last night the world witnessed something wonderful from across the globe came
wonderful from across the globe came
wonderful from across the globe came reports of the sightings some say it was
reports of the sightings some say it was
reports of the sightings some say it was a woman some say it was a man it had a
a woman some say it was a man it had a
a woman some say it was a man it had a most unusual face said one woman but I
most unusual face said one woman but I
most unusual face said one woman but I keep seeing it it was beautiful
keep seeing it it was beautiful
keep seeing it it was beautiful It was as if I’d known it all my life
It was as if I’d known it all my life
It was as if I’d known it all my life said an oddly man I know it will come
said an oddly man I know it will come
said an oddly man I know it will come again many groups believed it to be a
again many groups believed it to be a
again many groups believed it to be a long-awaited sign of peace they
long-awaited sign of peace they
long-awaited sign of peace they described it as an angel of many colors
described it as an angel of many colors
described it as an angel of many colors I knew he was real said one boy Superman
I knew he was real said one boy Superman
I knew he was real said one boy Superman this is the epilogue to a short story
this is the epilogue to a short story
this is the epilogue to a short story written by the South African performer
written by the South African performer
written by the South African performer Nathaniel I am philip worst eizan a
Nathaniel I am philip worst eizan a
Nathaniel I am philip worst eizan a drama teacher to national drama director
drama teacher to national drama director
drama teacher to national drama director of a private education company in
of a private education company in
of a private education company in Shanghai China
Shanghai China
Shanghai China whenever I start a new drama course I
whenever I start a new drama course I
whenever I start a new drama course I start with this excerpt not because of
start with this excerpt not because of
start with this excerpt not because of my nationality nor because of Matt
my nationality nor because of Matt
my nationality nor because of Matt Morrison of the writer but simply for
Morrison of the writer but simply for
Morrison of the writer but simply for the sole reason that it challenges my
the sole reason that it challenges my
the sole reason that it challenges my students the challenge lies not in the
students the challenge lies not in the
students the challenge lies not in the language that we get sorted out even
language that we get sorted out even
language that we get sorted out even before we start the piece the challenge
before we start the piece the challenge
before we start the piece the challenge lies in the single question that I posed
lies in the single question that I posed
lies in the single question that I posed what is the story about it usually takes
what is the story about it usually takes
what is the story about it usually takes some back-and-forth for my students but
some back-and-forth for my students but
some back-and-forth for my students but eventually someone will say something
eventually someone will say something
eventually someone will say something more less than like Soph well we don’t
more less than like Soph well we don’t
more less than like Soph well we don’t know story doesn’t say to which I go why
know story doesn’t say to which I go why
know story doesn’t say to which I go why do you say that to which though responds
do you say that to which though responds
do you say that to which though responds well people see difference
well people see difference
well people see difference but that’s it I say that’s it people see
but that’s it I say that’s it people see
but that’s it I say that’s it people see different things and therefore they see
different things and therefore they see
different things and therefore they see things differently growing up seeing
things differently growing up seeing
things differently growing up seeing things differently than those around me
things differently than those around me
things differently than those around me is something that wasn’t really
is something that wasn’t really
is something that wasn’t really encouraged and as a result I was racist
encouraged and as a result I was racist
encouraged and as a result I was racist sexist and religiously intolerant I’m
sexist and religiously intolerant I’m
sexist and religiously intolerant I’m happy to say today that I’m none of
happy to say today that I’m none of
happy to say today that I’m none of those things anymore I think my biggest
those things anymore I think my biggest
those things anymore I think my biggest struggle is maybe trying not to tell
struggle is maybe trying not to tell
struggle is maybe trying not to tell people on the internet but I think
people on the internet but I think
people on the internet but I think they’re being assholes for it in the
they’re being assholes for it in the
they’re being assholes for it in the strong language of their beret I’m a
strong language of their beret I’m a
strong language of their beret I’m a work in progress and I think so are all
work in progress and I think so are all
work in progress and I think so are all of us in this room today but what would
of us in this room today but what would
of us in this room today but what would you say if I told you today that I had a
you say if I told you today that I had a
you say if I told you today that I had a way for you to keep on constantly
