The Value Of Live Theatre

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Jan 182012
 

As a high school drama teacher, I cannot imagine practising my profession without attending live theatre. In the age of iPads and YouTube, visual media is dominating the lifestyle of the 21st century teenager. While I do believe there will always be a place for live theatre in our culture, there is no better time than today to instill the passion of theatre in the minds and heart of our students.

One of the best compliments I have ever received from a student after attending the theatre was when a 17 year-old said to me the show we had just seen was better than any of the films she had seen in the past year. That’s a big call from a teenager! Television, computers and film seem to offer so much more than live theatre to the youth of today who often seem to be programmed only to enjoy seeing something if it is on a screen.

I tell my students that as good as film can be, it is a dead art. What they see has been filmed out of sequence in multiple locations over many weeks, months ago, and chopped up in the editing room. Actors receive an opportunity for many takes at various scenes, perfecting it until the content is acceptable. But the theatre is a living art. What a young person sees is alive on a stage only metres away in the same space. The actors must get it right on the night for the audience and there is no greater pressure and challenge than that.

In the theatre, audience members all have a slightly different perspective of the same action from different seats in the house. Some can see only parts of a stage set, while others may see lighting instruments as well and everyone has a different view. If one is fortunate to see the same show more than once (I’m no fanatic, but I’ll happily admit I saw the stage version of the musical Hairspray four times), then the joy is in understanding how no one stage performance is exactly the same .. but that reel of film is identical across the globe.

Drama students can gain so much valuable knowledge from attending live theatre, either with their teacher, parents or friends. The company is not important, it is the experience that matters most. A young person can only receive so much from reading about the theatre in a book, listening to their teacher in the classroom or even reading a play. There is no substitute for attending the theatre and no better method for a student to learn about the wonderful craft we teach.

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 Posted by Justin Cash at 12:01 am  Industry, Professional Learning

IDEA Conference Paris 2013

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Dec 312011
 

Dates have just been confirmed for the 8th World Congress of IDEA – the International Drama/Theatre and Education Association. The conference will take place in Paris from July 8-13, 2013.

Of significance for Australian drama teachers is that this conference will take place inside the school holiday break in all states and territories, with the exception of Queensland, where these dates represent the first school week of Term 3. So, for most drama and theatre teachers in Australia thinking of attending this fantastic event, hopefully your decision will be made a bit easier if you can disappear in school holidays. However, if you are in a position to sneak a bit of your Long Service Leave, hey its Paris, so this should be a no-brainer!

I have attended two IDEA World Congresses in the past – Bergen, Norway in 2001 and Ottawa, Canada in 2007. I can honestly say an IDEA World Congress is without question the best professional learning experience a drama/theatre teacher can have. To be in workshops and listen to speakers in drama education from across the globe is mind-blowing. As with most good conferences, networking opportunities in and around official sessions are just as valuable, so imagine making a bunch of international contacts in drama education!

Remember:

  1. The portion of your trip used for the conference is tax deductible (check with your taxation agent)
  2. If planning on using some school time to attend, let your employer know ASAP – you can always withdraw your leave application if you change your mind later
  3. The conference is 18 months away, so start saving for your trip now!
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 Posted by Justin Cash at 3:26 pm  Professional Learning

Theatre Alive

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Jul 312011
 

Live in Melbourne? Like independent theatre? Then you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better one-stop web shop for Melbourne’s vibrant independent theatre scene than Theatre Alive.

Developed by Arts Victoria, the Victorian Government’s arts funding and policy body, Theatre Alive was established to fill a need in the market where lovers of independent theatre in and around Melbourne could find information on shows and upcoming attractions.

Most impressive on Theatre Alive’s website is a directory listing of nearly 200 independent theatre companies and artists. Each company is alphabetically sorted with an image and brief description about who they are, accompanied by relevant contact details. In case you thought that was impressive, how about another directory listing of 40 Melbourne venues for independent theatre, as well.

Most importantly, Theatre Alive’s main website section covers current and upcoming independent theatre shows in Melbourne, including necessary booking details. The average theatre goer can also publish their own review or check out links to independent theatre reviews in Melbourne’s daily press. There are also areas for news and employment, casting, training and professional development opportunities in the scene.

If you’re an independent theatre artist or company in Melbourne, your listing is free on the Theatre Alive website. As for drama and theatre teachers, whether you take the students or just visit independent theatre without them, Theatre Alive is a fantastic resource for you.

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 Posted by Justin Cash at 9:00 am  Industry, Policy, Professional Learning, Reviews
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