Keep the fun in drama club and the crazy out!

Teaching theatre in a drama club is a bit like herding cats. It is loud, active, and can easily spin out of control. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, because you want kids to step out of their comfort zones and have larger-than-life experiences. You want them to take risks and chances they would not be willing to take in social situations. This helps them develop theatrical characters and gain confidence on stage... and in life!

Learning to strike a balance between fun and control is one of the biggest challenges for any theatre teacher. As you work to maintain this balance, it is equally important not to embarrass the outgoing or quiet kids. Theatre is a place where everyone belongs. We want to create a space where everyone feels included at the level they are comfortable and, at the same time, safe from being forced to do something they are uncomfortable with. Let's take a look at a few of the personalities you will be working with in your class.

The loud and in-charge kids, for the most part, feel confident and comfortable in their skin. In some cases, these children are being loud and drawing attention from a place of insecurity and a need for acceptance. Theatre gives them the ability to be fully accepted and encouraged to be who they are, and this is one of the beautiful things about theatre. At the same time, it's important that they do not become the center of attention in every game or sketch. If I'm struggling with one of these bright lights in my class, I like to be specific about how I handle the situation. First, I publicly call attention to their strengths by saying something like, "Sam, that was such an enthusiastic performance! I really liked _________ and I think you can improve on your acting skills by pulling back on __________." This will be a continual work with overly enthusiastic kids. Nothing is taught overnight, and the hope is that they can learn to control the high energy and need for attention over time. One important thing to note: DO NOT ever embarrass or crush the spirit of these kids. They are often the strongest leaders and can be the backbone of your shows. If you have continual problems with one of these kids disrupting class, take time to have a one-on-one conversation with them. I like to begin by affirming them. Share with them the positive things they bring to the group, such as creativity, a willingness to take risks, and how they work with other kids. Help them see the good in themselves. Be honest in your appraisal. Don't make things up because they will sense the insincerity. Once you've let them know the positive ways they are contributing to the class, share the disruptive behaviors with them as well. Be kind, honest, and direct. Let them know that the behavior needs to stop and what the consequence will be if they continue to disrupt the class. I like to ask them if they understand what they are doing that is disruptive and if they are willing to make the change. Since most of these kids have leadership tendencies, I like to challenge them to step up as leaders in class. They can do this by encouraging other kids on stage, being one of the first to quiet down when the class is called to attention, or being given a job, such as calling the class to circle time at the start of class. While these kids can be challenging, if you start by seeing their strengths and the good in them, you can help mold them into strong, helpful leaders.

The quiet and uncertain kids generally want to participate but are held back by worries that others will think they're weird. They lack confidence and are often not willing to take risks in front of others. Yet, I have found that some of the best actors on stage are the quietest people in life. I never force a child to do anything. As a matter of fact, I always tell my class that no one has to go on stage unless they choose to. I've had kids watch and not participate during class for weeks, but I've never had a child who wasn't actively participating by the end of the session. Here's what I've done to successfully draw these kids out of their discomfort and to gently encourage them to take a chance at getting on stage. First, I let them know that they get to decide if and when they go on stage. In the meantime, I teach them how to be the best audience ever. (This is an equally important role in the theatre. More on this later.) I encourage them to laugh, when appropriate, and to clap at the end of a performance. I stay attuned to their comfort level. If I see that they are eager to participate, I invite them to join. If they do, I highly praise them while trying to bring as little attention to them as possible. This can be done by simply saying, "Emily! Great job! I really liked how you ____." Then, turn your attention elsewhere. Another idea is to create a scene with a bench or chair. It may be a bench in a park. You set up the scene with two actors meeting for the first time, or with some other idea. Then you ask two kids to be nonspeaking actors who will just sit on the bench and keep their focus on what is happening with the two speaking actors. You can also choose simple partner theatre games such as Mirror Image or Change the Object. Or a group theatre game such as Growing to the Beat, where all the kids participate individually but as a group. These games are non-threatening and lots of fun! The quiet, unsure child requires patience, understanding, and the ability to slowly and gently invite them on stage in their time.

All kids, including bright lights and quiet souls, need encouragement to find their place and feel at home on the stage. I try to see each of my students as an individual and offer an encouraging comment in each class. It's important to treat each student as equally as possible and give everyone the same amount of time on stage. Sometimes, theatre groups become cliquey. The teacher draws around them the most talented students and creates a group that's in and ultimately a group that's out. Students can feel the line that has been drawn and will respond to whichever side they find themselves on. Unity and trust are critical so everyone can feel safe and secure on stage, take risks, and bring their most confident selves to their character and scene. I like to mix kids up during partner games and scenes. While it's natural to want to be with your friends, a theatre group needs to get to know one another and build trust among all members. If I see two students who don't want to be together, I make a point of partnering them in a simple exercise. If the friction continues, I will take each of them aside and ask about the situation. Then, if it feels productive, I'll talk with both of them at the same time and try to help resolve any issues. If one of the kids in class seems like an outsider and is picked on or ignored by others, I like to take opportunities to call out their strengths and place them in scenes where I know they can succeed. All in all, do your best to uplift and encourage each child. Never call anyone out with negative attention or by embarrassing them. You have a profound and rare opportunity to transform the lives of the kids in your class.

Lastly, but equally as important, teach your students how to be an active, kind audience. It is very vulnerable to be on stage in front of your peers. An audience should sit in their seats and pay attention to what is happening on stage, whether they find it interesting or not. Teach your students to laugh at appropriate times, such as when something in the dialogue strikes them as funny, but not when someone is struggling on stage to find their words. I tell my students to think about how they would want the audience to respond to them while they're on stage. Sometimes, I like to have the audience give positive feedback to the actors onstage. If you do this, be sure that everyone gets good feedback and is not overlooked. If the kids can't think of something positive to say about one of the actors, then I will jump in and share what I see. Learning to be a good audience not only builds trust and confidence in a classroom but also prepares kids for when they see a live performance in a theatre!

Teaching theatre in a drama club or at home is a tremendous amount of fun and create a space for a lot of laughter and creativity. Using the recommendations in this blog post will help you keep the "crazy" out of your classes and let the good times roll!