Last week I finished reading and recording notes from Jonothan Neelands book Structuring Drama Work – A handbook of available forms in theatre and drama. One word – GENIUS! In this book Jonothan gives us a guide to dramatic conventions – the conventions chosen emphasise theatre’s traditional role as an educative form. Jonothan breaks the conventions into four varieties of dramatic action: context-building action, narrative action, poetic action, reflective action. I’m going to expand on these as Jonothan has but I recommend you READ THE BOOK. I like this list because I think it gives you an instant reminder of all the conventions at your finger tips.
- Context-building Action – engage with the dramatic context.
- sound tracking
- role on the wall
- costuming
- defining space – use furniture to define the space
- collective image
- diaries, letters etc
- making maps/diagrams
- Narrative Action – these conventions are used to focus on significant events which are central to the development of the narrative.
- Telephone/Radio conversations
- Mantle of the expert
- Interviews
- A day in the life
- Hot seating
- Overheard conversations
- teacher in role
- Poetic Action – these conventions are useful for looking beyond the storyline, heightening awareness of form and symbols.
- Montage
- Role reversed
- forum theatre
- Come on down! – action is translated into a game show
- masks
- caption making
- mimed activity
- ceremony – devise special event
- Reflective Action – there conventions are used when there is a need to “stand aside from the action and to take stock of the meaning or issues”.
- Moment of truth
- thought-tracking
- this way/that way – pointing out the differences between various characters’ interpretation
- giving witness
- voices in the head
In the second half of the book Neelands looks at structuring drama for learning opportunities. It focuses on identifying possible processes which enable use of the conventions. I will expand on the second and third half of the book at a later date. Any questions please ask. Thanks to Jonothan Neelands for an amazing text.