In the last few weeks we have been looking at ways to continue learning as a teacher. Last week we explored how mutual respect can help teachers learn from their students in the classroom and community. This week we’re continuing with this theme but moving our sights to the theatre.
How Can Mutual Respect Overcome Obstacles?
While working at Prague Youth Theatre, I have become increasingly aware of the need for collaboration when working with children in the theatre. What are the obstacles youth theatre directors face and how can collaboration help you get around them?
1. Time constraints
When working towards a production with children, there are often additional time constraints that directors do not face when working with professional actors. Trying to fit in rehearsals around school can be tough, and ensuring all of your actors attend all rehearsals is almost impossible. Even if you are somehow able to arrange an extended rehearsal with the full cast, small children may find it difficult to stay focussed for the necessary length of time.
Solution: Let the students take some of the responsibility for managing their time. Instead of closely directing a small scene with a few actors while the rest sit idly by, ask the students to work in small groups on various scenes or utilise the entire ensemble throughout. Allowing the students to come up with ideas for their own scenes will speed up the entire process, while ensuring students stay engaged. This allows the director to simply guide the students through the process and ensure that the finished product is of a high standard.
2. Miscommunication
When working with children, sometimes it can feel like banging your head against a brick wall trying to get students to understand a piece of direction. Sometimes you can find that in the time it takes to explain to one student where on the stage they are supposed to be and what they should be doing, the rest of the cast have forgotten their own positions and you’re left with a mess.
Solution: As with the previous problem, allow the students to direct their own scenes and come up with their own ideas. When the students understand their reasons for doing something, they’re less likely to forget what they should be doing. You may also find that their ideas are better than yours. It’s sometimes difficult to have a vision for each piece of the puzzle. Their own picture will be much more richly detailed than yours, especially given the overactive imagination of children.
3. Line learning
We all know how difficult it can be to get your students to learn their lines. Especially with younger students who may have difficulty reading, it can be quite the feat to get the words into their heads. Even if you speak to the parents and ask them for their help, there’s no guarantee it will make any difference unless the students do the work.
Solution: By ensuring the students are involved in more of the process of making the show, you allow them to take ownership. When they truly feel it is their show that is being put on, they’ll want to ensure they do their part to make it a success. I’ve found that simply empowering the students to take responsibility is sometimes all that is needed to change the behaviour of even the most frequent offenders. If the problem is rooted in misunderstanding, change the way you direct the students. Instead of telling them how and why to deliver a line, ask them. Talking through the meaning and drawing their own conclusions can increase understanding and help the students remember what is happening and what they should say.
4. Attendance
It’s a miracle if you have your entire cast present for two rehearsals in a row. Between tiredness, sickness and other commitments, it can be hard to simply get your actors to the theatre. Trying to work around a missing lead can be tricky in rehearsals. Even more disastrous is missing actors on the day of the show.
Solution: I’m sure you already know what I’m going to say… Let your actors take ownership of the show. When your actors are passionate about what they are doing, they are more likely to push for ways to be at rehearsals. Sometimes it’s out of their hands, but increasing motivation can go a long way. Even if actors can’t be present you’ll often find they put in some extra work at home and come back more prepared. Including the entire cast in the process has the added benefit of providing built in understudies. Often you’ll find there are members of the cast who already know a lot of the lines and what should be happening which allows them to step into a missing actors role more easily in case of emergency.
So when you head back to school this term and begin work on your next production, don’t forget to include your cast in more of the process. Showing a little respect and trust can engage the students and make them step up and take responsibility. You may even end up with a much better show if you give up your own preconceived vision and allow yourself to learn what they think.
We hope this simple shift in your way of working helps you overcome these common youth theatre obstacles. Let us know what vexes you and we’ll give you our ideas of how to get around it.
