BOOK REVIEW

200 THEMES FOR DEVISING THEATRE WITH 11-18 YEAR OLDS By Jason Hanlan

Subtitled “a Drama Teacher’s Resource Book” this is a very practical and helpful support for any drama teacher in search of fresh, sparky ideas. And the language is crisp and clear.

First, Hanlan – an experienced drama teacher with a long track record as an examiner and adviser – defines “devising” in all its forms and explains why it matters. It’s what small children do all the time and the rest of us continue to do in our daydreams. He provides lots of outline game/workshop ideas for tapping into that – from grief, and emotion to status and trust.

The main part of the book, however, gives two hundred one-page charts which are effectively mini-lesson plans. I like the way he includes research and books and films which are relevant. For instance, in “The Weather” he points us to a student resource at the Tate, cites the role played by the weather in many novels and lists some. There’s even a mention of Chopin’s Raindrop Prelude – among many other things. That’s the theme – he then refers you to other parts of the book for ways of realising that idea in a piece of devised work. It’s an ingenious structure which means that there is a huge amount of really useful information in these 250 pages.

Other ideas/topics include homelessness, coal, a pair of shoes and fake news, along with some very serious ones, such as assisted suicide, Aberfan, the death penalty and human trafficking. Stories behind great paintings appeals to me. So does UFOs and

Aliens. Because the book is for 11-18, Hanlan carefully indicates a recommended age for each topic but many, of course, are suitable for any age.