Bahir Dar University

Faculty of Humanities
Department of Cinema and Theatre Arts
Children theatre course syllabus
Course Information Instructor’s Information
Module name: Specials Instructors name: Desalegn Alayu
Module code: M06 Phone number: 0923130068
Course name: Children Theatre Email: desuart57@gmail.com]
Course Code: CiTAr 4063 Consultation Hrs: Friday 8:00 – 10:30Pm
Mode of delivery: Semester
Credit Hrs: 3

1. Course Description
The course is designed to offer knowledge to students regarding the nature and purpose of theatre for children.
And also, this course allows learners to explore and develop how to write and perform for a theater for child
audiences. As children needs special treatment because of their age, techniques of approaching children psychology
using drama as tool will be practiced in the course. In addition to that, it will also introduce stories and themes
that inspire children’s emotion. It also gives the craft of writing an original play, adapting well-known books
into children's plays, and finally guides how to direct and produce children’s play.

2. Objectives of the course

The major objective of this course is:

To introduce students with concepts, terminology and experience of theatre for children.
To explore ways of using theatre arts as an enhancement of children development,
education, expression and recreation.
To offer theoretical knowledge and practical experience through class demonstration and
theatre productions.
To inspire students to develop indigenous children plays.
3. Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course a learner should:
Know the nature and purpose of children’s theatre.
Know the key features of Theatre for Children.
Know how to write, act and direct children’s theatre.
Be able to understand and handle technical aspects for children’s theatre.
Be able to perform in children’s theatre.
Be able to adapt children’s theatre play from Classics, myths, legends across cultures, fiction, non-
fiction, adaptations of children’s stories, history and documentary.

4. Course contents
I. Section One: II. Section Two:

Introduction to Children Theater. Purposes of children Theatre: child growth, cultural

1.1 2 awareness, recreation, religious education, psychotherapy,
speech improvement.
Children theatre versus adult theatre.
1.2 2.1 Children`s theatre practitioner as researcher.
Regular theatre.
1.2.1 2.2 Children's Theatre Conventions.
Children’s theatre. Children’s theatre as education and entertainment
1.2.2 2.3 experience.

Children psychology: Classification of

1.3 age groups and their characteristics.
2.4 Vital conventions to capturing children`s attention
Common Stories and Themes that Children Love: Fantasy
2.5 within Reality, Myths and Legends, Fairy Tales, Toys and
Inanimate Objects.

Ingredients of Good Theatre for Children.

2.6
III. Section Three: Script Writing IV. Section Four: Produce children’s theatre.

3 Step one: Develop story or adapt from 4. Pre-production

Classics, myths, fiction, non-fiction,
adaptations of children’s stories, history,
documentary.
3.1 Writing a Synopsis 4.1 Production

3.2 Writing first draft for comments and 4.2 Post-production

suggestion.
3.3 Writing 2nd draft (rewrite based on first
draft comments and suggestions)
3.4 Writing 3rd draft (Final version of the
play)
5. Mode of Delivery
The mode of delivery for this course is interactive teaching and learning, independent learning and
collaborative learning.

6. Mode of Assessment
✓ Quiz ------------------------------------------------------------- 10%
✓ Mid -------------------------------------------------------------- 25%
✓ Assignment and Presentation -------------------------------- 15%
✓ All phase of Production --------------------------------------------- 50%

Reading Materials

David Wood and Janet Gran: (1999): Theatre for Children Guide to Writing, Adapting, Directing
and Acting: Ivan R. Dee Chicago

Eluyefa, D. (2017). Children’s theatre: A brief pedagogical approach. Arts Praxis, 4 (1), 79-93.

Bryan, Jone Campbell. Spokane Children’s Theatre (Company in 1946, website in 2001)

www.spokanechildrenstheatre.org (May 2003).

Buchanan, Matt. Children's Theatre/Creative Drama. 2002.

Buchanan, Matt. Creative Drama Lesson Plans.

http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/Alley/3765/puppets.html (13 April 2003)