Drama Tuesday - Telling the story of Drama in schools – a challenge to us all

I am always looking for examples of teachers using drama and theatre with young people. Hjørdis from Denmark is the latest find. Hjørdis is a teacher given the task of creating a play for Anti-Bullying fortnight.  with a cast of socially awkward students. The pressure is on because the play is to be performed for a school visit by Princess Mary. As to be expected, things don’t go well. 

The story is told economically in four short episodes. The casting of the young people is effective and credible (unlike so many so-called teen comedies where the actors are so clearly post puberty, hirsute and sculpted by fashion). Lise Baastrup who plays Hjørdis is delightfully gangly (think Miranda). Her story of wanting to play the Princess in a school play and being forced to play the donkey is told with humour and bittersweetness. The other story threads are handled deftly. 

The “let’s put on a play” trope has been with us from Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland days (if not before -  See Babes in Arms the 1939 American film version of the 1937 Broadway musical of the same title. Directed by Busby Berkeley). The spin offs on television of the original version of Fame or shows such as Glee present one version of the transformation stories of learning and teaching drama. Often we are so used to seeing glossed versions of this experience that we can overlook the others. 

Challenge to drama teachers: tell the story – the real story – of working in drama with young people. 

 Check out Hjørdis. It’s funny and touching. Enjoy it.