Theatre for Community Conflict and Dialogue: The Hope Is Vital Training Manual

The first step forward in working with today's youth is to create a dialogue, and that is exactly what this exciting new book does. It helps you provide opportunities for young people to open up and explore their feelings through theatre, offering a safe place for them to air their views with dignity, respect, and freedom.

The purpose of this manual is to provide a clear look at the process and specifics involved in the Hope Is Vital interactive theatre techniques. The organization is sequential, providing a blueprint for creating a workable plan. Beginning with warm-up exercises and bridging activities, the process moves forward to improvisational scenework, where students actually replace characters in the stories. It is at this point that young people engage in their own mini-theatre and look at choices, strategies, and communication.

Teachers will want to read this book. Counselors will want to read this book. Community leaders will want to read this book. It is useful in any group setting or as a tool for outreach.

Presents a manual of techniques used in Hope Is Vital, an interactive theater program that encourages dialogue between youth and adults about issues surrounding HIV. Organization is sequential, providing a blueprint for creating a workable program. Beginning with warm-up exercises and bridging activities, the process moves forward to improvisational scene work, where participants replace characters in the stories. Useful for counselors, teachers, and community workers. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

This book helps you provide opportunities for young people to open up and explore their feelings through theatre, offering a safe place for them to air their views with dignity, respect, and freedom.

Michael Rohd is a theatre artist and educator. He is also founder and director of Hope Is Vital, the theatre and community dialogue/outreach organization on which this book is based, and has conducted residencies, trainings, and workshops using these techniques throughout the country. Rohd is currently based in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Warm-ups

Energy and Focus Work

Circle Dash - Cover the Space - Tilt - Defender - Blind Handshakes - Minefield - Zip Zap Zop - Donkey - Machine

Trust Work

Trust Circle - Trust Falls - Blind (No Contact) - Find Your Mother Like a Little Penguin - Glass Cobra - Circle Height - Falling - Storytelling - Tour of a Place

Bridge Work

Environment - Values Clarification - Two Revelations - Complete the Image - Sculpting - Machine - Monologue Work

Improvisation

Activity/Urgency - Relationship Wheel - Russel's Soup (A/B) - Line Improvs - Exit - Entrance - Image Alive - Line/Location/Theme

Activating Material

Monologues - Sculpting - Machine - Small Groups

Facilitation

Peer Education

One Last Story

Appendix A: Performance Workshop Feedback Sheet

Appendix B: Sample Plans

Appendix C: Resources: Books

Appendix D: Resources: Contacts