With Drama

In the theatre world, groups of actors have, on average, a period of 2-3 weeks to rehearse and produce a show, a product of the highest possible quality. This entails building effective working relationships into an ensemble which is in tune, utterly dependable, committed, spontaneous and creative, in a very short time.

This workshop explores techniques used to generate such relationships, and how they can transfer to other working contexts. It will involve methods and exercises adapted from the drama tradition, (including working with scripts as an option), with a focus on:

• Building a working trust between “players”
• Improving communication habits, verbal and non-verbal
• Clarifying the values of the group and the individual
• Responding creatively and quickly as an ensemble
• Identifying and evaluating habitual behaviours in interactions
• Walking in another's shoes: finding empathy models

The day is a lot of fun, creative and different, and by its nature an active day. Drama is an excellent way of helping a group communicate well and develop mutual trust and respect

With Drumming

In this workshop people learn simple but exciting rhythms on djembe drums and percussive instruments.

We can accommodate small or large groups - up to 250. Imagine the huge, wonderful wall of sound!

Using Drumming in Training:

Drumming is great fun, invigorating and unifying. It is an immediate way of building co-operation, so that tasks can be approached with a new perspective.

Individually, people experience a sense of opening up, boosting confidence, concentration and receptivity. The group dynamic as a result becomes more spontaneous and conscious, and takes on a cohesive direction.

Like the theatre metaphor, each drummer has an essential contribution to make, yet the total sound is greater than the sum of its parts.

As an added option, the final drumming performance can be recorded onto CD as a special souvenir of the day.

With Art

Everyone wants to make their mark - and everyone can make their mark.
Making art is a powerful process: you get an idea, you put it down on paper; it isn’t what you imagined, but it has something. You try things out, play with alternatives, change it. You play, make a mess, have fun, get frustrated. Put in colours, make decisions, select bits that work. And produce something you never dreamed you had inside you. End up somewhere totally different.

Everyone becomes a magician of sorts, an alchemist.

Making art helps people get in touch with that side of them that comes up with crazy ideas, intuition, hunches that pay off, moments of brilliance.

Making a mark as a group is even more adventurous. You don’t need to know how to draw to create the big picture that you produce as a team.
In this workshop we guide people to draw, make messes, paint, and make giant collages as they literally picture where they are, and where they want to go.