Drama: Negotiating the Direction of the Drama, In and Out of Role

To discuss different ideas and work toward a decision everyone can accept.

Any idea, line or action that gives the scene something to respond to.

Accepting takes the idea and builds on it ("Yes, and..."), so the drama moves forward. Blocking rejects or ignores it, so the scene stalls.

Yes. You accept the situation (for example, there will be a protest) while your character can feel or argue differently, like Teta bringing her lawn chair.

Any three: round the circle, listen and ask, combine ideas, try it out, check the purpose, decide fairly (consensus, compromise or vote after everyone is heard).

Consensus: the whole group agrees to support the decision. Compromise: each side gives up part of what it wanted.

Takes a role (like a reporter or mayor) to guide or change the direction of the drama from inside it.

Accept and build on it.

False. Everyone should be heard before the group decides.

A group of performers working as a team, where every member matters.

Creator, performer and audience member.

Act out each idea for a short time, then choose.

Block: "No it's not." Accept and build: "Grab Teta's photo albums. I'll get the sandbags from the garage!" The second keeps the scene moving and adds tension.

Example: one plays Nadia now and the other in the next scene; or they take turns with Gord. It matters because Gord's perspective (people downstream) is important to the issue, and the drama is weaker without it.

Example: "We haven't heard your idea yet. What do you think the next scene should show?" Use round the circle so everyone shares before discussion starts.

Example: "As an audience member, I gave specific feedback: I told the other group their slow-motion flood was effective because we could see every character's reaction."

Combining can create contrast or tension (a funny scene before the flood makes the flood hit harder), shows more perspectives, and helps everyone feel ownership of the work.

Example: Owen goes quiet, then says, "My mom says if the Flats become a park, she can rent kayaks to visitors. But Nadia... where will you live?" He accepts the vote and opens a new direction: the friendship between Owen and Nadia and the mixed feelings about the outcome.

Example: hold a vote, after confirming everyone has been heard. Then give the person whose idea wasn't chosen an important role in the chosen scene, or include one element of their idea (a line, a sound, a prop). Thank them for the idea.

It shows self-awareness and gives you a specific goal to work on. Ensembles get better when members reflect honestly, and it shows you can learn from feedback.