2015-2016 May ISSUE 4 SCENE THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS THEATRE ASSOCIATION THIS ISSUE: Why drama matters drama = drama = reciprocity expression drama drama drama = = = analysing drama individual movement = voice drama = freedom drama = teamwork DRAMA = drama = LIFE listening drama = fun drama = DRAMA evaluation drama = collaboration = OTHER PEOPLE drama = imagination drama = drama organisation = play www.ista.co.uk WHO’S WHO @ ISTA… CONTENTS Patron Global patrons: schools/organisations 1 Editorial Professor Jonothan Neelands, Alexander Pushkin School, Russia Editorial National Teaching Fellow, Chair of Drama 2 Why theatre matters The American School of The Hague, and Theatre Education in the Institute by Jonothan Neelands By Emmy Abrahamson The Netherlands of Education and Chair of Creative 4 The mattering of drama Education in the Warwick Business School Atlanta International School, USA Right, are you ready? Are you sitting drama are more tolerant towards minorities by Sally Mackey (WBS) at the University of Warwick. Copenhagen International School, Denmark comfortably? Because we are here to tell and foreigners” and Kevin Ruth writes “the you why drama matters. And what a vital study and performance of drama provide International School of Brussels, Belgium 7 The drama of being human subject it is to have in schools. Because us with powerful insights into what it means Board of trustees by Kevin Ruth Marymount International School, some drama teachers need all the armour to be human”. The playing of roles allows London, UK Iain Stirling (chair), Scotland 8 Drama – keeping it real they can get to empower them to get us to imagine how it is to be someone else Formerly Superintendent, Advanced St John’s International School, Belgium by John Rainer drama endorsed at their schools. Once you and thus makes it easier to emphasise with Learning Schools, Riyadh. Recently retired. St Julian’s School, Portugal have read this you will be convinced. And that person. No other subject in school can 10 Dear teachers if you are not then we will show no mercy, do that. And for the economists of you Taipei American School (International Dinos Aristidou, UK by Emma Bramley and Matt Wardle fetch the comfy chair and poke you with out there please do read Sally Mackay’s Thespian Society), Taiwan Freelance writer, director, consultant. the soft cushion with the pointy end. Yes, wonderful article which, amongst the many 12 Empathy, intuition and a gateway to Western International School of Shanghai, that was a Monty Python reference. Oh, benefi ts, highlights how the arts and drama Alan Hayes, Belgium PRC the future Theatre teacher, International School by Anthony Cunningham so you like Monty Python? You love them? contribute to the economy. Brussels. But did you know that all members of Personally, I would like to present ISTA core staff (listed alphabetically) 15 Putting the arts and theatre at the Monty Python performed in various theatre you with another argument of why we Emily Ross, USA centre of education groups during their university days? Yes, need drama in schools. Have you started Emmy Abrahamson, Sweden Director of International Implementation by Michael Anderson Eric Idle, John Cleese, Michael Palin et al, watching the latest Game of Thrones series PA to the CEO/Communication manager/ at the College Board, New York, USA. all started developing their wonderful and on TV yet? Or have you taken your children Editor for Scene and Behind the Scenes 16 My silly hat ground breaking humour doing theatre. No, to see the wonderful Matilda The Musical Sherri Sutton, Switzerland [email protected] by Tom Kline I know it’s hard imagining them all starting in London yet? And wasn’t Mark Rylance Comic, director and chief examiner for Jo Parish, UK out rehearsing in some dusty drama room fantastic in Wolf Hall? It’s so fulfi lling IB DP Theatre. Theatre teacher at La 18 Parallels, mirrors and some arguments Business director but that’s where it all began. watching a good fi lm, TV-series, play or Chataigneraie. thrown in for good measure [email protected] by Danielle Veilleux In this special and extra issue of Scene musical, isn’t it? Because that is how we far more clever people than I give concrete, spend most of our free time: needing and Jess Thorpe, Scotland Ian Pike, UK fact-based and inspiring reasons on why seeking entertainment. Not trashy, light Co Artistic Director of Glas(s) Senior consultant and Event Coordinator 20 Thoughts from the podium by Paul Fochtman drama matters. We have the head of ECIS entertainment but entertainment that is Performance and award winning young for TaPS and IB workshops contributing as well as several university interesting, has depth, intrigues us and people’s company Junction 25; visiting [email protected] 22 The power of drama in a world full of lecturer in the Arts in Social Justice at the professors, drama