November 2008 - British School Of Bucharest

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The Drama Department
Antoine and Daniel, 4K, developing
conflict in Drama
4 K working as a team in Drama
KS 1 Drama Club performing a
Monster Story
The Drama department focuses on
creative development of students,
providing the opportunity for different
means of self expression.
The classes take place in rooms that are different
from what the children usually know: the
furniture is limited to chairs that are not always
used. Drama is about large, however intimate
and comfortable spaces, surrounded by curtains
and lightened by spotlights.
The Drama lessons, often linked to literacy and
history themes, are centered on types of games
that develop abilities and skills meant to build
on social and emotional intelligence.
Drama activities start out by focusing on
lengthening concentration span, as there are
a lot of games that require prolonged and
sustained attention.
Some other activities stress self confidence and
trust as main coordinates of a positive, confident
self image; the children are encouraged to stand
in the spotlight and speak and act out in front
of peers; learning how to confidently speak in
public, and express and illustrate one self beliefs
and ideas in front of others becomes essential.
Quite a great number of activities concentrate on
team work and cooperation between members
within the team. Children work together to fulfill
several tasks and they learn to define their role
within a group that has to reach a certain target.
Most Drama activities are team oriented rather
than hierarchical, pointing out the fact that each
member has a highly important role when the
group has to achieve a goal.
Leading abilities are however highly encouraged,
as a team always works best when led by
someone the group trusts. As everyone is
given the opportunity to lead, leading a team is
another skill that Drama develops.
What the team usually works toward is solving
a problem together, in order to ‘save’ all the
members of the group. Several solutions to
the same problem are tried out; all ideas and
approaches are encouraged, thus leaving room
for creativity in problem solving.
As a result, communication reaches its highest
expression, as all children have to interact with
each other in order to fulfill the given task;
communication of different types is theorised
and expressed: the children get to analyze and
experiment meanings of body language, facial
expressions and tones of voice.
Drama challenges perceptions by getting
children to use their senses differently than they
usually do: recognizing someone by touching
their hair, for example, while blindfolded, is a
kinesthetic experience the children highly enjoy.
Becoming another happens at a more complex
stage, and teaches self control, discipline,
tolerance, empathy, and understanding
ideas and the way humans interact; ability
to understand others’ motives and choices
becomes critical. Through acting, children reach
depth of understanding.
All these happen in a safe atmosphere; children
are confronted with different situations without
experiencing the actual dangers, pitfalls, or
consequences that those situations might imply.
Drama traces the boundaries of a parallel reality
where most socially forbidden gestures are
allowed and encouraged. It is the safe way to
go through situations that would otherwise be
harmful, by getting to analyze consequences
without actually experiencing them. This is where
the educational power of Drama lies.
But the bottom line of it all is that Drama is a lot
of fun; as there is no right or wrong, all ideas,
thoughts, and perspectives upon the world, are
encouraged.
Drama is basically the subject where ‘the world’s
a better place when it’s up side down’.
Ms Doina Antohi
Drama Teacher for Foundation Stages and KS 2
The British School of Bucharest Magazine
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