Storytelling Methods - Dramatisation

Helen Evans Storyteller

Drama

Stories, dressing up and drama are great companions. Children learn through play and to me, drama means play. When I was a child, I wondered why grown ups didn’t play. I’m lucky. Storytelling allows me to play whenever I like. If you watch children play, a lot of their time is spent in acting out real or imagined situations. You can do the same in storytelling and you can involve the children at the same time.

Stories that work well as drama

Children love to dramatise traditional stories like:

The Three Pigs
The Three Bears
The Billy Goats Gruff
The Great Big Enormous Turnip
Going on a Bear Hunt

Children love to dramatise familiar stories like:

going shopping
swimming at the beach
fighting a fire
birthday parties
circus performances

Props for drama

Most props will be everyday things such as appropriate clothing for the story e.g. boots, coat and beanie if the weather is cold in the story. If you are a giant or a clown you may wear a wig, a big nose or special pants.

Helen as Mr. Brown

Mime becomes part of the story when I use imaginary items. Dressing and undressing can be mimed, much to the amusement of the children. They join in enthusiastically when I pass out imaginary food or we all go swimming or climb a mountain.