Childrens Drama

Creative Drama
Childrens Theatre
Childrens Drama
Childrens Drama is an all
inclusive term for creative
drama, childrens theatre,
recreational theatre and
formal classes for children
in acting or stagecraft.
Childrens Drama
Creative drama is the
informal activity in
which children are
guided by a leader to
express themselves
through the medium of
drama.
Performance is not
the goal, but rather
the expression of the
childs creative
imagination. The use
of exercises to draw
on and study to
improve learning.
Childrens Drama
Play performed at
elementary school
uses audience
participation to help
further the action in
the play.
Childrens Drama
The leader of creative
dramatics may receive
special training in
theatre and child
developmental
psychology.
Exercises in
relaxation,
imagination, and
improvisation
Childrens Drama
Childrens Theatre is
described as a play
performed for children
in the audience.
Actors can be adults
performing for
children.
Recreational Drama is
also Childrens
Theatre. A play
performed for children
in the audience.
Actors are children
performing for
children.
Childrens Drama
Childrens Drama
History.
1903 in New York, Childrens
Educational Theatre.
Peter Pan opened on
Broadway in 1903. Many
shows are focused on
children, look at Lion King.
Many other theatres for
children started after WWII.
Many other theatres for children
started after WWII.
Childrens Theatre of Minneapolis
Aurand Harris, playwright of many
childrens plays.
Moses Goldberg, childrens drama
philosopher and developer of
drama for children.
Childrens Drama
Stanislavsky said It is
necessary to act for
children as well as
adults, only better.
Child audiences can
lose interest and be
bored.
Childrens Drama
Benefits:
Builds self esteem for the youngster
who do participate.
Entertainment.
Psychological growth.
Educational exposure
Aesthetic appreciation
Development of future audiences.
Childrens Drama
Childrens Theatre
employs all the
elements of a
performance for adult
audiences, actors,
scenery, script,
costumes, lighting,
props, but focus is on
a younger audience.
Plays are written
specifically for youth using
stories that are of interest
to that age group: fairy
tales, fantasy, legends,
but can also deal with
social issues such as drug
and alcohol abuse and
divorce. Production styles
vary and most avoid
realism.
MOTHER HICKS
By Suzan Zeder
MOTHER HICKS
Girl, an orphan
Mother Hicks, the
witch
Tuc Narrator,
deaf/mute
MOTHER HICKS
Themes include:
A place to call home.
A sense of belonging.
Discrimination.
Do not judge a book by its
cover.