way for you to keep on constantly
way for you to keep on constantly bettering yourself and that I had a way
bettering yourself and that I had a way
bettering yourself and that I had a way to truly make the world a better place
to truly make the world a better place
to truly make the world a better place don’t worry I’m not selling you a
don’t worry I’m not selling you a
don’t worry I’m not selling you a self-help book today no the answer is
self-help book today no the answer is
self-help book today no the answer is much simpler than that
much simpler than that
much simpler than that if we truly want to impact the world for
if we truly want to impact the world for
if we truly want to impact the world for the better I say give it more drama
the better I say give it more drama
the better I say give it more drama and this is the theatrical kind we need
and this is the theatrical kind we need
and this is the theatrical kind we need more of it in our schools and we need
more of it in our schools and we need
more of it in our schools and we need more of it in society I think we can all
more of it in society I think we can all
more of it in society I think we can all agree today that the world is kind of
agree today that the world is kind of
agree today that the world is kind of between a rock and a hard place when it
between a rock and a hard place when it
between a rock and a hard place when it comes to the social and political
comes to the social and political
comes to the social and political spheres for that heck turn on the TV
spheres for that heck turn on the TV
spheres for that heck turn on the TV flip through your phone thing is within
flip through your phone thing is within
flip through your phone thing is within these corners within these spheres there
these corners within these spheres there
these corners within these spheres there are a lot of people who are frustrated
are a lot of people who are frustrated
are a lot of people who are frustrated probably because of the way that we
probably because of the way that we
probably because of the way that we engage in dialogue if at all you see
engage in dialogue if at all you see
engage in dialogue if at all you see modern culture has reduced us to
modern culture has reduced us to
modern culture has reduced us to unfollow and delete buttons it’s made it
unfollow and delete buttons it’s made it
unfollow and delete buttons it’s made it okay for us to entertain only that which
okay for us to entertain only that which
okay for us to entertain only that which we can relate to and to shy away from
we can relate to and to shy away from
we can relate to and to shy away from that which is different but if we want
that which is different but if we want
that which is different but if we want to change this if we want to get in
to change this if we want to get in
to change this if we want to get in there and have those tough conversations
there and have those tough conversations
there and have those tough conversations if we want to rediscover what it means
if we want to rediscover what it means
if we want to rediscover what it means to be dialogic ly human turn to draw my
to be dialogic ly human turn to draw my
to be dialogic ly human turn to draw my education allow me to explain why first
education allow me to explain why first
education allow me to explain why first from our own experience and then from
from our own experience and then from
from our own experience and then from that of my students ‘as I grew up in a
that of my students ‘as I grew up in a
that of my students ‘as I grew up in a really small town all the way up in the
really small town all the way up in the
really small town all the way up in the North or South Africa close to the
North or South Africa close to the
North or South Africa close to the Kruger National Park called Paula Bora I
Kruger National Park called Paula Bora I
Kruger National Park called Paula Bora I love that sound to bits
love that sound to bits
love that sound to bits it is a picturesque the people are
it is a picturesque the people are
it is a picturesque the people are friendly the people are conservative the
friendly the people are conservative the
friendly the people are conservative the kids walk around barefoot and play in
kids walk around barefoot and play in
kids walk around barefoot and play in the yard I think you get the idea like
the yard I think you get the idea like
the yard I think you get the idea like most artists I’ll tell you that growing
most artists I’ll tell you that growing
most artists I’ll tell you that growing up I love to perform man this was mainly
up I love to perform man this was mainly
up I love to perform man this was mainly due to the fact that I had a very
due to the fact that I had a very
due to the fact that I had a very theatrical mother getting ready for
theatrical mother getting ready for
theatrical mother getting ready for church I would watch her she would
church I would watch her she would
church I would watch her she would execute the ritual of combing her hair
execute the ritual of combing her hair
execute the ritual of combing her hair or spraying on that perfume like an
or spraying on that perfume like an
or spraying on that perfume like an opera diva taking that final bow though
opera diva taking that final bow though
opera diva taking that final bow though I soon adopted my mother’s theatricality
I soon adopted my mother’s theatricality
I soon adopted my mother’s theatricality I did not encounter the transformative
