Lifelong Learning Programme

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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Teachers’ Guidelines

Homepage > Teachers’ Guidelines > Theatre as Experiential Learning Tool

The role of theatre as a site for learning in a community context and how it can provide informal learning opportunities for young people experiencing social difficulty

Theatre as Experiential Learning Tool:
Step by Step Process to Implement Theatrical Laboratories in Classroom

Table of Content

4.1 Typology of Locations Needed
In order to organize a theatre laboratory, it is necessary to face some technical issues. If the philosophy of OFF-BOOK and Theatre in education (TIE) in general is to improve students' experience and the school environment, now we need to introduce some technical information about the locations needed.

First of all, make sure the space is not dangerous, especially for physical work. Check the ground, the walls; avoid objects that can become obstacles or barriers. However, it is useful to start the work session by inviting all students to walk in the room and get conscious of the characteristics of the space.

OFF-Book Theatre Labs require empty spaces, not too small or too large. For a middle group of students it takes a room bigger than a class-room but smaller than a school gym. You must consider to have enough space per person, laying on the floor without touching each other, or standing with open arms. It is important to avoid distracting environments, acoustically and visually. It would be good if this room were as neutral as possible.

This place has to become a space in which students feel comfortable, safe and free, as if they were not at school but somewhere else.

Cleaning is also required, especially if you work on the floor or barefoot. Cleaning can also be a little ritual to be done before and after a work session. Students themselves can set up a cleaning schedule.

Obviously, all these recommendations are preferable but not obligatory. Projects and students themselves easily adapt. However, these requirements are useful to keep on mind in any case. For example, OFF-Book Theatre Labs can take place also in the same classroom where students have lessons.

In this case, we suggest to move desks and chairs out of the room - it is safer, to clean the space and change it as much as you can (for example with a different lamp, or laying a carpet etc.).

By creating some rituals (taking off shoes, changing clothes, starting with music... etc...), you can give the students the sensation that they take part in something different from the normal school classes, the possibility to enter in a non-daily space.

Sometimes it can be useful to change habits, for example doing a session outside, for example in a nature context, or even in the school courtyard, to let students have a different experience of the space they spend most of their time.
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This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.