Directing non-native English speakers
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Directing
Forum Discription: For questions about handling shows, actors, crew, board members, children ...or do we repeat ourselves?
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4441
Printed Date: 11/23/24 at 2:23pm
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Topic: Directing non-native English speakers
Posted By: keltatyrau
Subject: Directing non-native English speakers
Date Posted: 1/26/10 at 11:50pm
I am the director of an English language theater group in Kazakhstan, and I'm wondering if there are any others out there working in English language theater in non-English speaking places? There are special areas of concern when you are not only helping non-actors learn how to perform, but also how to discover all the nuances of performing in a second or third language. Anyone out there?
Nathan
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Replies:
Posted By: peacock
Date Posted: 3/24/10 at 2:53pm
Nathan, we are kindred spirits. I direct high school drama at a school in Chittagong Bangladesh, and before that I did a couple at Dalat School in Penang, Malaysia. In Chittagong our students are all second language, but most are very fluent. However, our audience is not that fluent at all. That, and the somewhat conservative Muslim culture present exciting challenges.
We just finished Wizard of Oz, and it was guite a success.
Some things I have learned the hard way.
1. Make sure there is enough physical activity to keep less fluent audience members engaged.
2. Early on make sure that kids pronounce their lines with the correct intonation. While usually directors should not "say" lines for actors, it is sometimes necessary when they miss a nuance of language. I usually do two read-throughs.
3. i have my students help me screen plays because I often miss cultural issues that would make a play a problem.
Good luck on your new endeavor.
Peacock
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Posted By: keltatyrau
Date Posted: 8/02/10 at 4:28am
Hi Peacock,
I've not been on the board for a while, and so missed your comment. Thanks for the reply! I'm interested to hear what you have been doing.
We performed "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in April (with modified language) and it went over really, really well. It was a great start for us. Now, I'm looking for something new to do. I agree completely with your idea that it needs to be physical - and the sad thing is that leaves out a lot of great plays that rely on clever dialogue.
Midsummer was great because of the physicality of the play. Also, we set in modern times, and used "Owl City" music (Fireflies, and others of his) that made it seem more accessible for everyone - actors and audience alike.
Now for the next one! Any suggestions?
keltatyrau
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keltatyrau.wordpress.com
www.kelt.biz
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Posted By: peacock
Date Posted: 8/16/10 at 8:34pm
I see that you posted a long time ago. I was busy doing a play.
I direct high school students in Bangladesh. They are very good in English, but are all second language speakers. The biggest challenge is choosing a play. Our audience has very weak language skills, so we need to go for broad comedy with little wordplay. Just did Wizard of Oz, which was a huge success.
I am very careful to do several read-throughs to make sure students know the pronunciation and intonation of each line. If you don't get that right at the start you will never get it right. Although I know directors are not supposed to give line readings, I find that some younger actors who are not as proficient in English need more coaching.
Are you students primarily Kazakh? If so, then they are Muslim, right? That adds more complication, because some plays are not morally acceptable. We did Stories of Scheherazade, based on the 1001 Arabian Nights from Pioneer. The group LOVED that. Aladdin would be another possibility. I try to stay far away from nostalgic Americana plays. Oz was good because it is set in a fantasy land.
If your play has been made into a movie or video that helps too, as kids quickly get the intonation of lines correctly. And it really helps their English. I would love to hear more about what you are doing.
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Posted By: keltatyrau
Date Posted: 1/05/12 at 4:34am
Hey Peacock,
It's been a LONG time since I started this thread, and it was rude of me not to continue the conversation. Sorry!
I'm looking at plays again for the spring, and am glad you mentioned "Wizard". I'll look at that closer. I'm a bit worried about the play technically - and how did you handle the munchkins and the flying monkeys? But it could be fun.
Cheers!
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keltatyrau.wordpress.com
www.kelt.biz
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