I did not encounter the transformative
I did not encounter the transformative power
power
power of drama until I hit high school and my
of drama until I hit high school and my
of drama until I hit high school and my drama teachers started asking me one
drama teachers started asking me one
drama teachers started asking me one simple question why why did you decide
simple question why why did you decide
simple question why why did you decide on that character trait why do you think
on that character trait why do you think
on that character trait why do you think the character did that why did the
the character did that why did the
the character did that why did the playwright choose the setting what’s he
playwright choose the setting what’s he
playwright choose the setting what’s he trying to say
trying to say
trying to say but you see my teachers were never just
but you see my teachers were never just
but you see my teachers were never just satisfied with an answer
satisfied with an answer
satisfied with an answer oh no they wanted me to embody my
oh no they wanted me to embody my
oh no they wanted me to embody my insights they wanted me to engage and as
insights they wanted me to engage and as
insights they wanted me to engage and as a result I formed a habit of inquiry and
a result I formed a habit of inquiry and
a result I formed a habit of inquiry and engagement and it is this habit of
engagement and it is this habit of
engagement and it is this habit of inquiry and engagement which I am
inquiry and engagement which I am
inquiry and engagement which I am upholding today as the remedy to our
upholding today as the remedy to our
upholding today as the remedy to our social and political climate it is also
social and political climate it is also
social and political climate it is also this habit of inquiry and engagement
this habit of inquiry and engagement
this habit of inquiry and engagement which has rid me of my own fear of what
which has rid me of my own fear of what
which has rid me of my own fear of what I have perceived as different and as a
I have perceived as different and as a
I have perceived as different and as a result it has helped me to open up to
result it has helped me to open up to
result it has helped me to open up to the world by engaging with the woman at
the world by engaging with the woman at
the world by engaging with the woman at the bar who halfway through our
the bar who halfway through our
the bar who halfway through our conversation I realized was transgender
conversation I realized was transgender
conversation I realized was transgender and that he did not matter because she’s
and that he did not matter because she’s
and that he did not matter because she’s just human engaging with the black man
just human engaging with the black man
just human engaging with the black man walking down the street by asking him
walking down the street by asking him
walking down the street by asking him for directions because he happened to be
for directions because he happened to be
for directions because he happened to be the only person on that street that I
the only person on that street that I
the only person on that street that I was afraid of and I knew that that fear
was afraid of and I knew that that fear
was afraid of and I knew that that fear was irrational and wrong engaging with
was irrational and wrong engaging with
was irrational and wrong engaging with the married couple who I met in our
the married couple who I met in our
the married couple who I met in our hostel while traveling and who probably
hostel while traveling and who probably
hostel while traveling and who probably would have been pushed out of the social
would have been pushed out of the social
would have been pushed out of the social circles in the small town that I grew up
circles in the small town that I grew up
circles in the small town that I grew up in only to discover that they’ve made a
in only to discover that they’ve made a
in only to discover that they’ve made a living by traveling the world for 42
living by traveling the world for 42
living by traveling the world for 42 years
years
years and that I no wish I can have half the
and that I no wish I can have half the
and that I no wish I can have half the life that they’ve had
then engaging with the belief that the
then engaging with the belief that the men who raped and assaulted members of
men who raped and assaulted members of
men who raped and assaulted members of my family and that the man who murdered
my family and that the man who murdered
my family and that the man who murdered my cousin deserved to be sentenced to
my cousin deserved to be sentenced to
my cousin deserved to be sentenced to death because it’s likely but they’re
death because it’s likely but they’re
death because it’s likely but they’re just a product of their circumstances
just a product of their circumstances
just a product of their circumstances certainly to help engaging with the
certainly to help engaging with the
certainly to help engaging with the self-hate that I harbored in my teens
self-hate that I harbored in my teens
self-hate that I harbored in my teens and nurture again to self love by
and nurture again to self love by
and nurture again to self love by accepting the flamboyant artistic
accepting the flamboyant artistic
accepting the flamboyant artistic cosmopolitan liberal Christian
cosmopolitan liberal Christian
cosmopolitan liberal Christian small-town or that I am what I want you
small-town or that I am what I want you
