Commedia dell'arte

Year 8 have been studying the topic of Commedia dell'arte where they have been given the opportunity to study historical and cultural conventions of theatre, with examples of Commedia dating back as early as the 16th Century. The topic also allows students to experiment with types of body language in order to to aid non verbal communication and reveal status in performance. As illustrated here, masks can be used as a tool to foster characteristics and engage and involve an audience. As a result, students are challenged to use their bodies to communicate rather than relying on dialogue or facial expressions.