Story-Circle Processes: Mining Personal Stories for Theatrical Production

Prof. Anthony Tassa, United Arab Emirates, ID CLEaR320;       This workshop introduces participants to techniques utilized in creating devised theatre productions concerning cultural identity. It explores story collection processes and exploration of detailed personal stories to be utilized in developing a piece of theatre. The student-actors participating in the implementation of these techniques are a mix of local and expatriate communities in the United Arab Emirates. Discovering one’s self, one’s history, one’s past, as well as one’s connection to a viable future are at the forefront of the theatre project. The theatre piece will be presented at the American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates from November 8 through 15, 2016. The piece will continue in its development until it opens the First American University of Sharjah International Theatre Festival from January 30 to February 5, 2017. This workshop is suitable for educators interested in exploring story-collection techniques, and translating those techniques into artistic production.

Keywords: Devised Theatre, Cultural Identity, Educational Theatre