Coming of Age: Dialogues about “Dramawise” and the Elements of Drama

Abstract

Twenty-one years ago Brad Haseman and John O'Toole sought to provide drama educators and their students with a book and a framework that clearly identified the key building blocks for the artform of drama. In their book Dramawise they presented a model for the elements of drama and proposed that these elements could be found in all dramas—from process drama through to polished theatre performances. As Australian educators now face the prospect of a National Curriculum and renewed calls to consider what might be common to our practice across the nation, it is timely to reflect on the impact of a key text such as Dramawise, to trace its development, its impact and relevance for the future. In this article, the author reflects on this issue and interviews she conducted with Haseman and O'Toole and other drama educators who have engaged with their work.

Keywords:

• DRAMA
• EDUCATION
• ELEMENTS OF DRAMA
• DRAMA CURRICULUM
• NATIONAL CURRICULUM
• IMPROVISATION
• PERFORMANCE
• GAVIN BOLTON
• DOROTHY HEATHCOTE
• PROCESS DRAMA

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sue Davis

Sue Davis is a lecturer at CQU, Noosa Hub and is a PhD student at QUT. She is a member of the State Panel for Drama with the Queensland Studies Authority.

John O'Toole

John O'Toole is currently the inaugural Chair of Arts Education at the University of Melbourne.

Brad Haseman

Brad Haseman is Assistant Dean Research with the Creative Industries Faculty at QUT. He also serves as a Council Member of the Australia Council for the Arts.

Judith McLean

Judith McLean is a freelance consultant in the arts, education and applied theatre. She was the inaugural State Panel Chair for Senior Drama in Queensland.

Sandra Gattenhof

Sandra Gattenhof is Study Area Coordinator/Lecturer in Creative Industries Performance Studies at QUT and Vice President of IDEA.

Penny Bundy

Penny Bundy is Deputy Head of School, School of Education and Professional Studies, Griffith University and editor of Applied Theatre Researcher.

Stephen Davis

Stephen Davis writes for stage and screen. His plays are often studied in Australian schools and he has had three feature films produced.

Adrianne Jones

Adrianne Jones is a Teacher Artist with Kite Arts Education Program at the Queensland Performing Arts Complex and has been the State Panel Chair for Senior Drama with the Queensland Studies Authority since 2001.