Each
play script offered here has been produced with teenaged performers
after very considerable workshopping
Each
of the play scripts presented here has been produced by either a
school or community theatre group and performed by students aged
between fourteen and eighteen years of age.
Each
production involved extensive workshopping, skills development,
research and linking with other subject areas such as History,
Literature, Sociology, Media, Dance, Music, Religious Education and Philosophy.
Each
production incorporated participation from teachers and/or
professionals from across curriculum areas and from parents.
Each
production drew on a wide cross-section of the public for audiences.
CAUTION:
While
the subject matter for each production was well within the ambit of
interest and suitability for the participant age range, these works
should only be directed and facilitated by experienced Drama teachers
or Directors trained and experienced in working with young people.
Ideally,
participants should spend time workshopping their own emotional,
intellectual and physical responses to the subject matter of the play.
Where
appropriate, culturally specific references should be adapted to
meet the needs and experiences of the group presenting the works.
Some
works contain issues of violence, children in war, Internet dangers,
drugs, spirituality, the supernatural, betrayal of trust and related issues.
RATIONALE
These
plays are for students and teachers wishing to explore dramatic
possibilities within meaningful and challenging social and cultural
contexts. This involves much more than simply putting on productions
to involve willing participants in a social experience.
I
know that such work is difficult to find when considering the age
and experience of the participants. Each of these plays offer
challenges to the more talented and skilled performers while leaving
scope for the less skilled though highly motivated students.
Most,
though not all, roles are for characters within the age range of the
students. This is an advantage over presenting otherwise brilliant
works like Arthur Miller's The Crucible
which also features some young people's roles but reserving the main
thrust of the play for adult characters who's life experience is at a
considerable distance from that of the young performers.
Many
of us have adapted classic works from Shakespeare who provided such
universality of character and situation that committed students have
found stimulating and exciting. Think of the dreams fulfilled by a
young actress playing Juliet in Romeo
and Juliet. I recently adapted
Ibsen's Peer Gynt
for a production with student actors and a trained adult actor
playing the older Peer. While very theatrical, the play is very
evasive and obscure for contemporary audiences. It was a great
experience for everyone and the theatre was full for each of the four performances.
However,
how often does our choice of work for students reflect a fear of
confronting ourselves, our society and our cultural milieu? These
plays have a direct language that goes to the heart of contemporary
experience while still having a surrealist quality giving access to
the imagination.
They
have been performed for audiences and proved successful. Yet they
still offer room for exploration of issues with teacher/director and
student actors.
NEW:
Ich
Bin Faust
Check
out the promotions page. A production of Ich Bin Faust is taking
place in April. Should you be interested in seeing a script for
reading or potential producing, have a look at the promotional site here.
NOTE:
Sample scripts are available for reading purposes, workshopping in
classes and community theatres and for evaluation of suitability and
needs. Full scripts are available for $12 (AUD). Production licence
for schools and amateur groups is available for a discounted $120 fee
(was $500).
Should
you wish to produce any of these works and do not have a capacity to
pay and/or recoup fee costs at box office, then please just let me
know. In such cases, I would just like to get a report on the
production and if possible, some photographic or video imagery from
the work. It has been most gratifying to hear of small scale
productions taking place in areas without charge. If any of these
works, or the plays in the adult section, are of value to your group
or school in financially poor areas please feel most welcome to use
the texts.
