Resources

Training

"I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being." - Thornton Wilder

Studies Show that peer education is one of the most effective ways to generate dialogue and positive social change.

InterPlay facilitators can teach your group of teens, community members, or college students to run interactive theatre workshops for your organization on any topic - substance use, peer pressure, domestic violence - anything!

We have worked locally and internationally training groups in ways to use theatre to create dialogue. No matter how young or old, and no matter how little theatre experience your group has, you can learn to create and lead your own interactive theatre workshops!

Director Katherine Burke in the country of Georgia, training artists and non-govenrmental organizations in creating arts-based civic dialogue.

Past training projects include:

• Butler University, FACES (Forming a Community of Educational Support) - an ensemble of approximately 12 students (with no theatre experience), trained to lead workshops in sexual assault and substance use

• CARe (Communities Against Rape Initiative) - teams of high school students from across Indiana (with little or no theatre experience), trained to lead workshops in sexual and domestic violence

• World Learning in the Republic of Georgia (formerly part of the USSR) - teams of NGO representatives, theatre artists, administrators, lawyers, and journalists trained to use theatre to create civic dialogue

FAQ:

• How long does training take?
  • Depending on the number of people present, a basic training takes at least 15 hours, and can take up to 30 hours, depending on the amount of time available and the number of participants. Those hours may take place on consecutive days (a weekend or three-day training is ideal), or spread over several weeks.

• What will we learn?
  • Participants will learn how to lead larger groups through theatre games and dialogue exercises, engaging others in conversation about challenging issues. You will also learn how to develop and rehearse scenes for presentation as a vital part of each workshop. Several scenes will be developed and rehearsed on your topic of choice. Members of your group will also be trained to facilitate the scenes, processing dialogue with audience members.

• What is the cost?
  • Cost for training varies, depending on the number of participants, length of the training, and possible travel and/or lodging costs.

• Is there any way to recover the cost of training?
  • Yes! After the training is complete, we can host a benefit for your nonprofit organization! Invite friends, family, volunteers, community members, etc. to a workshop, and ask for donations at the door to benefit your organization. What's more, now you have a built-in ensemble that can provide workshops for your group and for others. Host a series of benefit workshops at community centers, churches, and schools, raising money and awareness at the same time!