The Benefits of Drama

An essay by one of our actors

  Diving into imaginary worlds. Spontaneously devising scenarios. Portraying complex characters. Although drama combines all these things, many people consider drama  participation to be an unimportant part of education. However, drama is more than performing a play, drama exercises cultivate learning that cannot be achieved through conventional subjects. It has been proven that drama nurtures creativity and thinking skills, increases awareness of others, and most importantly improves communication and expression. 

    To begin with, creativity and thinking skills can be learnt and improved through drama in education. According to Drama New Zealand, “Students are taught to research and process information, identify and solve problems, and negotiate until a decision is made.” (Why Drama). Clearly, these individuals will become more thoughtful and analytical about their surroundings. As well as this boost in systematic thinking, drama also increases creative thinking. The New Zealand Curriculum describes drama as “S creative environment that asks students to use their imaginations to invent worlds and portray characters either through improvisation or through a thought out, rehearsed production”. (“National Monitoring Study of Student Achievement”) This shows that drama allows imagination and creativity to blossom while still being in a controlled and manageable environment. For me, drama is a creative outlet. I am able to experiment with ideas and make decisions about what works best. Therefore, drama is a key element in a child’s education because of its ability to teach and develop ingenuity and intellect. 

    Next, drama increases awareness of others. Kevin Brown, Associate Professor of Theatre, University of Missouri remarks, “Theatre is a cultural space where society examines itself in a mirror…It helps us understand how our minds and the minds of others work.” (Kevin Brown The Top Ten Reasons Why Theatre is Still Important in the Twenty-First Century) This shows that drama asks students to study others so that they can accurately portray people different from themselves. When watching a performance, we can see things from perspectives we have never even thought of. Even some of the most basic drama activities are purely about being aware of the people around you. One warm up activity I enjoy is milling around. In the activity we have to move around the room without walking in circles but keep the area in balance – an equal number of people in each space of the room, keeping an equal distance away from one another. In order to achieve balance of the room you must be aware of everyone around you and what they are doing. A year 8 student explains about awareness, “It gives you a chance to…do some empathy, putting yourself in another person’s shoes. And it has an effect on you that you can understand the way people feel…and the way they express themselves and the things they say and how they feel about certain subjects.” (“Arts Education in Secondary Schools: Effects and Effectiveness”) Obviously, drama allows students to be perceptive and conscious of others’ views and feelings. Through drama I have learnt a tremendous amount about body language. This allows me to notice others’ feelings and attitudes quicker and easier. It is clear that the increased mindfulness and understanding of others that drama brings is an important and vital outcome of drama in education.

    Finally, drama improves communication and expression. In a study performed by the National Foundation for Educational Research in Slough, England, both teachers and students commented that participating in drama has improved the kids’ expression and communication. The students commented that “The skill of knowing when to speak, and in what manner, was useful in many different situations such as public speaking, group discussions, and job interviews.” A significant increase in eloquence was noticed by the teachers in both the kids’ pronunciation and expression. (“Arts Education in Secondary Schools: Effects and Effectiveness”) This research shows that not only are the students learning how to converse effectively in a multitude of different situations, but it also shows that the students have seen this result in themselves. A female playwright and director states “I came from a very difficult family situation as an only child. Through theatre in high school I learned to process this experience. I found a forum and vocabulary to express the epic scale of emotion I felt inside, in an environment and structure that was safe to do so, supported by peers and faculty.” (“Lifelong Impact: Adult Perceptions of Their High School Speech and/or Theatre Participation”). Clearly, drama shows students how to express themselves and provides them with an environment to do so. My own drama teacher always encourages me to share my ideas and opinions. Through this I have learnt have to phrase my thoughts, so they are understandable. It is easy to see that drama is vital to education because it provides an influential environment that teaches articulation of ideas and feelings.

     In conclusion, participation in drama, although it is an unconventional subject, is immensely beneficial especially in the areas of stimulating creativity and thinking skills, increasing awareness of others, and improving communication and expression. For me, drama has been a learning environment where I have been challenged to think creatively in new and interesting ways. It has also taught me to look at everything through a critical light which I now do in everyday life. Drama has allowed me insight into others and has shown me views and ideas I would never have seen otherwise. It has taught me how to effectively communicate and express myself and my ideas. Drama has given me a variety of skills, almost all of which have been useful in other aspects of my life. The impact drama has had on me and my education has been extremely important, influential, and invigorating. As director, writer, and educator Douglas Roberts has described “All the world’s a stage on which we present ourselves constantly, in an ever-shifting range of roles and personas. Drama is the rehearsal room for this presentation of ourselves.”  (Shakespeare’s Canon programme)

Bibliography

Brown, Kevin. (2014). The Top Ten Reasons Why Theatre is Still Important in the Twenty-First Century. http://www.tcgcircle.org/2014/06/the-top-ten-reasons-why-theatre-is-still-important-in-the-twenty-first-century/

Harland, John; Kinder, Kay; Lord, Pippa; Stott, Aliso; Schagen, Ian; Haynes, Jo with Cusworth, Linda; White, Richard; and Paola, Riana. (2000 October). Arts Education in Secondary Schools: Effects and Effectiveness. The National Foundation for Educational Research.

McCammon, Laura A; Saldaña Johnny; with Hines, Angela; and Omasta, Matt. (2011). Lifelong Impact: Adult Perceptions of Their High School Speech and/or Theater Participation 

(2015). National Monitoring Study of Student Achievement. Educational Assessment Research Unit, University of Otago, and New Zealand Council for Educational Research. 

Roberts, Douglas. (2018). Shakespeare’s Canon programme.

(2013). Why Drama. https://www.drama.org.nz/nz-curriculum/why-drama/