3. “What if?”: Narrating stories never been told before
Age Range or Target Group| This workshop is appropriate for all age groups, it is recommended however that participants of the workshop are at similar developmental stages. In regard to target group, as the projects depicts, both EU citizens/natives and immigrants/refuges/asylum seekers can participate in the workshop. The workshop is open to people from any socio-economic background.
Number of participants| 10-15 participants. If the workshop is happening with more than 15 participants, more time should be given for each activity and maybe the help of another facilitator will be needed.
Duration| 1h-1h30m
General Aim- Objectives| The general aim of this workshop is to prompt and encourage participants to share their ideas and stories, whether personal or not; whether real or not, with an audience. Story-telling and improvisation techniques are used as a tool for participants to cooperate and collectively use their imagination and creativity. During the exercises, focus will be placed not only within one’s self but also towards the others. For example, in the one-word story activities, participants are asked to pay attention to what another person is saying and to build on it, keeping a non-judgemental and open attitude. Such activities create a positive atmosphere of acceptance and create a build-up story that is based on the premise that people should be open to ideas and use them in order to create something. The “One story, infinite possibilities” activity, highlights the range of possibilities that exist in life and how things can escalate differently based on ones’ response, attitude or environment. It asks from participants to give space to a variety of ways of thinking. Overall the exercises encourage and empower participants, developing their confidence in a safe environment. The fact that the workshop will be implemented to a diverse group including both immigrants and not, gives an opportunity for contact between different groups of people and the creation of positive bonding that gradually leads to acceptance, understanding and social inclusion.
Key Words & Phrases| theatre; perspective-taking; improvisation; stories; mindfulness; acceptance
Instructions (Step by Step Process) |
A. Greeting and Introduction to the workshop (5-10 minutes)
B. Warm-up (10-15 minutes)
B1. Rainstorm: Participants form a circle quietly. The facilitator starts rubbing their palms together to create the sound of rain. One by one the participants start imitating the sound. When everyone in the circles is rubbing their hands, the facilitator makes the rain stronger by snapping their fingers. The movement is again passed to the circle. The next movement is clapping hands. Finally, the facilitator starts stomping their feet. When everyone is stomping their feet, the rainstorm begins to calm down. For that, the facilitator and the group do all the movements in reverse.
B2. O Kabita: Remaining in a circle, everyone in turn has to say “O Kabita!” in as many different ways as possible. With anger, laughing, whispering, shouting, asking etc.
B3. Knots: Participants are in a circle holding hands. Keeping their hands together, they start moving however they want, in order to start creating a clump/knot. Then they must unravel the knot without letting go the hands.
C. Main part (45-60 minutes)
C1. Free Word Association game: In this game, the participants are in pairs. All pairs are given the same word by the facilitator, or a volunteer. They start with this word, and Partner A says whatever word comes in their mind when they hear the first word. Then Partner B says whatever word comes in their mind when listening to their Partner’s word. They go in turns for 1 minute. When the exercise is done, they can be asked in what word did the pairs ended up in to realise how differently each pair’s paths were developed even though their starting point was the same. They can repeat it a couple of times. They then can also repeat the game in larger groups.
C2. One-word story: a. In groups of 6-8 people, the group is given a word. Each group member is allowed to say only one word. They say their word in turns in order to create a story out of it in 1 minute. Each group can then perform their stories to the other groups.
b. This time the group is given a word. Then the facilitator points out at a person of the group who starts talking based on the word he was given, creating a story. The facilitator keeps pointing at participants in order to change who is talking and continue with the story. The participants can gradually start adding movement and sounds in their stories. For further information please refer to the Resources section.
C3. One story, infinite possibilities: In this exercise, participants form groups of 6-8 people. One person from each group, then volunteers to say a story from their lives or their imagination where they had to face a “problem”. There is a problem, a reaction and a consequence/result in the story. It could be anything. Then each participant has to give two alternatives to the story. It could be for example that they change the reaction or the consequence, or that they add a reaction or a consequence. All of them give alternative versions of the story. They can repeat twice with a different person’s story.
D. Closure/ Debriefing (10-15 minutes)
Suggested questions for initiating the debriefing section of the workshop: How did you feel during the workshop? Was there something challenging for you? What was the most enjoyable moment for you? Thinking about what came in your mind during the free word association task and the stories, did you notice anything particular about the way you think/ the way different people think? What did you understand from the “One story, infinite possibilities” activity? Can you relate any of your feelings and thoughts stemming from the workshop with your daily life? Anything else you would like to share?
Desirable Outcomes and Competences| Through this workshop, participants can work on their language and presentational skills. Some of the exercises are based on words association which help people to work on a second-language. Moreover, they will be presenting their work to the other participants at some points, familiarising themselves with the idea of exposure to an audience. It will be also asked from them to act and react at a fast pace, using their body and language in authentic and unplanned ways. Using these activities in a safe environment where people are respectful and encouraging, people can open up and develop initiative and confidence. Furthermore, participants will be using others’ responses in order to react on them. They will practise being attentive to what is happening around them and work on their empathy and perspective-taking skills but also imagination and openness to cooperation. Such tasks communication, cooperation
Materials| No special material are needed for the workshop.
Resources|
Warm up activities:
International HIV/AIDS Alliance (2002). 100 ways to energise groups: Games to use in workshops, meetings and the community.
Free Word Association:
Dreams for Life (2015, September 2) 6 – Free Association – Improvisation Game. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVOlshzUsBc
One-word story:
Dreams for Life (2015, September 3). 10 – One word Story – Improvisation Game. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5_clALxtLg
Laughter For A Change (2014, February 20) One Word Story. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qZKnPmqD84
Tom Randklev (2012, July 2015) Tabs’ Improv Performance – Warm Up Game – One word Story. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti0u0O9JG44
One story, infinite possibilities:
Schaefer, C. E. (Ed.). (2003). Play therapy with adults. John Wiley & Sons.
Tom Randklev (2012, July 2015) Tabs’ Improv Performance – Warm Up Game – One word Story. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti0u0O9JG44
Media and Techniques| The workshop was based on improvisation and performing arts workshops, online videos, articles and books about theatre improvisation and story-telling.
Tips for the educator| Please refer to the General Tips for the educator of ST workshops.
Questions for Evaluation|
- How did you find the exercises of the workshop?
- Are there any suggestions/comments/questions you would like to make?
- Are the activities well explained?
- Do you think this workshop will be interesting for all age groups?
- Did you like particularly an exercise?