small-town or that I am what I want you to realize today is that none of these
to realize today is that none of these
to realize today is that none of these realizations would have happened had it
realizations would have happened had it
realizations would have happened had it not been for the fact that I studied
not been for the fact that I studied
not been for the fact that I studied drama it is because I once played the
drama it is because I once played the
drama it is because I once played the transvestite because I studied the work
transvestite because I studied the work
transvestite because I studied the work of Athol Fugard wali sure inca Barney
of Athol Fugard wali sure inca Barney
of Athol Fugard wali sure inca Barney Simon Gong gam Ian gamma and Percy moi
Simon Gong gam Ian gamma and Percy moi
Simon Gong gam Ian gamma and Percy moi it’s because I played the social outcast
it’s because I played the social outcast
it’s because I played the social outcast it’s because I shared and observed in
it’s because I shared and observed in
it’s because I shared and observed in the stories of other victims of violent
the stories of other victims of violent
the stories of other victims of violent crimes and because I was challenged in
crimes and because I was challenged in
crimes and because I was challenged in every single drama class with one
every single drama class with one
every single drama class with one question who are you that I was able to
question who are you that I was able to
question who are you that I was able to change these socially conditioned
change these socially conditioned
change these socially conditioned mindsets and you know all that I had to
mindsets and you know all that I had to
mindsets and you know all that I had to do was to question and engage but this
do was to question and engage but this
do was to question and engage but this habit of inquiry and engagement is not
habit of inquiry and engagement is not
habit of inquiry and engagement is not just true for me no it’s evident in my
just true for me no it’s evident in my
just true for me no it’s evident in my students and it’s something that can be
students and it’s something that can be
students and it’s something that can be true for you because it’s something that
true for you because it’s something that
true for you because it’s something that can
can
can be learned the average student that
be learned the average student that
be learned the average student that steps through my door at the side of the
steps through my door at the side of the
steps through my door at the side of the drama here is shy passive and meek but
drama here is shy passive and meek but
drama here is shy passive and meek but as the semester progresses and students
as the semester progresses and students
as the semester progresses and students realize the drama creates a safe space
realize the drama creates a safe space
realize the drama creates a safe space for them to inquire strong prejudices
for them to inquire strong prejudices
for them to inquire strong prejudices emerge over the course of teaching in
emerge over the course of teaching in
emerge over the course of teaching in China I’ve encountered students who
China I’ve encountered students who
China I’ve encountered students who bluntly stated that they thought being
bluntly stated that they thought being
bluntly stated that they thought being Chinese was despicable did not want to
Chinese was despicable did not want to
Chinese was despicable did not want to work with a certain student because
work with a certain student because
work with a certain student because their skin was too dark and laughed at
their skin was too dark and laughed at
their skin was too dark and laughed at another because they believed in God now
another because they believed in God now
another because they believed in God now once knee-jerk reaction might be to
once knee-jerk reaction might be to
once knee-jerk reaction might be to reprimand the students and shut down
reprimand the students and shut down
reprimand the students and shut down those conversations but in drama we
those conversations but in drama we
those conversations but in drama we follow a different route moments like
follow a different route moments like
follow a different route moments like these are seen as most teachable as they
these are seen as most teachable as they
these are seen as most teachable as they are the ground for inquiry and
are the ground for inquiry and
are the ground for inquiry and engagement which usually has positive
engagement which usually has positive
engagement which usually has positive social reconstruction as a result and
social reconstruction as a result and
social reconstruction as a result and this is not some far removed concept I
this is not some far removed concept I
this is not some far removed concept I mean it’s not abstract no no we drama
mean it’s not abstract no no we drama
mean it’s not abstract no no we drama teachers achieve it by playing the
teachers achieve it by playing the
teachers achieve it by playing the simplest of games in our classrooms take
simplest of games in our classrooms take
simplest of games in our classrooms take for example the work of Augusto
for example the work of Augusto
for example the work of Augusto Burrell’s forum theatre one of his
Burrell’s forum theatre one of his
Burrell’s forum theatre one of his exercises asked that a group of actors
exercises asked that a group of actors
exercises asked that a group of actors go up to the stage and staged a social
