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Creative ID: 123

Art form(s): Theatre
Language(s): English
Based in: Southland
Where I'm available:
Otago, Southland
I am readily available throughout Otago and Southland but not restricted to this area.
When I'm available: The dates and times I am available vary week to week, month to month. I am flexible though and readily work things to fit.

My arts or creative practice (including details about my specific focus within that art form/practice and my strengths)

I work as a specialist in applied theatre – learning through drama. I specialise in Process Drama including Mantle of the Expert. Mantle of the Expert is a dramatic strategy that involves students in taking on a role and its responsibilities to motivate and drive learning (for example, becoming members of the Search and Rescue team, scientists involved in scientific work, artists commissioned to create artwork for a specific reason or place). Process Drama involves the use of dramatic strategies and forms to actively involve oneself in learning through role. Mantle of the Expert employs Process Drama strategies. These pedagogical practices lend themselves well to valid integration of learning across curriculum areas and in a prolonged project will enable work with all key competencies. As well as practical experience I have been a writer for the MOE. I was the specialist drama teacher in using Process Drama to expand the literacy programme.

My track record of experience and success - or the track record of experience and success of the creative or artist that I will partner with

  • Drama lecturer at a university
  • The Arts-Drama Adviser Yr 1–10, Otago and Southland
  • Co-writer of an MOE resource 
  • 16 years as a consultant in learning through drama working in schools, museums, art galleries throughout Otago and Southland, including working in school as Artist In Schools, MOE programme.
  • Actor/facilitator in a theatre company – consultants, Child Youth and Family funded
  • Artistic Director of a theatre for health education. MOH-funded national touring Theatre in Ed programme
  • University specialist teacher in drama 
  • The Arts Drama – research planning team for educational research
  • A project at a high school, teaching sexuality education through Process Drama

Describe the experience you have had working with children or young people, teaching or facilitating creative processes

After becoming interested and working at learning through drama as a classroom teacher I became the lecturer in drama at a university. After five years I returned to the classroom for several years until being seconded to the School Support Service at the university to work as an Adviser in the delivery of the new Arts Curriculum. I have worked as an actor/facilitator in a Theatre In Education Programme. The programme was conceived and developed by a professor at the University of Auckland. I have also worked as Artistic Director for a company developing a programme (funded by Ministry of Health) as an applied theatre work. My experience working in teaching/facilitating drama working includes all ages from pre-school, primary and secondary, tertiary and community groups. Process Drama works for everyone and provides a motivating and safe way to actively explore learning.

Why I want to be part of the Creatives in Schools programme and how my involvement will link to my creative practice

For many years I have been an advocate for learning through drama. Working for a research unit on assessing The Arts in Aotearoa/New Zealand primary schools I know Drama is a learning area that is poorly addressed in many schools and this concerns me greatly, especially for those learners that require active involvement in learning. I enjoy learning this way myself and am passionate and committed to learning through the Arts in general but specifically drama. I have worked in many many schools in some capacity through process drama from Te Tai Tokerau/Far North, to Rakiura/Stewart Island. Every project undertaken in a school enables me to further develop my own skills and understandings, to try new strategies and explore new subject matter. I am currently involved with the research unit in developing the 2020 round of Arts assessment in primary schools and continued work with students enables me to ensure tasks are achievable and relevant, and give us access to useful data on our achievement across Aotearoa. This work also enables me to develop further strategies for teacher education in learning through drama and therefore strengthening the Arts teaching in our schools.

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