Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
Download as docx, pdf, or txt
You are on page 1of 6
Benefits of Drama
Benefits for people who study drama:
Self Confidence: Taking risks and performing in front of audiences teaches performers to trust themselves more. They learn to gain self- confidence. The confidence gained in drama applies to school, career and life.
Imagination: In drama, it is essential that we make creative choices and think up new ideas to perform. We dont want the audience to get bored, so we use our imagination to think up ideas for our performance. Developing ideas and expanding them so that they will be more interesting needs imagination and thinking. As Einstein said, Imagination is more important than knowledge.
Cooperation/ Collaboration: Drama performances usually involve a cast. This means that there is more than 1 person performing. Actors and actresses learn to collaborate with each other. It is essential that they do so to make the performance successful. Without collaboration, they might disagree with each other. This can result in conflict which reduces the time they have to discuss and rehearse for the performance. The cooperative process includes discussing, negotiating, rehearsing and performing.
Empathy: When performing a drama, we might get a character that has different personalities, cultures, or backgrounds from us. Before performing them we study our character so we get to know the way they see the world. Acting out roles from different situations, time- periods or cultures help us to see the world from different viewpoints, thus enhancing our compassion and tolerance for others with different backgrounds from us.
Concentration: Playing, rehearsing or performing a drama develops concentration. To perform a good drama the actors or actresses should focus on the scene they are playing, their characters and their acting techniques. This will then direct the focus of the audience in watching the play. Focus is one of the essential elements in drama. To perform a drama, concentration is needed. This improves the focus of the mind, body, and voice.
Communication Skills: Drama enhances verbal and non-verbal ways of communicating. It helps the actors and actresses to improve their projection, articulation of words, fluency and language. Listening and observing skills develop by being an audience, rehearsing for a performance, and performing a drama.
Emotional Outlet and Physical Fitness: Acting out different roles help actors or actresses to experience and express a range of emotions. Actors will learn to control aggression and tension, reducing antisocial behaviors. Physical movements in drama and theatre improve flexibility, coordination, balance and control. Self- Discipline: In performing drama, lots of practice is needed. The process of converting ideas into dialogue and movements teaches actors the value of practice and perseverance. Actors will learn how to be more disciplined when attending practices and rehearsals. Memory: By rehearsing and performing dialogue and movements, the memory of the actors will strengthen. They will be able to memorize quicker, and like strengthening muscles, rehearsing for a drama performance strengthens an actors memory.
Relaxation and Fun: Drama brings laughter, fun and humor to people. This means it can help reduce stress by releasing mental, physical and emotional tension.
Aesthetic Appreciation: By performing a drama, actors and actresses increase their appreciation for this form of art. It is important that the younger generation understands values and considers drama important, as it is beneficial in so many ways. One of its benefits is in delivering a message or an issue. Scroll down to find information about the benefits of delivering a message through drama performances. Benefits of Drama
Benefits of Delivering a Message in a Drama:
Drama or theatre is a great media for delivering a message. Now that we are in the modern era, we are familiar with all sorts of digital technologies such as print, electronics and cybernetics. In the past when there was no TV, theatre or drama was a more important media. In drama the situation is taken from peoples daily activities or derived from issues that happen. So, people can relate to it easily and will be interested to watch. Sometimes, drama performances help people realize that what they do every day has an effect on the world and it may have consequences. So, in a drama or theatre, when the characters come alive and make their point in front of audiences, they raise questions and very strong and vigorous issues are highlighted. People pay attention to what is displayed in front of them and they will learn something and not just relate and get emotional.
Many people consider that in drama, comedy is the best way to have an effect on the audience. Comedy does not stimulate the audiences emotionally. Thus, the audience will be able to think more wisely about what the drama is trying to convey instead of just getting emotional. Therefore, it opens the audiences minds and they will begin to think about what has been suggested, conveyed or portrayed in the story. This means that a certain drama performance can raise their awareness of a certain issue.
According to Mr. Arif, UNESA Drama Lecturer: It is an effective media for delivering a message to audiences. This means that many people will be getting the message of the story. Nowadays, there is modern technology and people prefer to watch drama through digital media rather than watching it live. However, it is much nicer to watch it live. This is because a drama performed live will move the audiences emotions more than a drama that is recorded and shown on TV of film. It is not certain that people would laugh or sob when watching a certain drama on TV but they will be moved more when they watch it in person. The sensitivity of watching a drama live is different than watching it through another media. Audiences will be able to relate to the drama more emotionally if it is performed live than through other media such as TV and radio.
Bibliography & References:
Benefits of Drama. [Online] Available. http://nfschoolofdrama.com/index.php/benifits-of-drama, 15 th February 2014.
The Benefits of Drama. [Online] Available. http://www.pyjamadrama.com/drama/the-benefits-of-drama, 15 th February 2014.
The Benefits of Drama Education. [Online] Available. http://www.dramaed.net/benefits.pdf, 15th February 2014.
Kapil, Nishtha.Is Drama a Good Medium for Conveying a Social Message? [Online] Available. http://www.meritnation.com/ask-answer/question/is-drama- a-good-medium-for-conveying-a-social-message- discu/mothers-day/6319262, 15 th February 2014.
Hidayat, Arif. Group Interview. 27 th January 2014.