go up to the stage and staged a social
go up to the stage and staged a social problem while the rest of the class
problem while the rest of the class
problem while the rest of the class watches at any moment during the
watches at any moment during the
watches at any moment during the performance someone can help freeze and
performance someone can help freeze and
performance someone can help freeze and one actor from the audience watching has
one actor from the audience watching has
one actor from the audience watching has to run up and replace an actor and then
to run up and replace an actor and then
to run up and replace an actor and then change that problem into a possible
change that problem into a possible
change that problem into a possible solution but it’s not as easy as it
solution but it’s not as easy as it
solution but it’s not as easy as it sounds if at any moment those watching
sounds if at any moment those watching
sounds if at any moment those watching do not believe the proposed solution
do not believe the proposed solution
do not believe the proposed solution they can help magic and someone else has
they can help magic and someone else has
they can help magic and someone else has to run up replace another performer and
to run up replace another performer and
to run up replace another performer and together the class has to arrive at a
together the class has to arrive at a
together the class has to arrive at a solution that they all agree on an
solution that they all agree on an
solution that they all agree on an exercise like this alters perspectives
exercise like this alters perspectives
exercise like this alters perspectives because it asks of the students who
because it asks of the students who
because it asks of the students who inquire into engage with and embody
inquire into engage with and embody
inquire into engage with and embody their beliefs while remaining empathetic
their beliefs while remaining empathetic
their beliefs while remaining empathetic to others and mediating with one another
to others and mediating with one another
to others and mediating with one another very often with
very often with
very often with about the teachers interference when it
about the teachers interference when it
about the teachers interference when it comes to issues like racism sexism and
comes to issues like racism sexism and
comes to issues like racism sexism and religious intolerance perspectives are
religious intolerance perspectives are
religious intolerance perspectives are altered because students realize that
altered because students realize that
altered because students realize that they acted out of a place of societal
they acted out of a place of societal
they acted out of a place of societal thought fear and once that fear is
thought fear and once that fear is
thought fear and once that fear is identified the road to eliminating it
identified the road to eliminating it
identified the road to eliminating it starts almost organically and once it is
starts almost organically and once it is
starts almost organically and once it is eliminated liberation follows I say
eliminated liberation follows I say
eliminated liberation follows I say again once it’s eliminated liberation
again once it’s eliminated liberation
again once it’s eliminated liberation follows and you know what that leads to
follows and you know what that leads to
follows and you know what that leads to more inquiry and more engagement this is
more inquiry and more engagement this is
more inquiry and more engagement this is best illustrated in something that
best illustrated in something that
best illustrated in something that happened to me at the start of my
happened to me at the start of my
happened to me at the start of my teaching career in China in this self
teaching career in China in this self
teaching career in China in this self reflective essay one of my students
reflective essay one of my students
reflective essay one of my students wrote the following at the start of the
wrote the following at the start of the
wrote the following at the start of the drama year I could not get my head
drama year I could not get my head
drama year I could not get my head around the teachers way of teaching it
around the teachers way of teaching it
around the teachers way of teaching it was too strange too hard but then I
was too strange too hard but then I
was too strange too hard but then I thought what if I tried only a little
thought what if I tried only a little
thought what if I tried only a little and I did and in the end I got it as
and I did and in the end I got it as
and I did and in the end I got it as long as I live I believe these words
long as I live I believe these words
long as I live I believe these words will stay with me because it
will stay with me because it
will stay with me because it demonstrates why I fell in love with
demonstrates why I fell in love with
demonstrates why I fell in love with drama in the first place it shows a
drama in the first place it shows a
drama in the first place it shows a student who is confronted with something
student who is confronted with something
student who is confronted with something different and instead of remaining
different and instead of remaining
different and instead of remaining fearfully passive chooses to engage of
fearfully passive chooses to engage of
fearfully passive chooses to engage of that only to discover that they are
that only to discover that they are
that only to discover that they are capable competent and now fearless the
