Drama and Tableau

The Arrival

In Drama class, we explored tableau by looking at a scene from the graphic novel, The Arrival, by Shaun Tan. We stopped near the beginning of the book, pausing on a certain scene of a couple, Jason and Mary, pausing over a suitcase in the kitchen.

This single image prompted creative writing tasks through RAFT (Role, Audience, Format, Topic) which inspired various tableau scenes including a sick child, a mob debt, and desperation of need for food. Later, we then created short scenes from these ideas, one from behind the scenes, and another setting up a scene ending in the above picture.

Setting the Tableau

Setting up a scene from tableau is powerful. The actors (students) are able to slowly develop their character choices in a scaffold manner, beginning with low risk tableau to created and presented scenes. Tableau allows for students to focus on the power of body language, setting up a scene, and facial expression. So much character work is needed to properly find a facial expression in a tableau scene, and allowing students to simple focusing on one aspect of the character’s portrayal through the body and expression is an easier avenue than simply expecting voice AND body right away.

Coming and Going

Using the ideas from The Arrival could be used in a social studies classroom. In Grade 6, students learn about how immigration is an integral part of Canadian identity. In class, we explored reason why Jason might need to leave his family. I kept having the instinct that all the reasons for immigration over whatever era could apply. War, poverty, new job opportunities, political unrest. All of it could have applied. The activity could turn into an entire unit exploring arriving in Canada, and what life was like for new immigrants. This could be expanded past Grade 6 history, but could be used in a Grade 8 class, exploring the western expansion and the reasons towards that endeavor.