International Experience Program - Makhampom Study Tour, Thailand
Faculty of Arts
School of Communication and Creative Industries
Topic Area: Makhampom Living Theatre Group Bangkok and Chiang Dao, Thailand
This Study Tour is a unique introduction to community theatre through an integrated program of training, exchange, field experience, and performance practice with the Makhampom Theatre Group.
The 17-day program will bring together students, educators, community workers and theatre practitioners in a cross-cultural exchange, including students from other universities, southeast Asian internees and 5-7 Makhampom volunteers.
The group will play, train, discuss, research, devise, exchange, and perform together in an experiential process of exploring theatre for community cultural development, from community theatre to conflict resolution, from creative literacy education to community engagement.
Program Dates: 21 June - 8 July, 2013
Number: unlimited (where vacancies exist)
Program Cost: approx $2000 (this is a discount cost for Theatre Media students)*
* Students may also be eligible to receive a $500 travel grant through CSU Global if they are receiving credit for participation in this program.
Eligibility & Credit: Bachelor of Communication (Theatre/Media) students may be eligible for proficiency credit (elective subject). Please consult with your course coordinator regarding credit.
Click here to download the registration form and information flyer [pdf]
Further enquiries should be directed to:
Mr Richard Barber
Makhampom Theatre Group
Email: mkpchiangdao@hotmail.com
Indicative program outline:
Key areas of practice and learning include:
Mapping – individual and collective workshop processes exploring identity through symbolic performance art forms (community development/inter-‐cultural exchange)
Image Theatre – dual workshop process using tableaux as community storyboard technique and for applied ‘intervention’ workshop process (community theatre/applied theatre)
Thai Theatre workshop series introducing Thailand’s gestural theatre and popular likay (folk opera) form as classical and people’s genres (Asian theatre skills)
Physical/Material Theatre - workshop series using local found, recycled, or cheap materials through found object music, recycled mask & puppetry, circus and shadow puppetry (theatre skills/community theatre)
Bi-‐Lingual Storytelling in Schools – story theatre, song, and book-‐reading devising and practice for village primary school children (theatre in education)
Community Engagement – series of games and exercises in relationships, identity, and power applying a peace-‐building approach to work with communities (community development/peace)
Community Immersion - a 2-‐day experience in lifestyle, communication, and interaction with the Pang Daeng stateless ‘hill-‐tribe’ villagers (community engagement/inter-‐cultural exchange)
Facilitator Training – an Applied Theatre process in the partner stateless village of Pang Daeng, firstly in participatory-‐observation of Makhampom’s community-‐based Image Theatre process and then facilitation of community workshop activities (applied theatre/community theatre)
Collaborative Theatre Devising – a 3-‐day collective devising process to create an ensemble dialogue theatre production for community audiences (theatre production/inter-‐cultural theatre)
Dialogue Theatre – a ‘real time’ audience dialogue process starting with workshop activities involving a toolkit of theatrical techniques for audience dialogue leading into performances with two communities including dialogue processes (applied theatre)
Community Performance – two community events & one Children’s Day event to experience the community event, audience attracting & warmup, and interactive process (theatre in communities)
Other activities include:
- A bicycle tour of Chiang Dao
- Visits to local markets, temples, and meditation monasteries Thai language and cooking classes Bamboo rafting, elephant riding, hot springs, and cave visits around Chiang Dao;
- A day to explore Chiang Mai
More information on the Makhampom Theatre study tour is available at: http://www.makhampom.net/makhampom/makham2008/detail_en.php?pcoid=15