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The HATS Manual -> Workshops -> Preparation
Preparing for the Training Workshops
When preparing for Action Theatre training workshops, you should take several things into consideration:
- Who is the group you are going to be working with?
- What content will your workshops focus on?
- How long will the group meet?
- What language groups are you working with?
- What kind of space will you need?
Here are some suggestions to help you answer these questions for yourself.
Learn about the specifics of the group you are going to be working with
- Do people already know each other, or are they meeting for the first time?
- What language(s) do participants speak?
- How well does the group read and write? How comfortable are they with written materials?
Length
- Allow two to four hours for each workshop.
- To cover all the exercises included in the workshop, you may need more than one session.
For example, during the HATS training programs, we facilitated from five to 10 sessions
per group, and also had many rehearsals and working meetings to make props, and several
workshops to explore issues of concern to the groups.
- Our experience is that sessions should not be longer than three to four hours.
- The number of sessions you hold will be determined as you go along. Several different
factors will influence how much time you should allow, including the pace of the group,
the number of languages involved, and whether the group has had previous discussions about
the issue. The length of your sessions should reflect the reality of your group.
- There is no pre-determined time per theatre game or activity because it depends
on the size of the group, if interpretation is being provided, how in depth you want
to explore the effects of the games etc. Again, adapt to suit your group.
Language groups
- As facilitator, make sure you don't always rely on verbal communication.
Include a balance of non verbal interactivity, especially when you are providing
interpretation. Groups are encouraged to sit according to their language group.
- When you work with different language groups, you must provide appropriate
interpretation
so everyone can participate equally.
- Make sure you have arranged for interpreters before the sessions start.
- Plan to meet with the interpreters and co-facilitators before hand.
- Make sure that the room setting reflects the group's needs for interpretation.
Set up seating
so that participants can hear the interpreters.
Space
- Once you decide what you are going to do, think about the space you are going to need.
Ideally, you would have a large room for activities involving the whole group and
access to several other rooms for small group activities.
- To find a room that is large enough, we suggest multiplying the number of participants
by three. A room capacity of that number should be large enough. For example, for a
group of 20 people get a room with capacity of at least 60 people.
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