Theatre that Enthrals, Engages and Educates: An Artistic Pedagogical Tool

Abstract

Theatre in education is a student-centred pedagogical tool. It provides learning opportunities, which are powerful emotionally and cognitively. This case study portrays the manner in which Dr Bennis uses different forms of theatre to teach subjects in the field of human resource management and organizational behaviour. Through a collaborative venture with a theatre group headed by Mr V. Balakrishnan, students enjoy, live and learn the subject, which would not be possible in a traditional, lecture-based classroom. The impact of learning through theatre was assessed, and the results clearly indicated greater preference and impact of learning through theatre. In courses of study, involving human inter-actions, theatre helps the learner to channel their energy and excitement into a structured environment. By enabling learners to become engaged as thinkers, a passive learning system is transformed into an active embodiment of true knowledge generation. As a teaching innovation, it seems to have gone beyond engagement to establish a new kind of consciousness towards the application of the subject taught. Its success shattered the myths of its approach and established its appeal and relevance. For Dr Bennis, it was time to look forward to times that are more theatrical.