COURSE OBJECTIVES: The objective of this course is to introduce students to the basic concepts of theatre contribution in child’s holistic development. Through this course the student will acquire an understanding of the content, structure and purpose of theatre use as a means of fostering interpersonal communication skills, developing peer relations and confronting interpersonal conflicts in primary and secondary school children. The students should obtain a functional knowledge of theoretical background and the procedures in theatre development; more specifically, these include methods of fostering interpersonal communication skills in primary and secondary pupils, methods of improving pupils’ interpersonal relationships, methods of resolving pupils’ interpersonal conflicts and methods of improving pupils’ mental health through theatre. Furthermore, the course includes workshops for the students’ practical training in theatre development techniques.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of the course students will be able to: 

-handle in practice and cultivate interpersonal communication techniques in primary and secondary school children through theatre, 

-identify and apply basic theatre techniques for solving primary and secondary school pupils’ interpersonal conflicts, 

-understand and implement practical theatre techniques for improving primary and secondary school pupils’ emotional intelligence, 

-plan and coordinate mental health education activities through theatre for primary and secondary school pupils, 

-and finally, organize an experiential workshop of developmental drama and apply developmental theatre techniques.