The importance of Theatre Education

Our students need theatre now more than ever. Theatre is the art of empathy. The practice of truthfully living in imaginary circumstances. Nevertheless, what does that mean, and how does it prepare a young person for the everyday day struggles of adulthood?

First, let us start by saying, theatre requires the student to get to know a character that has a background and point of view that is different from their own. Consequentially, the actor must first be a detailed reader and precise researcher in order to play the role successfully. When most of us learn to read, we are taught to recognize characters (the letters in the alphabet) and then understand the meaning of the characters when combined (words). However, if one's reading capabilities extend to only understanding sentences as a gathering of words and not as an effective means of communicating one's most intricate and impactful thoughts, then they have merely grasped the mere basics of written language. Plays demand we see more than just words on paper. When reading a play, one must envision the world, character movements, and character motivations. In short, read between the lines. When an actor first receives a role, there is a vast amount of research that takes place. For example, if the play takes place in the past and the character has an occupation or social standing the actor has never had, then a thorough investigation of both must be conducted. The actor is going to play this person who is an expert in whatever field or setting the play provides them so in turn for them to portray them accurately, they must become an expert themselves. If an actor is cast in the role of a biologist, then their next move should be to research every biology term used in the play that they do not already understand. This process repeats every time the actor lands a new role. In truth, proper research is an integral part of every actor's profession. This skill in research will help students who are exposed to it no matter the profession they choose.

When a student, at an early age, begins reading plays and analyzing them, they start asking themselves why the author/playwright chose those particular words. This act of questioning the reader's intent displays heightened critical thinking skills. So why not have more plays be integrated into the English curriculum and call it a day? Why have students attend a separate class to learn how to perform? The reason is the crucial development that takes place from embodying a character and presenting them in front of a live audience. At some point in a student's life, whether it is in college or the workplace, the student will have to present something in front of a group of people. Students who have had some level of theatre in their background are more at ease when presenting. They understand how to project their voice, have a moderate speech rate, and enunciate. These skills ensure a quality presentation as well as a confident demeanor that will impress both supervisors and colleagues.

Theatre class expands critical thinking, emotional literacy, and focused research. It is an empathetic training that demands the student to comprehend lifestyles and thought processes outside of their own. These developmental skills are imperative to a young person's education. Especially, in times like these, when society is becoming ever more divided and a lack of proper research can lead to being mislead by fake news.