26-A202 Playing with Speech: Oral Interpretation of the Written Word – Barb Maheu and Robyn Shewchuk

Would you like to consider expressive ways to share stories? How about acting using only your voice, facial expressions and gestures, all without memorizing a word? Would you like to participate in a group activity that doesn’t require a level of physical fitness or mobility beyond your normal daily life? This experience will expose you to techniques for dramatizing the written word through creative vocalizations. Oral interpretation is a method used to present written works (poems, stories and radio plays) in a dramatic format with minimal costumes, sets and props. You will learn basic techniques to enhance the spoken word, all with a script in front of you. You will be encouraged to identify some of your favourite samples from literature, poetry and other types of written word for use in the course. (Photocopied material will be available for $10.00).

Instructors: Barb Maheu and Robyn Shewchuk

Robyn and Barb are both seasoned public school teachers and also taught at the University of Alberta as sessional instructors. They each taught drama courses at many levels and have a history of working collaboratively with each other. They bring passion for education and enthusiasm for learning, particularly through the arts.