DO YOU VALUE THE ROLE OF
THE ARTS & DRAMA IN OUR LIVES?
Many of you are involved in drama and theatre in a range of contexts, either professionally or in your community as a voluntary activity. Those who have children at school may know that the Government has announced several initiatives to change the school curriculum, most of which involve a diminution of the Arts and perhaps complete removal of Drama. As someone who discovered Drama as a student and who has been working in it ever since (54 years) I am saddened and annoyed that this subject may die in schools. I believe that the weakening of art in education, including HE, will lead to a general slide in Drama’s role in our culture and a narrowing of the kinds of Drama which are created. It is unlikely that everyone in the government will have experienced the kinds of Educational Drama which state schools use and only associate the subject with published scripts.
I have made a presentation which attempts to strengthen the case for Drama in schools and higher education. So far 160+ people have requested a copy and the response is very positive. It can be seen at:
http://humanities.exeter.ac.uk/drama/staff/jsomers/
John Somers, Honorary Fellow, University of Exeter
Home: 01884 277390
Tale Valley Community Theatre: http://www.tvctheatre.org/
RIDE: the Journal of Applied Theatre and Performance:
ww.informaworld.com/crde
