Educational theatre: Ensemble building

Ensemble building scenario

Hi, everyone!  Today, I wanna briefly show you the ensemble building game 'Wow, Open Sesame, O.K., Smile'. This play game is designed for 7th graders and is tailored to 45 minutes when played in groups.


So let’s get started! This is a game for children starting puberty to break away from being sensitive and withdrawing more and more into themselves and learn to laugh together and work together as a team. Through 'Wow, Open Sesame, Okay and Smile', students can improvise and look at the consequences of their choices while interacting with each other through improvisational imagination and body expression.


First, the teacher explains and demonstrates the purpose and process of the game before starting. For example, Have you ever thought like this. Was My choice right? With this regret, this game says 'Whatever you choose is okay'.


It is a psychological ensemble play that teaches tolerance and acceptance while conveying the message, 'Even if you make a wrong choice, it is not your fault.'


Two students form a pair. A is the role of God and B is the role of humans. God instructs humans to choose two fates (cards). One is blue and the other is red. B receives the card and exclaims 'Wow'. Because there might be something good on the cards. Lotteries, promotions, things like that. However, this card is an action card. The situation on the card must be expressed through actions. Will students accept this? Okay~~ Of course you can accept it. And you can smile or use your body to say how you feel, even if it doesn't fit you. Shall we make it together with humor?


A: Please choose one of the two cards. One is a red card and the other is a blue card. It contains what needs to be done. It could be good or it could be bad. However, you must select only one card.


B: Wow. (Humans can only use the words set above, but B can act freely)


A: Then you should shout like Alibaba. 'Open' and select a card.


B: (Pretend to knock on a big door) ‘Open sesame’ (Pick up the red card)


A: Now you have chosen the red card. Doo doo doo doo (open the red card). The red card says 'Write your name with your head!' (This is an example. A can be changed to ‘Dance like a ballerina’, ‘Imitate your favorite soccer player’, etc. depending on the student’s level.)


B: Okay. (If B is an introvert, B may be embarrassed, but you can make it as natural and fun as possible. If B wants to reject what is written on the card, express the reason for rejection with hand gestures instead of yelling. Good.)


A: You are a wonderful and tolerant person who knows how to put yourself down in front of others. Thank you for giving us a big smile. (A must do his best to make a positive and good comment for leading a big smile)
B: Smile (Shout out the word ‘Smile’ and everyone naturally smiles at this point)


Students will use their imagination to create an ensemble play based on their card selections. The student playing God writes the motions he or she would like to see on a red/blue card. This action will make them laugh. Be sure to video-record these instances. And in some cases, there will be action cards that your opponent simply cannot accept. The teacher should preview one student's action card  before play. Make sure there is no violent or provocative. Behavior cards completed by students are recorded and kept in a log. Students gather in groups and vote on which action brought smile after playing.


Each group forms an ensemble for Wow, Open sesame, O.K., and Smile based on the predictable sample above. The team that receives the most votes in the '2' process will proceed to the final rehearsal.


Thank you and See you again in the next play plan~

ensemble_play_cards.pdf
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