Theatre Talks: Theatre & Social Impact

For centuries theatre has offered audience and artist alike a path to catharsis.  IGCSE level theatre students explored how contemporary politicized productions of classical works and cutting edge artists have added to this distinguished canon of restorative dramatic art.          

Here are some of their reflections.

How can theatre empower or impact  the individual or the group?

"By way of letting someone be who they are (or not who they are) on stage, theatre can be very empowering. Also, it may be the first time someone has felt “good” at something, or has been in the spotlight, both metaphorically and realistically. It may also empower someone to see their writing coming to life, and to know that they created the stage dynamic that has an enraptured audience." - Annika

"Theater impacts people with feelings of joy and gives a connection to people around them. I speak from personal experience when I say that it can bring a group of people closer." - Tal

"Theatre can bring knowledge and understanding to the audience, it can educate as much as entertain. Also, messages can be passed through stage art, actions, direct speech . . . or narration." - Pierre

"Theatre can help humanity by showing the good and evil in the world and helping people recognize and acknowledge it. Theatre matters to the individual because it can either make them more aware, or it can relate to them and possibly help them feel some comfort. Theatre can bring a voice to issues, events, groups, or individuals that have none." - Cartier

"It is an escape from things people are going through which can give them hope. Hope is the essence of empowerment and it can be dangerous for those who want to eradicate empowerment and salvation for those who need it." - Jack        
"I believe that theatre truly empowers and impacts each individual or group that experiences it. . . Aristotle was said to believe that, "audiences saw themselves reflected in tragic characters and that the very act of watching a character’s downfall helped purge them of emotions like pity or fear." - Carly


What are arts for change?

"Arts​ ​for​ ​change​ ​are​ ​arts​ ​that​ ​have​ ​the​ ​intent​ ​of​ ​changing someone’s​ ​opinion​ ​or​ ​more broadly​ ​society/humanity​ ​as​ ​a​ ​whole.​ ​A​ ​good​ ​example​ ​of​ ​arts​ ​for​ ​change​ ​related​ ​to closure​ ​and​ ​healing​ ​is​ ​Theater​ ​of​ ​War.​ ​Because​ ​at​ ​the​ ​end​ ​of​ ​the​ ​reading​ ​of​ ​Ajax’s speech,​ ​there​ ​is​ ​an​ ​opportunity​ ​for​ ​soldiers​ ​to​ ​speak​ ​of​ ​their​ ​struggles​ ​and​ ​feel​ ​less​ ​alone about​ ​the ​mental​ ​and​ ​physical​ ​problems​ ​that​ ​they​ ​face​ ​after​ ​being​ ​in​ ​a​ ​war." - Michael

"Theatre tells stories that the audience can relate to or understand and can impact them to take action."

- Angelina

"When Ophelia dies, the play shows this as death of

the innocent. The HamletIran version of the play shows a picture of Neda Agha Soltan, showing that she died even though she was innocent. This lets the people reflect on the state of things and possibly heal the mood/reality by causing the people who made it that way to change." - Skye

"Theater can create social progress, and while it may not have any direct political impact, it can change minds, and present new ideas. The play (Trojan Women) from the first article shows the struggle of Syrian women, and may help people put faces to the conflict in Syria. While it's not making any laws it's showing that the suffering in Syria is real and powerful, and making change that way." - James

"Arts for change allows people to confront and come face to face with the injustices and terrible things that have happened to humanity, giving them an opportunity to connect and heal from those things by recognizing the victims and giving them closure." - Joseph

Why is being “present” essential for an actor?

"Actors have to have, as Mrs. Switzer-Wareing always says, serious intent. They have to be able to take you to another place. They have to transcend the emotion from the words and make you feel them. They have to be one with the character and the play." - Mavett

"In order to fully embrace your character and become the embodiment of someone else, you must be fully in “the second circle." Becoming sidetracked and distracted by something else takes your mind off of everything involved with the performance." - Royce

"Presence in both daily life and acting are essential. In daily life, being present is a gift to yourself and others. You are fully utilizing your capacity to enjoy and take advantage of the moment you are in while simultaneously giving others your full attention when necessary, thus showing them that you care about them. This translates to acting, in which utilizing your capacity to enjoy the moment will aid you in giving a good performance whilst making each individual audience member feel personally touched by the production." - Lia

Upcoming Theatrical Events
Friday, September 15th - HYSA Thespian Society Outreach (Theatre, Robotics & Literature)
Wednesday, September 20th & 27th - HYSA Thespian Society Meetings
Friday, September 29th - "Whodunnit?" 4th Annual Classic Drive-in Movie Event

Outreach & Service Learning: Integrating Theatre, Music, and Literacy

"We are the music-makers,

And we are the dreamers of dreams.”
- Arthur O’Shaughnessy

This year the focus of the HYSA Musical PlayMates will be to promote multicultural awareness through the integration of music, improvisational theatre, and literature. What better way to launch the music and literacy service learning and outreach project's second year than to include HYSA's Irish student guests from DCU. 

Both fifth and second graders, at an area Title One school, enjoyed a taste of Irish language, learned a folk song and dance, and participated in a mini-performance of the Giant's Causeway myth. The young audience members and the DCU students exchanged suggestions of things to try and places to visit while in Ireland and Arizona.  As the second graders departed, they called back, "Come back soon!"

Since its charter the HYSA Thespian Society has actively engaged in sharing theatre arts within the community. For more information about the HYSA Thespian Society service learning projects and Performance Outreach Program, check out the links below:

 HYSA Thespian Society - Music Literacy Outreach & Service Learning
HYSA Thespian Society Performance Outreach Program

September Theatrical Events
Friday, September 8th - "Musical Interlude" AM & PM performance series
Friday, September 15th - HYSA Thespian Society Outreach (Robotics & Improvisation)
Wednesday, September 20th & 27th - HYSA Thespian Society Meetings
Friday, September 29th - "Whodunnit?" 4th Annual Classic Drive-in Movie Event