Devised Drama

Create original drama from themes and issues

Creating Original Drama

Devised drama is created by the group rather than written by a playwright. The group chooses a theme or issue, researches it, improvises scenes and shapes them into a performance. This democratic process gives everyone creative input. Many SA theatre companies use devising.

Example

Devising Process

1. Choose a theme (e.g., bullying, water crisis, identity) 2. Research: gather facts, stories, images 3. Improvise: explore the theme through scenes, movement, song 4. Select: choose the best moments and ideas 5. Structure: arrange into a beginning, middle and end 6. Rehearse: polish and refine 7. Perform: share with an audience Techniques: physical theatre, narration, tableaux, poetry

Note

Remember

Devised theatre lets you tell YOUR stories about issues that matter to YOU. In SA, theatre has always been political — plays about apartheid, HIV/AIDS, xenophobia and gender violence were created by communities to educate and advocate. Your voice matters!

Key Vocabulary

Devised dramaTheatre created collaboratively by a group, not from an existing script

ThemeThe main idea or message explored in a drama

TableauA frozen picture made by actors' bodies to show a moment

CollaborateTo work together as a group to create something

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Devised drama

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