Investigating Drama

First published in 1974, Investigating Drama offers a holistic understanding of drama. An understanding of drama requires far more thana study, however thorough, of plays and playwright, stagecraft and techniques, for drama must always be seen in the context of the theatre at work. A descriptive coverage of the basic elements of drama is accordingly only half the purpose of this book, and the authors hope that their plea in the title for an ‘investigation’ will be taken literally. To allow maximum flexibility the book is divided into independent ‘units’, which can be followed through as a complete drama course, or taken individually by those wishing to concentrate on selective areas. All aspects of theatre are covered and there is ample opportunity for practical work in improvisation. This book will be of interest to students of literature and drama.

This volume examines the current major issues in research design for arts teachers. It aims to answer two key questions: how do researchers design their studies? What research methods are appropriate for specific investigative questions?

The Routledge Companion to Drama in Education is a comprehensive reference guide to this unique performance discipline, focusing on its process-oriented theatrical techniques, engagement of a broad spectrum of learners, its historical roots as a field of inquiry and its transdisciplinary pedagogical practices. The book approaches drama in education (DE) from a wide range of perspectives, from leading scholars to teaching artists and school educators who specialise in DE teaching. It presents the central disciplinary conversations around key issues, including best practice in DE, aesthetics and artistry in teaching, the histories of DE, ideologies in drama and education, and concerns around access, inclusivity and justice. Including reflections, lesson plans, programme designs, case studies and provocations from scholars, educators and community arts workers, this is the most robust and comprehensive resource for those interested in DE’s past, present and future.

The volume brings together contributions on 15th and 16th century translation throughout Europe (in particular Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, and England). Whilst studies of the reception of ancient Greek drama in this period have generally focused on one national tradition, this book widens the geographical and linguistic scope so as to approach it as a European phenomenon. Latin translations are particularly emblematic of this broader scope: translators from all over Europe latinised Greek drama and, as they did so, developed networks of translators and practices of translation that could transcend national borders. The chapters collected here demonstrate that translation theory and practice did not develop in national isolation, but were part of a larger European phenomenon, nourished by common references to Biblical and Greco-Roman antiquities, and honed by common religious and scholarly controversies. In addition to situating these texts in the wider context of the reception of Greek drama in the early modern period, this volume opens avenues for theoretical debate about translation practices and discourses on translation, and on how they map on to twenty-first-century terminology.

As schools have become more aware of their role in addressing personal and social issues, the importance of ‘values and attitudes’ have begun shaping education and curricula worldwide. Drama in Education explores the six fundamental pillars of the national curriculum guide of Iceland in relation to these changing values and attitudes. Focusing on the importance of human relations, this book explores literacy, sustainability, health and welfare, democracy and human rights, equality and creativity. It demonstrates the capability of drama as a teaching strategy for effectively working towards these fundamental pillars and reflects on how drama in education can be used to empower children to become healthy, creative individuals and active members in a democratic society. Offering research-based examples of using drama successfully in different educational contexts and considering practical challenges within the classroom, Drama in Education: Exploring Key Research Concepts and Effective Strategies is an essential guide for any modern drama teacher.

This book provides a practical, accessible, and inexpensive guide to using improvisation in drama, which lies at the root of actor training, educational drama and drama therapy, in a wide variety of situations. It is useful for teachers, organizers of drama workshops, therapists and trainers.

Theories and Practices of Integral Education and Integral Drama Based Pedagogy presents studies exploring the deep connections among theories and practices of integral education; and it introduces Integral Drama Based Pedagogy, a new integration of educational, therapeutic, artistic, and social theories and practices. An international group of scholars, teachers, professors, and practitioners have contributed studies that draw upon theories of integral education from various times and cultures as well as practices that exemplify and encourage fresh integrations. The essays are especially relevant because of the current global evolution of education at all levels, from primary school to the university and into the community. This evolution has been inspiring teachers and professors to move beyond their traditional disciplinary boundaries, to engage in transdisciplinary educational models that embody multiple ways of knowing, and to recognize the student as a whole person. Integral Education is not limited to a particular theory or practice: it is expansive. It integrates many models of teaching and learning, for example, Integral Drama Based Pedagogy integrates drama and other expressive arts. It also includes multiple ways of knowing; it embodies teaching and learning through action; and it values the intellectual, physical, and spiritual dimensions of being human.