Theatre as Literature
From the early works of Sophocles to the modern plays of Tom Stoppard, we have taught theatre as literature. But as any student of Shakespeare knows, reading a play is not the same as hearing or seeing the play. The spoken word transforms theatrical writing, giving it an immediacy that the printed page lacks.
We introduce some of these concepts on our background wiki page.
History of Theatre
Long before the printing press, before the written word, humans had "ritual theatre." By acting out the stories gods people were able to pass their traditions from one generation to the next. Almost every culture has a theatrical tradition based on such rituals. A literature class could examine the various theatrical traditions of regions and cultures.
Cultural Differences
Too often we assume the Western theatrical tradition is the only one we need to explore in our classrooms. Students can explore the different traditions, such as Chinese Opera and African Dramatic Dance. Not every culture tells stories in a linear manner, for example. How did these traditions evolve? Why have these narrative techniques not entered the Western tradition?
Introducing Readers' Theatre
Readers' Theatre is a popular way to explore reading with elementary students.
10-Minute Plays
There are a great many one-act / ten-minute plays appropriate for the classroom.
Learning Dramatic Writing
Teaching dramatic writing can help students appreciate narrative structures.
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