Bring in some drama

From using theatre techniques in education to teaching special children, director, actor and theatre personality Lushin Dubey is completely involved in the arts. She talks to Education Plus about the importance of looking beyond existing teaching methods and the impact of theatre on education.

March 01, 2015 12:20 pm | Updated March 02, 2015 09:32 am IST

Lushin Dubey

Lushin Dubey

Tell us about your foray into the education space.

When I was in the U.S., I completed my M.Sc. in Special Education. I veered towards it because I had the innate ability to do things creatively. I’m into theatre, painting and sculpture. And when you are working with special kids, you always have to rack your brains even if there are systems in place. I have worked with kids who were on medication, physically challenged or autistic. Education is all about improvising.

How effective is alternative education for special children?

Alternative forms of education are very successful, especially at the high-school level.

For example, when you are teaching math, you can teach it with colours and shapes. The challenge is to look beyond the formal set up. I used to teach volumes, not with chalk and blackboard but with something more — I would carry buckets and test tubes to class. These are palpable methods that they will understand. I’ve also taught fractions using jokers and clowns or bowls of beans and cake. The beauty of this method is that it not only works but also helps in retention. The human mind needs to be constantly worked on to retain information. I've always believed that you have to be on the ball and think out of the box to be able to do this.

How challenging is it to teach special children?

It’s a field that requires a lot of compassion. When you are working with special kids, there are no report cards or judgements. It’s just a sense that there is an academic improvement.

Tell us about the workshops you conduct regularly and about using theatre techniques in education.

I keep conducting workshops on theatre. School Of Inspired Leadership (SOIL) had approached me to do a workshop on theatre and communication skills. I have week-long sessions with each batch every year.

Most of those who attend my workshops are males from diverse academic backgrounds with no idea of theatre, which is good because they come with no preconceived notions.

I begin my workshops by talking about things that are important in theatre: being totally honest and the concept of one family.

Drama is a towering subject. There is no one more masochistic than stage actors. They can look at the face of the audience and know how they are being judged.

They utilise all their senses and bear everything there. I use these skills — vocal and physical — along with exercises on honesty, reality of the moment and trust.

These things help with intonation, feelings and loosening of the body. I play a lot of games with them. At the end, when I ask them how they feel, they would always say that they feel happy. Ethics is another issue I deal with. It is ambiguous, like pinning a cloud. How do you open up a topic? I have had students crying because they have seen emotional connections.

The exercise really breaks down your internal assessment and brings you back to the home ground of honesty.

The workshop is intense and lasts one week. At the end, we stage a production directed by me. I’ve been doing this for the last four years.

Why do you think the arts are necessary, even after one finishes one’s education?

Each one of us has a child within, and it gets locked in the adult world because we are conscious of judgement. It’s not like it isn't there but the secret garden has to be opened again. When you play, you unlock the element of fearlessness which a child feels. Then you feel lighter and become a more productive person.

Should the arts be made a major part of school education?

Absolutely. When I was in school, it was always mandatory. Three subjects must be given importance — moral science, theatre and psychology. They are all interconnected and holistic subjects. Life is about how you grow as a person and not just stuffing things into your brain. It’s also about being happy.

These subjects will help all students get there. In fact, I would love to start a school that lays emphasis on these three subjects, where students can engage in dialogue with their conscience.

It’s very important, especially at the school level, since those are formative years.

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