teachers, the Curriculum makes us think and feel. And the need technology Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Sally Robertson, Australia Manager at the International Baccalaureate for good entertainment – in all sorts of by Alan Hayes and Carl Robinson Chief Executive Offi cer offi ce and three heads of schools. They forms as the world of technology keeps [email protected] all articulate something that some heads expanding – will only keep increasing. And Honorary life members 24 Rescuing humanity through the art of schools, administrators, politicians it all begins in the drama classroom. This Tom Scott, UK forms of theatre and drama Dinos Aristidou, UK by Luke Abbott and parents often either forget or more is where the future actors, playwrights, Consultant for safeguarding, insurance, disturbingly, disagree with: that drama directors, set designers, make-up artists, Doug Bishop and policies; and Event Coordinator for 26 Why should drama and ISTA matter is not only hugely benefi cial to students costume designers, producers, theatre high school festivals but also to schools, whole communities technicians and the next generation of David Lightbody, Hong Kong to an administrator? [email protected] by Richard Parker and to society in general. It is not a soft, Monty Pythons are given the seeds to Ted Miltenberger Jen Tickle, Jamaica easy subject but one that can teach us grow. “The matter taught in drama leads to 28 A manifesto Event Coordinator of middle school collaboration, intuition and “a gateway to careers in the performing arts industry”, as Mike Pasternak, Switzerland by Dinos Aristidou festivals the future” as Anthony Cunningham writes. Sally Mackey writes. It’s all connected and As our world spins faster and faster each as simple as that. Ian Pike, UK [email protected] 29 Drama: a curricular essential by John Somers day companies are constantly looking for Still not convinced? Then just continue new ways of thinking and communicating. reading. And if you are still not swayed 32 Making the case for drama Something that drama teaches. And – as after having read all of this issue then we Edited by Emmy Abrahamson by John Somers Danielle Veilleux writes – “by developing will continue to show no mercy – and put curiosity about themselves, others and the you in the comfy chair until lunchtime. With Artwork by Jo Doidge 38 Enter drama stage centre (pursued by world, drama students become eff ective only a cup of coff ee at eleven. I told you we Front cover: Design by Jo Doidge a bear) learners, inquirers and creative problem weren’t kidding. Drama matters. Now pay by Jane Thompson To submit material or comments for future issues please solvers”. Something that employers are also attention. email Emmy Abrahamson on [email protected] looking for. And if you are still in doubt read 40 Biographies Alan Hayes’ and Carl Robinson’s article © International Schools Theatre Association (ISTA) 2015-2016 which includes the core skills sought by 21st ISTA and its editors accept no liability for the views, opinions century employers. Yes, all skills taught in Emmy and advice contained in this journal.The editors reserve the drama. right to edit any materials submitted for publication. The argument that keeps resonating All the photos of students giving their ISTA contact information: over and over again is that drama can give reasons on my drama matters to them were International Schools Theatre Association (ISTA), one thing that no other subject can give, taken at the Singapore MS and Beijing MS 3, Omega Offi ces, 14 Coinagehall Street, Helston TR13 8EB U.K. namely empathy. Jonothan Neelands writes festivals in March 2016. A massive thank offi [email protected] that: “Research funded by the European you to Liane Campbell and Elizabeth Hunt- Union shows that students of theatre and Lucarini for the photos! www.ista.co.uk SCENE | Issue 4 | 2015-16 May 1 the earliest Western theatres were created in the Demes or neighbourhoods of 6th and 5th century BC Athens. Like school theatres, they were local community “Learning in a drama class is always Why theatre matters; spaces for performances, debates and other gatherings of public life. They are embodied, physical, intensely felt.” now understood to have been essential to the development of the Athenian model of democracy; theatre had a political – the willingness to see and experience economy but also to the broader world. touched by the as well as an artistic purpose. Theatre the world as others live it – is made real In addition theatre students are also often publicly questioned, agitated, provoked, through the active processes of researching critical, argumentative, sometimes quirky entertained, mocked and proposed and becoming characters. Inhabiting and have strong emotional ties to each other alternative ways of living together in lives, situations and contexts that may be and the world.