POST-PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP
Below is a copy of the 30 minute post-
1. INTRODUCTION
Play was about a family. Recap the characters.
A family with some serious problems – what would you say they are?
Two words – AGGRESSIVE. PASSIVE. What do they mean?
Which characters in the play are Aggressive? When?
Which characters are Passive? When?
How is this is shown in the way they act?
SET UP FROZEN IMAGES: Robert/Ann, Becky/Jenny, Becky/Ann, Boss/Robert.
How is each character feeling in these images?
5 minutes.
2. SPLIT INTO FOUR GROUPS FOR HOT SEATING.
Aim: to find out why each of the characters acted the way they did in the play. Eg, Why does Robert hit Ann? Why doesn’t Ann tell anyone about it? Why does Becky bully her sister?
Two students with each group to act as facilitators. Spend a few minutes brainstorming good questions to ask the characters. Eg.
How do you feel about the relationships in your family?
How do they feel about the violence?
What do you hope to gain by it?
What do you think you’re losing?
Do you think violence can ever solve the problem?
Was it a good idea to expect a new baby to solve the problem? Why?
Are you happy with things as they are?
What upsets you the most?
How would you like things to be?
Do you think things will ever change? How?
Who is to blame for what’s going wrong?
Why don’t you stand up for yourself more?
Why do you keep things secret?
Why don’t you talk to someone about what’s going on?
Why don’t you try and do something about it?
Four characters (Robert, Ann, Becky, Jenny) rotate around the groups.
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3.BREIF FEED BACK ON WHAT EACH GROUP HAS FOUND OUT.
About Ann. About Becky. About Jenny. About Robert.
4. REMAIN IN FOUR GROUPS WITH FACILITATORS. LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS.
What advice would you give to each of these characters to bring about some change and improvements? To Ann? To Becky? To Jenny? To Robert?
Brainstorm a list of things each of the characters could do.
What strategies could each of them use to avoid violence?
5 minutes.
5.FEED BACK TO THE WHOLE CLASS.
Each group reports on the ideas they’ve come up with.
Discuss.
Another word. ASSERTIVE.
What does this mean?
How do you know when someone’s being assertive?
How is it different from being aggressive?
Which of the characters in the play would benefit by being more assertive?
IF THERE’S TIME improvise a replay of the scene where Robert comes home from a bad day at work and his tea isn’t ready – with the characters taking on board the advice given to them by the class. Discuss what happens.
5 minutes.
6.WIND UP.
Some thoughts to take away . . .
You CAN stop violence. Get help if you or someone you know is being abused. Tell someone if you see an abusive relationship. Speak up when someone is being abusive. Nobody deserves to be a victim of violence. Violence doesn’t solve anything. It’s not the victim’s fault for being abused. There ARE people who care and who will provide help.