ACT's 'WE ARE: CHILDREN WHO WORKED IN THE MILLS'
ACT’s ‘WE ARE: CHILDREN WHO WORKED IN THE MILLS’ (From Farm to Factory) is a program designed to educate, enlighten, empower, activate curiosity and involve students in a hands-on theatre arts experience while concurrently learning and writing about roles children played in the North Carolina cotton mill industry. Activities involving voice, movement, concentration, working together, character creation and improvisation are used as well as historical research, reading, writing and problem solving. Five day residencies culminate with a presentation for the school provided the school has a sound system.
“The very nature of theatre arts addresses all of the 4 C’s. Critical thinking, Creativity, Collaboration and Communication are natural partners in theatre education. Additionally, the (SEL), social emotional learning categories of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship and responsible decision making skills are ever present in theatre education. I have always used the Socratic Method when teaching (and directing) theatre classes as I involve the participants in questioning the ‘why’ we do the activities we do and after each class I ask the group ‘What went well today?’ ‘What could have gone better?’ I ask them what my most important rule is in class? (Kindness). Theatre arts involves trust, innocence, courage, imagination, give/take, listening & responding and working together.” Please look at the final evaluation from a class during my Project Lift residency. https://actartisticdir1.wixsite.com/my-site-1 on the Education/Playwright page.
Dr. Wrenn Goodrum, ACT Artistic Director
Activate Community Through Theatre Website
www.activatecommunitythroughtheatre.com