Last week, in the midst of the hubbub of making a play, I had the most interesting conversation.
Learner: I like the way we do plays at Acton better than how did them at my old school. Me: Why is that? Learner: The only thing we really had to do was memorize our lines. Me: Who developed the script, make the props, decided what the audience would see and hear? Learner: The teachers just did all that! Here, we have to do everything!
Truly, this session's challenge has been: Use the Aristotelian Elements of Drama to produce a challenging, entertaining, thought-provoking play by employing minimal production elements for maximum impact.
Would it be easier for Dominick and me to do everything ourselves? Probably. Would it be more polished? Probably. Longer? Yes. Would we be robbing them of the messy experience that theatre really is? Absolutely. Robbing them of opportunities for leadership that they will apply for years to come? Definitely.
So, here we are, three days away from showtime, with a simple play from our study of Ancient History this year: Theseus and the Minotaur. Written, acted, directed, and produced by our learners.
Minimum production for maximum impact goes far beyond just avoiding flashy production that has the potential to cover up a lack of talent or discipline. Minimum production for maximum impact also applies to the way less is more, not only in the theatre where a small suggestion combined with imagination goes a long way but in our learner-driven studio, where doing less so the learners can take on more is BETTER.
After all, who doesn't want their child to be more independent?
Are you ready for that? Schedule a tour or give us a ring (214-868-6686) to figure out whether Acton Academy is right for your family. We have space for Fall enrollment following our controlled growth model.
