Modern Drama: Political Theatre

Modern Drama series edited by John Hughes, contributors Mike O'Brien, Terry Mundy, Greg King, Brenda Pinder, Belinda Wright

This provides workshop approaches for studying some of the classic plays of modern drama. The approaches offered will help secondary and tertiary students gain critical insights into the language used in the plays, and the theatrical forms and devices employed, and provide methods for character analysis and thematic examination.

The student-centred interactive strategies presented will also encourage students to bring a play alive by exploring form and content which takes the play off the page and, in the imagination of the students, onto the stage.

Political Theatre Contents

• Introduction ― John Hughes
• Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller ― unit by Brenda Pinder
• Chronology: Miller's life and work
• Past and present
• Contrasts
• Student as director/designer
• Alternative viewpoint
• Character jigsaw: Happy
• Spotlight on Biff
• Inquest
• Thinking visually: Relationships
• Salesman theme: Focus on politics
• Ben and the great outdoors
• The Crucible by Arthur Miller ― unit by Brenda Pinder
• Parallels & politics
• Ripple chart: Dramatic structure
• Play into novel
• Student as designer
• Newspaper account
• Auditions
• Dreams
• Running commentary
• Improvisation: Elizabeth Proctor
• Tragedy: John Proctor
• APPENDIX: Senator Joseph McCarthy
• Hoover Ltd: Handbook for Salesmen
• The Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertolt Brecht ― unit by Belinda Wright
• Student as designer
• Designing a set for epic theatre
• Three Stories in One
• Focus on Adzak
• Intellectual vs emotional involvement
• The plight of the soldier
• Grusha
• Student as director / designer
• Grusha & Simon – a romance
• Prologue
• The Herbal Bed by Peter Whelan ― unit by Greg King
• Set design
• Sexual tension and banter
• Faith and practice
• The Language of character
• Lying and dissembling
• The tension of the moment
• Susanna and the elders
• Falling for Rafe
• Chaos theory
• Husbands and wives
• Vengeance and repentance
• Essays