Only through acting can a student go to the moon, be a superhero and own a cafe all at the same time. This week, the Grade 4s did all these things when they started their drama unit with a workshop from Tightrope Theatre Company. The actors led the students through an interactive, high-energy improv workshop full of improvisation games for a morning of creativity, hilarity and storytelling.
Creativity Runs Free
Actors Lili and Camille guided the students through a series of improv games, introducing them to the key concepts of the craft and inviting them to let their creativity shine.
When asked about what these workshops offer the students, Lili from Tightrope said, “It’s a really special way for them to get to blend different subjects. Improv is creative writing on the spot. We’re getting them to access their imaginations and practice telling stories while acting it out at the same time. We get to blend theatre and creative writing.”
One of the key games was “Yes Let’s”, where one student proposes an activity and the group acts it out together with an enthusiastic “yes lets!” While inclusive and engaging, the game also teaches students that the scene only continues when all members of the group support each other’s ideas.
The workshop saw students finding a lost dog, engaging in an epic lightsaber battle, and performing on stage with Taylor Swift as just a few of the scenarios they came up with. In the end, the students volunteered to perform short skits in front of their classmates. And of course, the session was celebrated with a round of applause for all.
Learning Through Play
Not only are improv games a ton of fun, they are also a great way for students to express their creativity, work collaboratively and practice taking risks. The practice helps them thrive, as Camille points out. “Improv is such a collaborative art form. It’s really easy to make friends and everyone feels included. We’re teaching them to build a story together, which I think allows kids to have more confidence.”
The workshop also connects to the PYP Unit of Inquiry, How We Express Ourselves, where the students are exploring how ideas, feelings and experiences can be expressed through the dramatic arts. They investigate this central idea through exploring form, perspective and connection in the dramatic arts.
Having external experts offer these kinds of workshops to our students provides the experiential learning that goes above and beyond their classroom. We love to see these budding actors developing stagecraft and confidence. Hopefully we’ll see some of them on the SJS stage in the future.
