WORKSHOPS
 
Click here to download the general notes and useful tips
 
 
 
 
 
No downloadable notes
 
                 
Click the appropriate illistration above or the associated text to see a description of the workshop
 
 
 
 
 
                 
The following workshop layouts are a guide only.
The contents may change or vary to that shown depending on
- The workshop groups skills, age and/or experience
- The way the workshops have developed since these notes where last updated
The avalable time for the workshop

Download some 'General notes' on workshops
                 
ORAL LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP
This workshop uses some of the following selection of games from Gordon's Oral Language Development manual 'ORACY'
Suitable for 10 year olds and over
Usually a 1 hour workshop
'Trick me'.
Develops storytelling abilities, accepting new ideas and extends word usage.
'Never mind about that 1, 2 and 3'.
 Helps add detail to story.
'Advance'.
 Explores how story moves forward in time and/or location.
'Advance and Develop'.
 Explores how story moves forward in time and/or location and adds detail to story.
'That's not right'
May also be used if time permits. 'That's not right' is also used to develop and extend word usage.
   
These above games form, what Gordon calls, ’The spiral of learning'
If pupils/participants play these games over a period of time, starting with 'Trick me' and moving through to 'Advance and Develop' then repeat this cycle, each time a game is played, it builds skills which, help all the games develop.
Note 1. With the exception of the Junior Primary and High School, a version of 'Trick me' may be played in Gordon's shows.
 
PUBLIC SPEAKING PRESENTATION WORKSHOP
This workshop uses some of the following selection of games from Gordon's 'Public Speaking Presentation' manual 'SPEAKING OUT'
Suitable for 10 year olds and over
Usually a 1 hour workshop
'Stage fright'
Explores the importance of breath and its relevance to our sound production
'Breathing '1'
 Breathing and posture game
'Breathing 2'
 Valuing a smile and a smiling game
'Smile'
 Techniques to overcome this little worry.
'Die'
 Develops familiarity and ease with using eye contact.
'Eye contact'
 Develops familiarity and ease with using eye contact.
'Vocal Projection'
 Develops the pupil’s vocal projection skills so they can deliver a speech clearly without vocal strain.
'Audience can not hear'
 Develops the pupil’s vocal projection skills so they can deliver a speech clearly without vocal strain.
'Boring'
 Explores what will work and what will not work on stage during a presentation. This includes pause, silence, repetition, etc.
   
PUBLIC SPEAKING & ORAL LANGUAGE WORKSHOP
This workshop uses some of the following selection of games from Gordon's Oral Language Development manual 'ORACY'
and his 'Public Speaking Presentation' manual 'SPEAKING OUT'
Suitable for 10 year olds and over
Usually a 1 hour workshop
'Breathing 1' Explores the importance of breath and its relevance to our sound production
'Breathing 2' Breathing and posture game
'Smile' Valuing a smile and a smiling game
'Stage fright' Techniques to overcome this little worry.
'Eye contact' Develops familiarity and ease with using eye contact
'Boring' Explores what will work and what will not work on stage during a presentation. This includes pause, silence, repetition, etc
'Trick me' Develops storytelling abilities, accepting new ideas and extends word usage.
'Never mind about that 1 and 2' Helps add detail to story.
'That's not right' May also be used if time permits. 'That's not right' is also used to develop and extend word usage.
 
STORY DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP
This workshop uses some of the following selection of games from Gordon's Oral Language Development manual 'ORACY'
Suitable for 10 year olds and over
Usually a 1 hour workshop
No downloadable notes
Every thing/one has a story and we are all capable of telling a story
'That's not right'
 Develops and extend detail in story.
'Never mind about that 1 and 2'
 Helps add detail to story.
'Objects'
 Explores the story of every day objects
'Greetings 1 and 2'
 Used greetings to expand on ritual and dialogue
'What happens next'
 Audience help develop the tellers story





