I know this is short notice but it’s pretty intriguing anyway:

Julian Boal, son of Augusto, who developed Theatre of the Oppressed (TO), is running an introduction to T.O. workshop this Friday night 30th Sept 7.30 to 10pm in Áras na Mac Léinn, NUI, Galway. There are a limited number of places left. Tickets €10. Tickets are available from The Socs Box, Áras na Mac Léinn, Further information 091-492852

Went to Body Electric last night. The venue was Block T, an incredibly difficult to find arts space in Smithfield in Dublin.

The event started with an interactive exhibition of items to do with body, brain and perception. If the instructions had been a bit clearer, this might have worked better. After an intriguing introduction, the audience was invited into a slightly damp-smelling area for the performance. It was a promenade performance. The actors (all men) performed singly and in combinations in different locations in the large space. The audience’s attention was directed to the action by the physical switching on and off of lights.

The theme was the human body, it’s composition, how we use it, how emotions are felt in it, how we abuse it. The script was a mix of lecture, prose and some verse, and the action at times was intensely physical.

Although the audience wasn’t involved in the physical aspects of the performance, we were invited to walk around, witness the performance from different angles and aspects, and to engage in self perception of how emotions are felt physically. Some aspects of the performance were less successful than others, mainly because they seemed contrived and sometimes a little ‘preachy’, but overall, as a Fringe experimental piece, the performance was both enjoyable and informative, and gave one something to think and talk about afterwards.

Over the last few weeks two news items struck me as having a potentially significant affect on the context within which speech & drama operates.

The first was the publication of the Hyland Report and, perhaps more importantly, the holding of a joint NCCA/HEA Conference on the transition from second to third level education. This Conference (details HERE) will be held on Wednesday 21 September and will discuss whether the current system of Leaving Cert points/CAO applications is the most effective [procedure for getting young people into third level education. The Conference will be webcast, so you can follow it from home or work if you want.

The second interesting item related to the Generation 21 initiative by Dublin City University (see HERE). This is effectively a response to potential employers who say that they want graduates  who are ‘good communicators’ and are ‘flexible’.

The significance of these news items is that they represent a potential loosening up of the system, opening up the possibility that skills attained by young people out of school/college (such as communication and drama skills) may begin to have more currency in both the college entry system and as an essential element of a portfolio of skills built up by individual students to present to potential employers.

At the very least, both of these provide additional arguments that can be used to persuade parents of the value of speech, drama and communication (and of doing exams). At best, they may begin to lead to a greater recognition of out-of-school activities in the context of college entry.

I’m planning to get to a few shows over the weekend and early next week. You’ll find the website HERE

The Speech and Drama Teachers of Ireland are holding their Summer School today in the Stillorgan Park Hotel. I’m due to give a presentation on adjudication at the first session.

We’ll also have all our exam materials for the coming year on display AND all our publications.

Take a look at the  Speech and Drama Teachers of Ireland’s new website:

www.speechanddramateachersofireland.ie/