capable competent and now fearless the
capable competent and now fearless the positive impact of drama is nothing new
positive impact of drama is nothing new
positive impact of drama is nothing new to us you can take your phone right now
to us you can take your phone right now
to us you can take your phone right now and Google drama and 21st century skills
and Google drama and 21st century skills
and Google drama and 21st century skills or type in the names of Jay Michael
or type in the names of Jay Michael
or type in the names of Jay Michael journal from the Simon Youth Foundation
journal from the Simon Youth Foundation
journal from the Simon Youth Foundation or Sharon E bone from the Society of
or Sharon E bone from the Society of
or Sharon E bone from the Society of history technology or Howard shoots from
history technology or Howard shoots from
history technology or Howard shoots from Starbucks or CNN founder Ted Turner or
Starbucks or CNN founder Ted Turner or
Starbucks or CNN founder Ted Turner or Jack Ma from Alibaba and discover all of
Jack Ma from Alibaba and discover all of
Jack Ma from Alibaba and discover all of these current and past CEOs and
these current and past CEOs and
these current and past CEOs and presidents either have a degree in the
presidents either have a degree in the
presidents either have a degree in the liberal arts or a background in theater
liberal arts or a background in theater
liberal arts or a background in theater but then why is it that drama is not
but then why is it that drama is not
but then why is it that drama is not more heavily advocated for in schools
more heavily advocated for in schools
more heavily advocated for in schools and our societies the answer is simple
and our societies the answer is simple
and our societies the answer is simple stigma somewhere along the line
stigma somewhere along the line
stigma somewhere along the line people got the impression that drama was
people got the impression that drama was
people got the impression that drama was only for the artistic though weird the
only for the artistic though weird the
only for the artistic though weird the poor the less masculine and that it
poor the less masculine and that it
poor the less masculine and that it should be placed secondary to subjects
should be placed secondary to subjects
should be placed secondary to subjects like maths and science this could not be
like maths and science this could not be
like maths and science this could not be further from the truth
further from the truth
further from the truth ladies and gentlemen while maths and
ladies and gentlemen while maths and
ladies and gentlemen while maths and science help us to sustain economies it
science help us to sustain economies it
science help us to sustain economies it is drama and the arts that teach us what
is drama and the arts that teach us what
is drama and the arts that teach us what it means to be human it teaches us to
it means to be human it teaches us to
it means to be human it teaches us to relate it teaches us sympathy it teaches
relate it teaches us sympathy it teaches
relate it teaches us sympathy it teaches us empathy it teaches us to seek out an
us empathy it teaches us to seek out an
us empathy it teaches us to seek out an interconnectedness with our enemies and
interconnectedness with our enemies and
interconnectedness with our enemies and heaven knows the world now more than
heaven knows the world now more than
heaven knows the world now more than ever should be seeking out commonality
ever should be seeking out commonality
ever should be seeking out commonality so if you’re sitting there and you’re
so if you’re sitting there and you’re
so if you’re sitting there and you’re thinking what can I do today or how can
thinking what can I do today or how can
thinking what can I do today or how can i nurture this habit of inquiry and
i nurture this habit of inquiry and
i nurture this habit of inquiry and engagement it’s easy step out from this
engagement it’s easy step out from this
engagement it’s easy step out from this venue today and go support that
venue today and go support that
venue today and go support that Community Theatre by attending their
Community Theatre by attending their
Community Theatre by attending their shows or making a donation or better yet
shows or making a donation or better yet
shows or making a donation or better yet enrolling in their courses go to your
enrolling in their courses go to your
enrolling in their courses go to your schools and the mud they include drama
schools and the mud they include drama
schools and the mud they include drama in the curriculum go to your government
in the curriculum go to your government
in the curriculum go to your government and ask them to make drama a mandatory
and ask them to make drama a mandatory
and ask them to make drama a mandatory subjects subject in all schools and to
subjects subject in all schools and to
subjects subject in all schools and to also while at it increase their funding
also while at it increase their funding
also while at it increase their funding of arts and drama education and you know
of arts and drama education and you know
of arts and drama education and you know what then maybe just maybe we’ll wake up
what then maybe just maybe we’ll wake up
what then maybe just maybe we’ll wake up one morning and say that last night the
one morning and say that last night the
one morning and say that last night the world witnessed something wonderful
”
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