High School Drama Troupe Annual Production
School/community name: Canon Richards High School, Flower’s Cove, NL
By premasagar on Flickr
Brief description/summary of project: For the past three years at our school, we have put off a production to be entered into our School District’s Regional Drama Festival. Over the past three years, we have put off two original productions, “Unwritten,” (a play that discussed teenage pregnancy, making choices, and dealing with cancer), “The Choice” (a play that addressed suicide in teenagers, young adults), and one non-original production, “The Empty Chair” (a production that discussed teen drug abuse). The original pieces were written by our drama coach, and the other was found in a teen drama resource. The plays were produced for our student body, neighboring schools, and in 2006 and 2007, our District’s Regional Drama Festival.
What age range did this project/initiative target? This initiative targeted young people from the ages of 12-18.
What cost, if any, was involved? If a school has a drama troupe, the cost is minimal, as most equipment (lighting, sound, costumes, etc.), is already at the school. Most of the costs would then be the cost of travelling (if the school so chooses), to present the production. However, our school did not start our Drama Troupe until 2005, so we had to face fairly enormous start up costs (thankfully, we received a grant from the Arts Department of our provincial government) in order to purchase proper lighting and sound equipment. Costs therefore can range on the amount of equipment needed, start-up costs, travel arrangements, etc.
What approval had to be obtained for the project/initiative to be carried out? Our initiative was teacher-led, as our drama coach is a teacher at our school. Hence, the approval that needed to be obtained had already been granted before the project began.
What problems was this project/initiative designed to address? This initiative was designed originally to enter a competition, but however, soon evolved into a project to address serious issues facing young people. The productions we put off were not designed to “preach” to young people about the dangers of drugs, sex, depression, or abuse. However, they presented realistic situations, and each production, was about the importance of making the right choice. In all the productions our drama troupe performed, the characters were faced with a choice to make, and each decision had very extreme, different, consequences. Our productions over the past three years, have discussed issues such as teenage pregnancy and abortion, dealing with cancer, suicide, abusive relationships, pressure from parents, and drug abuse. Our project grew to be about discussing the importance of making healthy choices among young people, and the horrible consequences that can come about following bad choices.
Who organized/ran this initiative? This initiative was supervised and directed by a drama coach, who is our school’s English and Theatre Arts teacher. However, students were very involved in the production’s various aspects – such as editing scripts, designing sets, costumes, and lighting schemes, discussing the setting and portrayal of the issue at hand, and the music used in these productions. The production was teacher-led, but student participation is key!
What were the main responsibilities/tasks of the leaders/organizers? This initiative was directed by a teacher, but could be directed by a student, if so desired. The responsibilities of the director, is in cooperation with the cast, to choose or write a script, to direct the cast, etc. However, most of the responsibility for this project to be a success depends on the student cast. Students who take the time to learn lines, portray realistic characters that are facing typical teenage situations, and becoming involved in the production and relaying of the drama, is very important. An initiative like this requires incredible dedication and responsibility on behalf of all those involved.
What were the short-term goals? The initial goal of this project was to put a successful production into our School District’s High School Drama Festival. However, the short term goals of this project evolved into putting off a successful production, that effectively portrayed teen issues and situations, and the importance of making healthy choices. Our goal was to make sure that the production remained in people’s thoughts, and was the center of discussion when it was put off, so, people would dwell on, and be affected by the message of the drama.
By incantcu on Flickr
What were the long-term goals? The long term goals were to influence the thinking of young people in our area, to help them realize the importance of making healthy choices, and to impact the unhealthy activity that is so heavily participated in within our school. We desired to evoke emotion within the lives and hearts of high school students, and to make them re-think their unhealthy choices.
Were these goals achieved? I would like to say that after our play about drug abuse, the students in our community stopped abusing drugs. It would be wonderful to say, that after our play about teenage pregnancy, that starred a very popular student in our school that very realistically portrayed the situation of facing teen motherhood, stopped students in our area from participating in high-risk sexual activity. However, it has not. Drugs are still abused, people still participate in high-risk sexual activity, and unhealthy choices are still made by many students in our high school body. However, we have performed our productions for hundreds of people – for parents, my own school, a neighbouring school, and a Regional Festival. If the message of our play impacted ONE life – if it spoke to one person considering suicide, if it impacted one teenage drug abuser, or enlightened one couple who were participating in high-risk sexual activity, our goal was achieved. Our drama troupe and director would love to see teens change their way of life and make healthier choices because of our productions, but that is not going to happen. However, the few people we reach, are well worth it.
How did the initiative achieve these goals? The initiative achieved these goals by putting off a very real, successful, production, that very powerfully portrayed a message. Our productions evoked heavy emotions in its audience – and were very close to reality. Therefore, the goals were achieved.
How did this initiative benefit the school or community? Firstly, our production provided an alternative activity for many youth to get involved in. Our drama troupe consists of a wide range of people – from those in student government (like myself), to athletes, quiet junior high kids, those who are considered the “smart and shy”, people who are involved in everything, and people who are involved in nothing but drama. It provides a positive way for young people to express emotions, to enjoy themselves, and to do something beneficial to those around them.
Our productions benefitted both our school and community by educating young people, and showing them the importance of a healthy way of life, and healthy decision making. The productions provided a way to address many major teen issues in our area, and helped to educate without preaching. It used young people to educate young people – the most powerful way to reach teenagers.