Ask Me Help Desk - Ideas for powerful play

Ideas for powerful play

I've been commissioned to write a play that shows how small actions can lead to a big change if enough people do them. This is a play for young people.

I'm looking for ideas, concepts, conventions, plots - anything really.

This play will tour schools.

Any help appreciated.

How about something about conservation, recycling and its impact on the environment? That would be one idea. Hopefully, others will come along to add their own.

I do hope that you return! I was looking forward to discussing with you how you might develop your ideas!

What about building a well in a small village? If it is for children it could have the underlying moral that many hands make light work, with everybody cooperating for a greater goal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clough

I do hope that you return! I was looking forward to discussing with you how you might develop your ideas!

Really sorry! I should have looked in before now. I've actually been organising the play. Looking for rehearsal venues etc. I hope you're still keen to talk. I will be more diligent from now on, promise.

A large organisation has written a best selling book about how individual small actions can make big difference. Now they want to extend this idea to younger people and have asked me to write the play. It's a great opportunity to make a big impact through theatre. The play will tour London, but I also work in Africa a lot so you can see how big this thing could be!

The actions the young people can take will vary and there are many of them. Eventually there'll be another book listing suggestions. The common theme is that they are quick and simple and if enough people do them, the world can change for the better. I have to find a way to crystallise this on stage.

I've toyed with a naturalistic story line combined with symbolism of some sort - Circus skills, physical theatre, choral speaking - you know, something that shows people working together with impressive results. Something that;ll really be memorable for a young audience.

However, the best place to start is the story. The devices can come after.

I have done some improvisation with my group. They came up with a scene of a young girl dead on a street, then going back in time 1 day, then 1 month, then 1 year. But they did fall back on a predictable story line. Although I like the idea of playing with time - I'm hoping for something original rather than another teen death story. There are other issues.

Have you any ideas about issues or themes? Or anything at all?

Please write back!

Ann-Marie.

Quote:

Originally Posted by templelane

What about building a well in a small village? If it is for children it could have the underlying moral that many hands make light work, with everybody cooperating for a greater goal.

Because of the environment, there is a growing trend for low tech stage effects. You know, building amazing tableaux with recycled stuff. Maybe the story could be about building something... Thanks.

I am wondering about what you thought of my possible idea of something about conservation, recycling and its impact on the environment as I have already suggested to you, please?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clough

I am wondering about what you thought of my possible idea of something about conservation, recycling and its impact on the environment as I have already suggested to you, please?

My first thoughts are how to dramatise this idea. I would want to powerfully relate the global situation to individual's actions. The main problem is that the idea of each person doing their part for the environment is already a common concept. I would have to make this fresh and meaningful again. I would also have to give it impact for young people.

For each person, realising the environmental crisis we face has different triggers. For some it will be dealing with sudden extremes of weather, for others a disturbing image of Polar Bears drowning for lack of ice to land on.

For the play to work, I'd have to find a powerful trigger to focus the plot around.

Any ideas?

“Remember - just one friend can
Change their world and ours.”

This might possibly generate some ideas for you:

http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/Hom...heater+Arts%22

CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION AND DRAMATIC RITUAL.

Quote:

Originally Posted by frangipanis

“Remember - just one friend can
change their world and ours.”

This might possibly generate some ideas for you:

http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/Hom...heater+Arts%22

CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION AND DRAMATIC RITUAL.

Thank you very much. There is a lot on these sites to look at - especially appropriate are the articles about applied theatre and non-conformist approaches. I'm keen for the young people to create their own narratives rather than what they think we want to hear. I didn't know about ERIC before - really grateful to you.
Ann-Marie