HOW GREEN IS YOUR THEATRE?
In this month of April (also National Recycling Month, Board Member, Kimberly Welch from Ocean Township Middle School gives some ideas for reducing, reusing, and recycling for any theatre classroom.
Let’s face it! Public schools are on a budget, and there is not a lot of money allocated for the arts. As artists, performers, and educators, we have to find innovative ways to make an inviting, functional theatre space for children, without putting a hole in the school’s pocket. That is exactly what I did when I turned an old, empty, unused classroom into a black box theatre.
This was all done by reusing old equipment and on budget.
This was all done by reusing old equipment and on budget.
I was very fortunate to have a supportive administration and maintenance department at my school district, when I pitched my black box theatre idea. I thought, all we need is some black paint and old lights, and “voila”, we have a theatre space where my students can perform. Of course, performance space can be anywhere, even in someone’s backyard. But to give students a space that is unique other than a classroom, adds to their enthusiasm.
My school’s maintenance crew worked over the summer to give our middle school a black box theatre. The ceilings, walls, and floors were painted black. They also made a stage out of wood just a foot off the ground and painted it black. The whole room including my book shelves are black. When the “house lights” are off, I use old lights that were given to me to add lighting to my dark space.
This space is ongoing project, looking for more recycled products, such as curtains, seating, and lighting to be given life again. In the meantime, the theatre space is a perfect place for students to create various scenes by
using their creativity and imaginations.
using their creativity and imaginations.
Reuse and recycle! Another way we keep our theatre green is by using recycled products to make props, masks, and even costumes. We used recycled milk cartons and newspaper to make paper-mache theatre masks. We use old cardboards, cartons, and anything else we can find to make props and scenic elements.
It is important to keep our theatre green. It shows the students there is always use for something old and used. My students used old cardboard and turned them into a scooter and a car; aluminum foil became a flashy necklace. The possibilities are endless, and the students use their creativity to find ways to reuse and recycle something into a functional piece of art.
“One’s trash is another’s treasure.” Anyone can have a green theatre. All you need is an open mind, imagination, and lots of trash. My only suggestion, if you make a black box theatre for your classroom, invest in some vitamin D lamps, it is a dark space, especially in the winter months.
AUTHOR
Kimberly Welch
Advocacy/Outreach Advisor
Advocacy/Outreach Advisor
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