Digital @ The Arts Unit Creative Teachers
Embedded Files
Introduction
Introduction
In the NSW Stage 4, 5 and 6 Drama curriculum, devising is one of the fundamental and mandatory elements of study.
This resource contains interviews with experienced drama teachers and their approaches to the group devising process that culminated in pieces performed at the NSW Public Schools State Drama Festival.
The resource includes:
examples of group work
handouts to assist with strategies and styles
links to classes.
Interviews
Interviews
Interview 1 - Nicole Bonfield
Interview 1 - Nicole Bonfield
Nicole Bonfield is the Head of Creative and Performing Arts at St Mary's Senior High School.
In this interview Nicole discusses her piece from Greystanes High School, No-One Leaves Home and how to work with a group of inexperienced younger secondary drama students to build confidence and skills.
Nicole gives some tips and advice on how to work effectively with an ensemble in a school context, with a limited time frame, to achieve excellence on stage. Tips include how to use narration and movement to create seamless ensemble work.
Interview 2 - Belinda Simon
Interview 2 - Belinda Simon
Belinda Simon from Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School discusses her school piece, Alice in Wonderland as well as her 2017 NSW Public Schools State Drama Ensemble piece, Sub Cinibus.
Belinda talks us through her processes in creating physical ensemble work using levels, contrast, gesture and music to create mood and tension. She examines the role of the chorus, how to limit dialogue and create meaning using the body as the most powerful tool on stage.
Belinda was the NSW Public Schools Ensemble Teacher of the Year in 2017.
Interview 3 - Susan Geldart
Interview 3 - Susan Geldart
Susan Geldart is the Head of Creative and Performing Arts at Cronulla High School. In this interview she discusses her school pieces, The Great Australian Adventure and Year 7 Camp.
Susan describes how to work effectively with students new to drama, find ways to express identity and experiences relevant to them, help them embrace ownership of ideas and enhance collaboration.
She looks at the importance of humour and of creating a dramatic journey and purpose for the piece and how to devise for a specific audience.
Interview 4 - Libby Campbell
Interview 4 - Libby Campbell
Libby Campbell from Sydney Secondary College, Balmain Campus discusses her 2018 NSW Public Schools State Drama Ensemble piece, And They All Come Tumbling Down.
Libby explores the nature of play, the buffoon in theatrical satire and the delight of creating story and social critique through character, movement and the grotesque.
Libby also discusses collaborating with costume design, sound, pace, timing and lighting and how to use the stage to maximise contrast, meaning and fun for both the performers and the audience.
Interview 5 - Warren Flanagan
Interview 5 - Warren Flanagan
Warren Flanagan from Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High School discusses both his piece from school, Raining Treasure and his piece with the 2019 NSW Public Schools Year 7 Drama Ensemble, #MAFS.
Warren analyses how popular culture can influence devising and how to use multiple perspectives and a cabaret style to create a clear theatrical focus, meaning and entertainment.
He also looks at how to craft classwork into festival-ready pieces and how to use curriculum experiences and outcomes to catapult into local and state opportunities to perform and excel.
Interview 6 - Stephanie Merriman
Interview 6 - Stephanie Merriman
Stephanie Merriman from Crestwood High School discusses three of her NSW Public Schools Year 9 Drama Ensemble pieces, 2017s Infinite Appetite for Distractions, 2018s Eenie Meenie Miney Mo and 2019s Rise and Shine.
Stephanie explores her process of using improvisation and chorus to build foundational and ensemble skills before embarking on devising. She discusses how to help students take an active role in self-directing and assessment, feedback and using the stimulus of atmosphere to evoke audience response. Stephanie examines the importance of teacher professional development, mentoring and using research to prepare.
Stephanie was the NSW Public Schools Drama Ensemble Teacher of the Year in 2019.
Interview 7 - Jane Simmons
Interview 7 - Jane Simmons
Jane Simmons - Drama Performance Officer, Department of Education discusses her 2018 NSW Public Schools Senior Drama Ensemble piece, Love Letter to Parents.
Jane explores the nature of developing a safe space to devise and play in creating a fun thematic series of vignettes to craft into a coherent performance piece.
She discusses working with the ensemble to playbuild based on the stories, ideas, characters and reactions that emerge in scene work. She also examines the role of the teacher in manipulating imagination and improvised golden moments into the final product seen on stage.
Third-party content attributions
Third-party content attributions
State Drama Festival 2017-2019 images 1-7, photographer: Anna Warr.
Drama 7-10 Syllabus, © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2003, copied under s113P, accessed 10 February 2021.
Drama Stage 6 Syllabus, © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2009, copied under s113P, accessed 10 February 2021.
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