Lesson Plans

One-off workshop: She's Leaving Home – The Beatles

One-off Workshop
The Beatles’ song She's Leaving Home is an excellent stimulus on which to base a devising workshop. This one-to-two-hour session features ideas for work exploring: physical theatre/storytelling; and creating original scenes using cross cutting, narration and script writing.
© ADOBE STOCK - ADOBE STOCK/GOOD STUDIO

Using some music with a consistent beat, ask the students to move around the space following your ‘stop’; ‘go’; ‘clap’; ‘jump’ instructions. These can be reversed for playfulness. Then, slowly introduce other commands:

This will serve as a dynamic warm up, and a light touch on ‘physical theatre’.

Introduce the idea of physical theatre and define. Explain these two distinctions:

In small groups of four or five, give students one minute to make certain props/objects using only their bodies. You can start simply with shapes and letters, then move onto more interesting challenges such as a church, washing machines and beans on toast!

You need to build up to creating these four ‘body as prop’ images:

Register now to continue reading

Register to the Drama & Theatre website today and gain access to all the latest news and developments from the world of drama education.

By registering you will receive:

  • Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month

  • Unlimited access to news and opinion on our website

Register

Already have an account? Sign in here