ACTs YouTube Session on Theatre Techniques and Classroom Management Provided a Unique Perspective

An edifying YouTube live session on 'Theatre Techniques and Classroom Management' was conducted by Asian College of Teachers (ACT) on 28th November 2022. Ms. Ritu Shukla M.A. (Psychology), trained in NLP, Psychodrama, various theatre forms with an in-depth understanding of human behaviour and motivations, was the guest speaker at the session. An expert in behavioural and communications training, Ms. Ritu enlightened the session with her rich experience of 25+ years in the field of learning and development. She applies various art forms like storytelling, psychodrama, theatre, and freewill journaling in her workshops and training programs to create a powerful and immersive experience for the participants.

The session started with the introduction of Augusto Boal and David Diamond, who wrote ‘Theatre of the Oppressed’ and ‘Theatre for the Living’ respectively, which is also her field of expertise. There are several other forms of theatres, but ‘Theatre of the Oppressed’ is based on the philosophy and work of the educator and theorist Paulo Freire. The idea can be reflected as ‘Teachers and learners are not two different entities; rather they are there to create an equal space which is owned by both’. It also emphasised the fact that theatre in education is of great value to everyone - particularly those who need effective communication skills to give presentations, lectures, or speeches. Practical and theoretical theatre experiences provide the tools for educators to develop creative teaching strategies that enhance learning experience for a student. Ms. Ritu went on to discuss the various forms of theatres used and which can further be used in an education setting. She concluded the session by throwing light on the field of educational theatre and how theatre techniques help in managing learners. Viewers of the live session applauded ACT for conducting such a unique session which they found quite helpful as well as informative.