Don’ts (mostly the latter) of theatre etiquette when attending a live performance.

1. Turn Off Your Cell Phone

Somehow the most obvious rule of good theatre etiquette is still the most often disregarded. Turn it off, people.
Turn. It. Off.
And, no, putting your cell phone on vibrate isn’t good enough – the people next to you can hear that weird buzzing sound, too. Be present for the moment.

2. Don’t Send Text Messages During the Show

you may think you’re being all incognito, but in a darkened theater, the light from your cell phone screen is incredibly distracting to those around you. And why do you still have your phone on anyway? We just told you to turn it off!

3. There is no photography or videoing allowed in the theater.

As mentioned above it is super distracting to the other people who are trying to watch the show. Beyond that, it is distracting to the performers who are prepared to give you the best performance possible. Finally, it is illegal in many instances. The majority of most performance contracts strictly forbid the recording of a performance. The organization producing the show has a responsibility to discourage the practice. Set designs, costume designs, direction, performances and the script and music are all the intellectual property of those who created them. It is possible you may be responsible for copyright infringement by recording a live theatrical production.

4. Eat Your Dinner Before the Show, Not DURING It

This isn’t the movies. Munching on candy and chips during a live performance is really unacceptable. Get your treats in the lobby during the intermission instead.

5. If You Have To Cough, Cover Your Mouth

Coughing is inevitable, but failure to cover your mouth is a real faux pas, so try to keep kleenex or a handkerchief on hand. And if you have a cold, be sure to bring some lozenges with you.

6. Unwrap Cough Drops and Candies in Advance

If you anticipate any coughing fits during the show, be sure to unwrap your lozenges before the performance starts and have them at the ready. That crinkling sound is like nails on a chalkboard during a quiet play. And, no, unwrapping it S-L-O-W-L-Y does not help the situation … it’s much, much worse.

7. Don’t Be A Disruptive Miss (or Mr.) Manners

Sure, it’s irritating when someone’s cell phone goes off, but what’s even worse is when the brief breach of theatre etiquette is followed by a series of overreactions from other audience members. Annoyed “Tsks,” “Hmphs,” hisses, snarls, and shouts of “Turn it off!” along with scandalized glares can be just as distracting as the original disruption.

8. Don’t Talk During the Show

A quick whisper to your neighbor, or an audible reaction to something interesting that happens on stage is fine (this is the live theater, not the morgue), but keep conversations to the intermission and after the show. Nobody needs to hear your theories on what the next plot twist will be, and please refrain from asking your companion to explain to you what was just said onstage. By the time he or she explains it to you, you’ll have both missed something else important.

9. Don’t Sing Along

It’s tempting sometimes, we know. Your fellow theater fans paid money to hear the performers flex their vocal muscles, not you.

10. Don’t Feel Like You Have to Dress Up

Although opening night audiences usually dress up a bit, there is no dress code. Your local regional theater may have different community standards, but the important point is that you are supporting live theater no matter what you are (appropriately) wearing. Since theaters usually have good air conditioning, dress accordingly.

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a piece of physical theatre. Students can imitate the style to create a "before" and "after" with some writing script, choreographing, performing and speaking.

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Extrait de la chorégraphie "The statement" (Crystal Pite)

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Outline for an analysis of a theatrical production

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Outline for an analysis of a theatrical production

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Dramatic text vs performance text - relationship between original script and performance script:

dramaturgical changes or cuts, transpositions, additions, substitutions

- what interpretation(s) of the play does the performance version offer through these changes?

Performance space:
in what kind of space is the production performed?

Stage space:

mode: proscenium stage (Italian), thrust stage, staging in the round, processional, what is the staging relationship between audience and performance area (open or close, uniform or multiple) Lighting: its function & symbolic values: to portray meaning, atmosphere, tension or emotion?

Sound:
music & sound effects:  to portray meaning, atmosphere, tension or emotion?

Staging (mise en scene) and rhythm:
how action develops

Actors:

- external appearance: physical traits, costumes, make-up,

- mime, gestures, movement

- aural craft: vocal delivery, intonation,

- movement of characters on the stage

- grouping of characters

- spatial distinction between characters

Audience:
attitude, reactions, atmosphere - critics/reviews

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Here there is extensive production elements used to increase the impact of the text and engage the audience. How interesting would it be without the lights, sound and stage?

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there are five ways for the world to end - Mosquitoes (2017) by Lucy Kirkwood

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ask the theatre if there is an educational pack. Read the play prior to visit to pick out some key vocabulary.  Make a glossary or explore key themes through articles, poetry or discussion.

straight / soon after the show: recreate the “stage” in the classroom. Give each student 2-3 post-its and have them write their questions and place them on the stage.

speaking: circle opinions “I thought…”

Each student goes to the center of the circle and expresses a thought, a question or emotion. Those who have the same question or emotion walk into the circle to express that they also had that thought.

use play extracts from the script to reenact moments and play with voice expression/intonation.

happy/ sad moments - have the students pick a character and write a 1 minute monologue that expresses the happiest/saddest moment in the characters life prior to the play. use imagination and fantasy!!!

Play a television news report with witness statements and opinions from local residents.

write a theatre review (use the production analysis outline)

cultural/political contexts: research and connect the themes the production highlights? What was more present than in the book/film version? What ideas were presented and how did that impact the audience?