VTA 2018 Annual Conference

This workshop shares the presenter's tried-and-true model for devising theatre with and by youth. Devising Theatre is a process where performers and facilitators generate original scenes, monologues, and/or theatrical moments through a series of collaborative drama exercises. Workshop participants will be asked to "get on their feet" to experience an abbreviated four-step process that includes ensemble building, brainstorming, storytelling, and learning how to use generative drama tools such as Image Theatre, Physical Theatre, and Improvisation to bring original stories, themes, and ideas to life. Devised performances can explore personal experiences, works of art, or specific social issues, themes, and topics. Though this process can be daunting, it provides young artists with the tools to experiment in a unified group context and tell their stories in their own words.