Toy Theatre: Putting the ‘Play’ in Plays

Catalog description

Squishmallows. LEGO. Barbie. Dungeons & Dragons...toys and games often ignite instant recognition and excitement; however, we rarely talk about how toys manifest onstage. From puppetry to dolls to direct use of toys, theatre has been putting play onstage for centuries. In this course, we will study plays that incorporate toys in meaningful ways, analyze theories and histories of toys, and write our own “toy theatre” that synthesizes what we read. This course will balance creative playwrighting, script reading, and textual analysis (plus a healthy dose of play!) to form an experience that will leave students with an overview of the important role that toys play in theatres past, present, and future, as well as a taste of the broad cultural impact that our playthings have. We will share and respond to creative work, read and discuss plays, and think through cultural intersections with toys. The instructor has a lengthy record of dramatizing toys, most recently writing Sewing Bears: A Play with Pockets, produced by Parity Productions in Chelsea, about the 1907 moral panic over teddy bears. As a believer that toys belong in the classroom, the instructor will encourage students to engage with their toys both creatively and academically. 173 Theatre Playwriting Techniques