2nd Edition
Creative Drama Groupwork for People with Learning Difficulties
The revised second edition of this practical manual is filled with easy-to-follow exercises and activities designed to facilitate creative drama sessions for people with learning difficulties. The activities in this book bring together music, theatre, movement and storytelling to not only develop fun and engaging group sessions, but to build confidence, increase self-esteem, and develop social and emotional awareness in group members. Highly sensitive to the range of learning needs and physical abilities of group members, the activities have been created to be engaging for a broad range of individuals regardless of age and ability, and can be adapted for use in a multitude of sectors such as education, psychology and speech and language therapy. Key features of this edition include:
• New chapters exploring mindfulness, and the importance of reflection
• Fully photocopiable resources including a session notes template to evaluate the impact of the creative drama group and collect useful data for the writing of reports
• Activities organised around key elements of creative drama, such as sensory work, life skills role-play, improvisation and de-roling
With its wealth of guidance, practical and adaptable activities and easy-to- follow structure, this is an invaluable resource for anybody leading or supporting children, young people and adults in creative drama.
INTRODUCTION OVERVIEW 1 ARRIVALS AND GREETINGS 2 BODY WORK 3 SENSORY WORK 4 VOICE WORK 5 LIFE SKILLS 6 GAMES 7 PUPPETS 8 IMPROVISATION 9 DRAMATISATION 10 FAIRY TALES 11 PERFORMANCE 12 DE-ROLING 13 CLOSURES 14 EVALUATION FURTHER READING
Biography
Anna Chesner is co-director of the London Centre for Psychodrama Group and Individual Psychotherapy. She has a background in drama and drama teaching. She is a trained dramatherapist, with subsequent trainings in psychodrama and group analytic psychotherapy. She has worked in the NHS, Prison Service and in Private Practice. Anna runs workshops and trainings in London and internationally.
Whether new to running drama groups or an experienced drama professional this book is both useful and practical. It gives a valuable introduction to the challenges of working creatively with people with learning disabilities, followed by a structured series of chapters which provide a wealth of warmup activities, games, drama exercises, improvisations and stories to use on a on-going basis. Anna Chesner brings her many years of practical knowledge, skill and expertise into a highly practical book that can be used by practitioners from a range of backgrounds in all kinds of community settings.
Dr Clive Holmwood, Department of Therapeutic Arts, University of Derby.
It is very important that this book is available to contemporary teachers, practitioners and parents. The book sparkles with energy and imagination. A gift to us all as we work against cuts and a lack of resources. It is a sustainable book and a beam of light in our practice.
Prof.Dr Sue Jennings, Distinguished Scholar University of the Witwatersrand
