for schools
Complex programs
Stimulus dumping, desire to conform, anxiety, attraction, addiction... school life is not only about the curriculum.
Our complex school programs provide space for the processing of topics of interest to adolescents. Is it hard to talk about? Sensitive question? It's not taboo! Improvisational theater can also help in this situation.
It is a common experience that addressing Generation Z with traditional means is becoming more and more challenging. Those born in the digital age are more at home in the online world, their lives have sped up, they are looking for immediate feedback, and they are more impulsive. In addition, they strongly believe in themselves, have firm and high expectations and want to make the world a better place. What makes improvisational theater work better than them?
Why
Is improvisational theater successful in schools?
It's happening here and now
Our complex school programs focus on issues that are really present in the lives of young people. The stage situations are created in the present - we do not act out a play written in advance, but based on the given circumstances and the ideas of the audience, we examine human dilemmas and decision situations.
Interactive
We build the fictional scenes based on the children's ideas. We start a conversation with them, we are also interested in their opinions and questions when processing the topics. Without the inspiration from them, the performance would not be possible.
There are no taboos
We don't avoid the hot mess, we cut right into the middle of it and incorporate even the wildest ideas into the performance. Our trained experts (psychologist, social worker)
with its help, we look behind the surface in an easily digestible form.
Programmes
Available programs
The development of our complex school programs was preceded by thorough preparation and research. In addition to the drama and special education teachers, actors, trainers, and training specialists working in the Itt és Most Társulat, psychologists and social worker experts also participated in the development of the projects, and they also cooperate with our professional team during the implementation. If we have tender resources available, we deliver the complex programs free of charge primarily to socially disadvantaged areas, and they can also be ordered independently. We recommend them primarily for schools, cultural centers and community centers.
Our addictions
- A complex improvisation-based program on the topic of addiction
- Honestly about addictions - because we can depend on anything
- Thinking from multiple points of view, empathy, honesty, asking questions instead of judging
- Target group: 7-8th graders, high school students, university students
- Period: 60-minute lecture + 30-60 minute discussion
- Personal conditions: a game master, four actors, a technician and an expert from the Hungarian Reformed Church's Mission to Save the Abandoned Youth (KIMM)
Earth 2222
- Complex improvisation-based program on climate anxiety and climate change
- What will the Earth be like in 2222, if climate change is already knocking on our door?
- Disaster fantasies and options for action
- Target group: 7-8th graders, high school students, university students
- Period: 45-minute improvisational theater performance + 45-minute discussion
- Personal conditions: a game master, four actors, a technician as well as an expert and a psychologist help to process the topic
Student trainings
- Complex improvisation-based training series tailored to groups
- Community formation, sensitization, team building, improvisation and experiential pedagogy
- If required, processing of specific topics (as part of topic days, project days)
- Target group: 6-8th graders, high school students, university students
- Period: 90 minutes/ 180 minutes
- Personal conditions: 2-4 main trainers per group (depending on group size)
Clip program
– theater of generations
- Complex improvisation-based training series
- Bridging the generation gap, searching for points of connection
Lots of exercises and playful situations to get to know each other - Target group: Young people aged 15-20 and seniors over 60/65 in groups of 10-20
- Period: we recommend it to those who think in a process and are open to joint organization, because knowledge of local needs and local knowledge is essential for the success of the program
- Personal conditions: 2 main trainers (drama and special education teacher) per group
Improv in the schools!
Itt és Most Társulat also offers improvisation performances and trainings for young people. Regardless of the program types, we believe that there is a place for improvisation in education and training. In addition to the two lectures and trainings recommended here, we have also brought improv-based programs to schools adapted to individual needs - camp sessions, thematic lectures, or workshops for teachers. The common feature of these is that the basic principles of improv and the positive effects of improv prevail in them.
THE ART OF PRESENCE
In the world of Internet stimulus dumping and smart devices, it is easy to slip into living our lives in online spaces. This deprives us of the ability to read from the given situation, from the other person's voice, posture, and facial expressions, and does not give us shared experiences as if we were in the same space and time, HERE and NOW. Improvisation is the art of presence. It's like a good workout - it improves attention, social and communication skills. When we improvise, we say yes to the unknown.
FLEXIBILITY AND EMPATHY
With our reactions and actions, we make decisions, the consequences of which cannot be foreseen - because during improvisation, we cannot see into our partner's mind. Unexpected situations in the impro do not mean that we have messed anything up - we look for and research change. We make them aware of what is happening, we don't look away, we don't pretend that we didn't see the partner's hesitation or joy, but we say yes to the fact that this is happening to us HERE and NOW. Our basic principle is acceptance: we do not qualify the other's reaction, but share our own experiences in an assertive manner.
PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS
The fear of making mistakes dissolves during improvisation exercises, and this also promotes creative, problem-solving thinking. In a safe environment, we learn experientially, we can experiment with different possibilities of action, while we experience a creative and joyful activity. These experiences give us the strength to respond boldly and assertively to unfamiliar situations in everyday life. Improvisation increases resilience and stress tolerance.
SELF-CONFIDENCE AND CONFIDENCE
Why do I react in certain ways? Am I satisfied with my decisions? What do I need to be able to really pay attention and be present? When we perform improv exercises or act out and watch scenes, we gain experience in relation to human issues and our own inner workings. Improvisation develops self-awareness and self-confidence, and gives space to exchange ideas about experiences.
COOPERATION AND JOINT BUILDING
During improvisation, the actors incorporate the children's ideas into the performance, and during training sessions, each other's thoughts and actions operate the games. The class community that supports each other not only improves the school atmosphere, but also helps the students in their personal development and the development of their competences. Today's teenagers will be the workers of the future, so it is in the interest of all of us that they become capable of the cooperation and connection necessary for social existence.
"It was very good. There was a topic that I identified with, I specifically saw myself in one of the topics and it was touching. The only thing that could be changed is that they tell me better about how to get rid of my addiction."
"There were many things I could relate to. It was funny and meaningful at the same time."
"It was useful, interesting and touching. They played very well and whether we are involved or not, this show will improve the way you think about life."
"I tell the company to keep doing it the same way."
"We could go to more of these, I would look at more roads or other topics."
Our Dependencies c. program viewers
Student perspective Elementary School and High School