For the past five years, Vicky Storey, Co-Director at Chol, has delivered the Drama and Education Module to undergraduate drama students and trainee teachers at The University of Manchester. At the core of this module is exploring and learning about Chol’s signature drama education practice and pedagogy, the pioneering Imaginary Communities practice.
This year, the Drama Education Module continues. Sixteen second-year students at The University of Manchester are being trained by Vicky each week, learning how to deliver Imaginary Communities within educational settings, while discovering more about the underpinning theories of Imaginary Communities and other forms of process drama. By the end of the module, the students will have become critical reflective practitioners and learned how to effectively reflect on their delivery in schools. To complete their assessment, they will be expected to write a reflective essay.
In March, the students will be visiting Claremont Primary School for three consecutive weeks to put their new skills into action, working with Y5 classes and their teachers to develop and build imaginary Enchanted Forests. This specific activity aims to support children in their creative skills, while also continuing to build on their knowledge and ability of the core primary subjects.
Vicky Storey, Co-Director at Chol said, “training future practitioners and sharing our research into inclusive and playful practices is an important part of Chol’s work. We are delighted to work again with the students at The University of Manchester. The students really blow us away every year with their energy, commitment and talent and this year is certainly no different. I can’t wait to see these young artists working in Claremont in a few weeks’ time!”
In previous years, students have been hugely inspired by the work on the module, going on to complete PGCE’s and become teachers. Others have gone on to work in education or community settings as new practitioners.
To find out more about this project, or to speak to Vicky about the Imaginary Communities practice, please email vicky@wearechol.co.uk.
