Homelessness

This scheme uses different stimuli connected to the topic of homelessness enabling students to develop their skills in devising. This would fulfil many different GCSE specifications (both current and up-coming) that require the development of original devised work. The scheme could also be adapted for A-level devising units, and some lessons could be made to suit KS3 as well.

Students will not only develop devising techniques and skills, they will develop a great many social skills as well. They will also discover more about some key devising theatre companies in operation today which may inspire them to see work by the companies or to use their techniques again in the future. There are also opportunities to work with scripts which could be extended if desired.

There are many moments of discussion developing students’ social, political and cultural awareness as well.

Learning objectives
By the end of this scheme all students will:

• Have developed their understanding of what devised theatre is
• Have developed their ability to work cooperatively in groups within drama
• Have developed their ability to use text alongside physical theatre
• Have developed their mime, chorus/ensemble skills
• Have developed their ability to create imaginative original work from given stimuli
• Have developed their understanding of theatre companies that produce devised theatre pieces and some of the techniques for developing work
• Have developed their understanding of issues within the topic of homelessness.

By the end of this scheme some students will:

• Have developed their characterisation in performance skills
• Have developed their script writing skills
• Have developed their ability to interpret meaning and characterisation from a script
• Have improved their ability to research material independently in order to develop devised performance outcomes.

Number of lessons: 9