Theatre Games Programme
at Mahajana College,Batticaloa,Sri Lanka.
Since the occurrence of tsunami members of third eye local knowledge and Skill activists group have been regularly conducting children’s programmes in the camps for people displaced by the tsunami. These programmes are spaces for children imaginatively play together and have provided a stimulating and relaxing experience for children who have lost their homes in the tsunami. The games are easily sustainable as they do not require additional or specific materials; simply the presence of a group together. The sessions are open to any children who would like to participate and are facilitated by members of the third eye local knowledge group. The facilitators are youth members from villages where the third eye local knowledge and skill activists group regularly practice and celebrate community theatre such as children’s participatory theatre games and Kooththu theatre.
One of these villages that are part of the third eye local knowledge and skill activists group is Seelamunai which was extensively damaged by the tsumani. Many people in Seelamunai lost their houses and are now living in Mahajana College, Batticaloa. As members of the third eye local knowledge and skill activists group the villagers of Seelamunai have been able to take a major role in organising the camp from the first day after the disaster for a week at Hindu College, Batticaloa and implementing activities such as the theatre games sessions up to now.
I joined the group on Saturday the 12th February at Mahajana College for a games session with about thirty children. The games occur in an open space in the College and some parents also sat nearby and enjoyed watching their children play together. The pace of the games was varied; some require a lot of activity and running around, others consisted of group tasks to complete and other games were more focused, requiring careful concentration and listening to each other.
Some examples of the games played were……
Team images: In small group’s children have to make objects with their bodies such as a well, bicycle and elephant. The object of the game is for the children to decide together as quickly as possible how they can use their bodies to create the object or animal called out by the facilitator.
Who is the leader? This game begins with the group sitting in a circle. A person begins to lead the rest of the group in an action that they have chosen. This person subtly changes the action throughout the game and the rest of the group who are carefully watching the must also change the action. Once the action begins, another participant who has been waiting outside of the circle comes to the middle of the circle and must try guess which person is changing the action. This game requires careful concentration and watching of each other.
This bottle is not a bottle: A small plastic bottle is placed in the middle of the circle. The object of the game is for the group to think of as many different things the bottle can represent. One by one the children go the middle of the circle, pick up the bottle and use it as a different object. The children used the bottle as a cricket bat, a mirror, a comb, a ball and many more things. This game is a fun way for children to think creatively and imagine alternatives.
The games sessions foster positive communication skills, team work and creativity whilst enjoying each others company and participation. The sessions are being regularly conducted by members of the third eye local knowledge group and are a valuable activity for children to release stress and tension. Through playing games a space is created for children to freely express themselves in a spirit of fun and creativity.
Charlotte Hennessy 15.02.2005
at Mahajana College,Batticaloa,Sri Lanka.
Since the occurrence of tsunami members of third eye local knowledge and Skill activists group have been regularly conducting children’s programmes in the camps for people displaced by the tsunami. These programmes are spaces for children imaginatively play together and have provided a stimulating and relaxing experience for children who have lost their homes in the tsunami. The games are easily sustainable as they do not require additional or specific materials; simply the presence of a group together. The sessions are open to any children who would like to participate and are facilitated by members of the third eye local knowledge group. The facilitators are youth members from villages where the third eye local knowledge and skill activists group regularly practice and celebrate community theatre such as children’s participatory theatre games and Kooththu theatre.
One of these villages that are part of the third eye local knowledge and skill activists group is Seelamunai which was extensively damaged by the tsumani. Many people in Seelamunai lost their houses and are now living in Mahajana College, Batticaloa. As members of the third eye local knowledge and skill activists group the villagers of Seelamunai have been able to take a major role in organising the camp from the first day after the disaster for a week at Hindu College, Batticaloa and implementing activities such as the theatre games sessions up to now.
I joined the group on Saturday the 12th February at Mahajana College for a games session with about thirty children. The games occur in an open space in the College and some parents also sat nearby and enjoyed watching their children play together. The pace of the games was varied; some require a lot of activity and running around, others consisted of group tasks to complete and other games were more focused, requiring careful concentration and listening to each other.
Some examples of the games played were……
Team images: In small group’s children have to make objects with their bodies such as a well, bicycle and elephant. The object of the game is for the children to decide together as quickly as possible how they can use their bodies to create the object or animal called out by the facilitator.
Who is the leader? This game begins with the group sitting in a circle. A person begins to lead the rest of the group in an action that they have chosen. This person subtly changes the action throughout the game and the rest of the group who are carefully watching the must also change the action. Once the action begins, another participant who has been waiting outside of the circle comes to the middle of the circle and must try guess which person is changing the action. This game requires careful concentration and watching of each other.
This bottle is not a bottle: A small plastic bottle is placed in the middle of the circle. The object of the game is for the group to think of as many different things the bottle can represent. One by one the children go the middle of the circle, pick up the bottle and use it as a different object. The children used the bottle as a cricket bat, a mirror, a comb, a ball and many more things. This game is a fun way for children to think creatively and imagine alternatives.
The games sessions foster positive communication skills, team work and creativity whilst enjoying each others company and participation. The sessions are being regularly conducted by members of the third eye local knowledge group and are a valuable activity for children to release stress and tension. Through playing games a space is created for children to freely express themselves in a spirit of fun and creativity.
Charlotte Hennessy 15.02.2005