 
DRAMA BASICS WORKSHOP
This workshop uses some of the following selection of games from Gordon's Oral Language Development manual 'ORACY'
Suitable for 10 year olds and over
Usually a 1 hour workshop
If you want to be good at anything, you've got to get the basics right first.
All in tag'
 This game is used to warm the group up (wake them up) or settle them down and gives Gordon a quick look at the group and individuals dynamics.
'Die'
 Establishes and works with eye contact/focus
'Brooks Circle'
 Establishes and works with eye contact/focus.
'Far away'
 Looks at individual movement and use of space.
'Empty space'
 Llooks at individual movement and use of space.
'Robots'
 Llooks at group movement, use of space and care of others.
'Centring'
 Iis a quick way to get good body poster and calm the mind.
'Moment of starting'
 Becoming aware of the group and its nuances prior to starting.
'Gift'
 Supporting and endowing other participants activities.
'Explosion'
 Group focus/energy changer and ending game.
 
IMPROVISATION WORKSHOP
This workshop uses some of the following selection of games from Gordon's Oral Language Development manual 'ORACY'
Suitable for 10 year olds and over
Usually a 1 hour workshop
Saying "Improvisation" is much like saying "Music".
There are a lot of differing styles and disciplines in both.
Gordon can tailor 'Improvisation Workshops' to suit your individual needs so just ask and see what happens
   
Introduction workshop This is the default workshop and introduces and develops improvisation skills
'Name and action 1' Explores sound and movement and loosens/warms up the group.
'Freeze action' Use freeze frames to build story.
'Film strip' Use freeze frames to build story.
'Emotional 4 square' A fun way to explore emotional qualities.
'Master/servant 1 and 2' A fun way to explore status and begin story development.
'Proverb' A small freewheeling group improvisation.
 
Other Improvisational workshops available on request
'Characterisation'
 Develop and use a character. This uses physical movement as the starting block.
'Freeze/Action (Statues)'
 Finding ways to start and change story using freeze frames and a seamless transitions into action
'Film strip'
 use a series of freeze frames to build a visual story.
'Emotionals'
 Explores and develops the emotional qualities and range of participants
'Role play'
 Explores and develops the interactive qualities and range of participants while in role.
'Chorus work'
 looks at ways to develop the physical chorus that supports the action on stage.
'Slow motion/Mime'
 Slows the participants down so they can explore the body movement needed for Mime
'Blind work/trust building'
 Focuses on the needs of the other performers and builds a supportive base to move foreward from
   
STAFF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
This workshop uses some of the following selection of games from Gordon's Oral Language Development manual 'ORACY'
Suitable tudors and associated adults
Usually a 1 to 1.5 hour workshop
All workshops shown on this site are available to staff. However the following three workshops are the most asked for in order of preference.

'Oral Language workshop'
'Public Speaking & Oral language workshop'
'Public Speaking Development workshop'
 
PUBLIC WORKSHOPS
This workshop uses some of the following selection of games from Gordon's Oral Language Development manual 'ORACY'
Suitable for 10 year olds and over
Usually a 1 hour workshop
No downloadable notes
All the workshops above are available for the public. They can be used as a ' Fun way' to
- Delve into this form of theatre
- Develop some group dynamics
- Explore the seft and our limits
   
The Improvisation workshops can also be tailored to cover one or more of the following aspects of improvisational work.
'Characterisation'
 Develop and use a character. This uses physical movement as the starting block.
'Freeze/Action (Statues)'
 Finding ways to start and change story using freeze frames and a seamless transitions into action
'Film strip'
 Use a series of freeze frames to build a visual story.
'Emotionals'
 Explores and develops the emotional qualities and range of participants.
'Role play'
 Explores and develops the interactive qualities and range of participants while in role.
'Chorus work'
 Looks at ways to develop the physical chorus that supports the action on stage
'Slow motion/Mime'
 Slows the participants down so they can explore the body movement needed for Mime
'Blind work/trust building'
 Focuses on the needs of the other performers and builds a supportive base to move foreward from.
   
Other improvisational options include
'Character development and usage' 'Ritual, Relaxation and Visualisation'
'Clown and/or mask work' 'Role play'
'Group Building/Supportive games' 'Statue/Freeze Frames/Photo'
'Mime and Slow Motion' 'Status'
'Mirror and Physical Chorus'  
   
Contact Gordon with your ideas/thoughts and we'll figure out what best suits you and/or your group